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m RECORD! JP* 

_OF— 

LAFAYETTE AND 

SALINE COUNTIES, 

—MISSOURI— 

CONTAINING 

Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, 

TOGETHER WITH BIOGRAPHIES AND PORTRAITS OF ALL THE 

©Presidents of the United states.® 

CHICAGO: 

CHAPMAN BROS. 

1893. 



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HE greatest of English historians, Macaulat, and one of the most brilliant writers of 
the present century, has said: "The history of a country is best told in a record of the 
lives of its people." In conformity with this idea the Portrait and Biographical 
Record f tu i s coun ty has been prepared. Instead of going to musty records, and 
taking therefrom dry statistical matter that can be appreciated by but few, our 
corps of writers have gone to the people, the men and women who have, by their 
enterprise and industry, brought the county to rank second to none among those 
comprising this great and noble State, and from their lips have the story of their life 
struggles. No more interesting or instructive matter could be presented to an intelli- 
gent public. In this volume will be found a record of many whose lives are worthy the 
imitation of coming generations. It tells how some, commencing life in poverty, by 
industry and economy have accumulated wealth. It tells how others, with limited 
advantages for securing an education, have become learned men and women, with an 
JK JC3^i influence extending throughout the length and breadth of the land. It tells of men who 
have risen from the lower walks of life to eminence as statesmen, and whose names have 
become famous. It tells of those in every walk in life who have striven to succeed, and 
records how that success has usually crowned their efforts. It tells also of many, very 
many, who, not seeking the applause of the world, have pursued "the even tenor of their way," content 
to have it said of them as Christ said of the woman performing a deed of mercy — "they have done what 
they could." It tells how that many in the pride and strength of young manhood left the plow and the 
anvil, the lawyer's office and the counting-room, left every trade and profession, and at their country's 
call went forth valiantly "to do or die," and how through their efforts the Union was restored and peace 
once more reigned in the land. Iu the life of every man and of every woman is a lesson that should not 
be lost upon those who follow after. 

Coming generations will appreciate this volume and preserve it as a sacred treasure, from the fact 
that it contains so much that would never find its way into public records, and which would otherwise be 
inaccessible. Great care has been taken in the compilation of the work and every opportunity possible 
given to those represented to insure correctness in what has been written, and the publishers flatter them- 
selves that they give to their readers a work with few errors of consequence. In addition to the biograph 
ical sketches, portraits of a number of representative citizens are given. 

The faces of some, and biographical sketches of many, will be missed in this volume. For this the 
publishers are not to blame. Not having a proper conception of the work, some refused to give the 
information necessary to compile a sketch, while others were indifferent. Occasionally some member of 
the family would oppose the enterprise, and on account of such opposition the support of the interested 
one would be withheld. In a few instances men could never be found, though repeated calls were made 
at their residence or place of business. 

February, 1893. CHAPMAN BROS. 




GRAPH! 







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FIRST PRESIDENT. 



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HE Father of our Country was 

, born in Westmorland Co., Va., 

•fa . 

' Feb. 22, 1732. His parents 

were Augustine and Mary 
(Ball) Washington. The family 
to which he belonged has not 
been satisfactorily, traced in 
England. His great-grand- 
father, John Washington, em- 
igrated to Virginia about 1657, 
and became a prosperous 
planter. He had two sons, 
Lawrence and John. The 
former married Mildred Warner 
and had three children, John. 
Augustine and Mildred. Augus- 
tine, the father of George, fi.st 
married Jane Butler, who bore 
him four children, two of whom, 
Lawrence and Augustine, reached 
maturity. Of six children by his 
second marriage, George was the 
eldest, the others being Betty, 
Samuel, John Augustine, Charles 
and Mildred. 
Augustine Washington, the father of George, died 
in 1743, leaving a large landed property. To his 
sldest son, Lawrence, he bequeathed an estate on 
the Patomac, afterwards known as Mount Vernon, 
and to George he left the parental residence. George 
received only such education as the neighborhood 
schools afforded, save for a short time after he left 
school, when he received private instruction in 
mathematics. His spelling was rather defective. 



Remarkable stories are told of his great physica ; 
strength and development at an early age. He was 
an acknowledged leader among his companions, and 
was early noted for that nobleness of character, fair- 
ness and veracity which characterized his whole life. 

When George was 14 years old he had a desire to go to 
sea, and a midshipman's warrant was secured for him. 
but through the opposition of his mother the idea was 
abandoned. Two years later he was appointed 
surveyor to the immense estate of Lord Fairfax. In 
this business he spent three years in a rough frontier 
life, gaining experience which afterwards proved very 
essential to him. In 1 75 r, though only 19 years of 
age, he was appointed adjutant with the rank of 
major in the Virginia militia, then being trained for 
active service against the French and Indians. Soon 
after this he sailed to the West Indies with his brother 
Lawrence, who went there to restore his health They 
soon returned, and in the summer of 1752 Lawrence 
died, leaving a large fortune to an infant daughter 
who did not long survive him. On her demise the 
estate of Mount Vernon was given to George. 

Upon the arrival of Robert Dinwiddie, as Lieuten- 
ant-Governor of Virginia, in 1752, the militia was 
reorganized, and the province divided into four mili- 
tary districts, of which the northern was assigned to 
Washington as adjutant general. Shortly after this 
a very perilous mission was assigned him and ac- 
cepted, which others had refused. This was lo pro- 
ceed to the French post near Lake Erie in North- 
western Pennsylvania. The distance to be traversed 
was between 500 and f>oo miles. Winter was at hand, 
and the journey was to be made without rni'.itarv 
escort, through a territory occupied by Indians. Ths 



GEORGE WASHINGTON. 



trip was a perilous one, and several limes he came near 
losing his life, yet he returned in safety and furnished 
a full and useful report of his expedition. A regiment 
of 300 men was raised in Virginia and put in com- 
mand of Col. Joshua Fry, and Major Washington was 
commissioned lieutenant-colonel. Active war was 
then begun against the French and Indians, in which 
Washington took a most important part. In the 
memorable event of July 9, 1755, known as Brad- 
dock's defeat, Washington was almost the only officer 
of distinction who escaped from the calamities of the 
day with life and honor. The other aids of Braddock 
were disabled early in the action, and Washington 
alone was left in that capacity on the field. In a letter 
to his brother he says : "I had four bullets through 
my coat, and two horses shot under me, yet I escaped 
unhurt, though death was leveling my companions 
on every side." An Indian sharpshooter said he was 
not born to be killed by a bullet, for he had taken 
direct aim at him seventeen times, and failed to hit 
him. 

After having been five years in the military service, 
and vainly sought promotion in the royal army, he 
look advantage of the fall of Fort Duquesne and the 
expulsion of the French from the valley of the Ohio, 
to resign his commission. Soon after he entered the 
Legislature, where, although not a leader, he took an 
active and important part. January 17, 1759, he 
married Mrs. Martha (Dandridge) Custis, the wealthy 
widow of John Parke Custis. 

When the British Parliament had closed the port 
if Boston, the cry went up throughout the provinces 
that "The cause of Boston is the cause of us all." 
It was then, at the suggestion of Virginia, that a Con- 
gress of all the colonies was called to meet at Phila- 
delphia.Sept. 5, 1774, to secure their common liberties, 
peaceably if possible. To this Congress Col. Wash- 
ington was sent as a delegate. On May to, 1775, the 
Congress re-assembled, when the hostile intentions of 
England were plainly apparent. The battles of Con- 
cord and Lexington had been fought. Among the 
first acts of this Congress was the election of a com- 
mander-in-chief of the colonial forces. This high and 
responsible office was conferred upon Washington, 
who was still a member of the Congress. He accepted 
it on Tune 19, but upon the express condition that he 
receive no salary. He would keep an exact account 
of expenses and expect Congress 10 pay them and 
nothing more. It is not the object of this sketch to 
trace the military acts of Washington, to whom the 
fortunes and liberties of the people of this country 
were so long confided. The war was conducted by 
him under every possible disadvantage, and while his 
forces often met with reverses, yet he overcame every 
obstacle, and after seven years of heroic devotion 
and matchless skill he gained liberty for the greatest 
nation of earth. On Dec. 23, 17S3, Washington, in 
a parting address of surpassing beauty, iesigned his 



commission as commander-in-chief of the army to 
to the Continental Congress sitting at Annapolis. Ik 
retired immediately to Mount Vernon and resumed 
his occupation as a farmer and planter, shunning all 
connection with public lite. 

In February, 1 789, Washington was unanimously 
elected President. In his presidential career he was 
subject to the peculiar trials incidental to a new 
government ; trials from lack of confidence on the part 
of other governments ; trials from want of harmony 
between the different sections of our own country; 
trials from the impoverished condition of the country, 
owing to the war and want of credit; trials from the 
beginnings of party strife. He was no partisan. His 
clear judgment could discern the golden mean ; and 
while perhaps this alone kept our government from 
sinking at the very outset, it left him exposed to 
attacks from both sides, which were often bitter and 
very annoying. 

At the expiration of his first term he was unani- 
mously re-elected. At the end of this term many 
were anxious that he be re-elected, but he absolutely 
refused a third nomination. On the fourth of Man h, 
1797, at the expiraton of his second term as Presi- 
dent, he returned to his home, hoping to pass there 
his few remaining yeats free from the annoyances of 
public life. Later in the year, however, his re|X)se 
seemed likely to be interrupted by war with France 
At the prospect of such a war he was again urged to 
take command of the armies. He chose his sub- 
ordinate officers and left to them the charge of mat- 
ters in the field, which he superintended from his 
home. In accepting the command he made the 
reservation that he was not to be in the field until 
it was necessary. In the midst of these preparations 
h's life was suddenly cut off. December 1 2, he took 
a sevce cold from a ride in the rain, which', settling 
in lis throat, produced inflammation, and terminated 
fatally on the night of the fourteenth. On the eigh- 
teenth his body was borne wi'h military honors to its 
final resting place, and interred in the family vault ;it 
Mount Vernon. 

Of the character of Washington it is impossible to 
speak but in terms of the highest respect and ad- 
miration. The more we see of the operations of 
our government, and the more deeply we feel the 
difficulty of uniting all opinions in a common interest, 
the more highly we must estimate the force of his tab 
ent and character, which have ben able to challenge 
the reverence of all parties, and principles, and na- 
tions, and to win a fame as extended as the limits 
of the globe, and which we cannot but believe will 
be as lasting as the existence of man. 

The person of Washington was unusally tan, erect 
and well proportioned. His muscular strength was 
great. His features were of a beautiful symmetry. 
He commanded respect without any appearance of 
haughtiness, and ever serious without h*>ing dull. 



SECOND PRESIDENT. 




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\ OHN ADAMS, the second 
*> President and the first Vice- 



'President of the United States, 
was born in Braintree ( now 
■jls. Quincy ),Mass., and about ten 
**' miles from Boston, Oct. 19, 
1735. H' s great-grandfather, Henry 
Adams, emigrated from England 
about 1640, with a family of eight 
sons, and settled at Braintree. The 
parents of John were John and 
Susannah (Boylston) Adams His 
father was a farmer of limited 
means, to which he added the bus- 
iness of shoemaking. He gave his 
eldest son, John, a classical educa- 
tion at Harvard College. John 
graduated in 1755, and at once took charge of the 
school in Worcester, Mass. This he found but a 
'school of affliction," from which he endeavored to 
gain relief by devoting himself, in addition, to the 
study of law. For this purpose he placed himself 
under the tuition of the only lawyer in the town. He 
had thought seriously of the clerical profession 
but seems to have been turned from this by what he 
termed "the frightful engines of ecclesiastical coun- 
jils, cf diabolical malice, and Calvanistic good nature,'' 
of the operations of which he had been a witness in 
his native town. He was well fitted for the legal 
profession, possessing a clear, sonorous voice, being 
ready and fluent of speech, and having quick percep- 
tive powers. He gradually gained practice, and in 
1764 married Abigail Smith, a daughter of a minister, 
and a lady of superior intelligence. Shortly after his 
marriage, (17^5), the attempt of Parliamentary taxa- 
*jon turned him from law to politics. He took initial 
steps toward holding a town meeting, and the resolu- 



tions he offered on the subject became very populai 
throughout the Province, and were adopted word for 
word by over forty different towns. He moved to Bos 
ton in 1768, and became one of the most courageous 
and prominent advocatesof the popular cause, and 
was chosen a member of the General Court (the Leg- 
lislature) in 1770. 

Mr. Adams was chosen one of the first delegates 
from Massachusetts to the first Continental Congress, 
which met in 1774. Here he distinguished himselt 
by his capacity for business and for debate, and ad- 
vocated the movement for independence against tb° 
majority of the members. In May, 1776, he mcved 
and carried a resolution in Congress that the Colonies, 
should assume the duties of self-government. He 
was a prominent member of the committee of five 
appointed June 11, to prepare a declaration of inde- 
pendence. This article was drawn by Jefferson, but 
on Adams devolved the task of battling it through 
Congress in a three days debate. 

On the day after the Declaration of Independence 
was passed, while his soul was yet warm with th? 
glow of excited feeling, he wrote a letter to his wite 
which, as we read it now, seems to have been dictated 
by the spirit of prophecy. "Yesterday," he says, "the 
greatest question was decided that ever was debated 
in America; - and greater, perhaps, never was or wil 
be decided among men. A resolution was passed 
without one dissenting colony, ' that these United 
States are, and of right ought to be, free and inde- 
pendent states.' The day is passed. The fourth of 
July, 1776, will be a memorable epoch in the history 
of America. I am apt to believe it will be celebrated 
by succeeding generations, as the great anniversary, 
festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of 
deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to Almighty 
God. It ought to be solemnized with pomp, shows 



24 



JOHN ADAMS. 



games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations 
from one end of the continent to the other, from this 
time forward for ever. You will think me transported 
with enthusiasm, but I am not. I am well aware of 
the toil, and blood and treasure, that it will cost to 
maintain this declaration, and support and defend 
these States; yet, through all the gloom, I can see the 
rays of light and glory. I can see that the end is 
Wurth more than all the means; and that posterity 
will triumph, although you and I may rue, which I 
hope we shall not." 

In November, 1777, Mr. Adams was appointed a 
delegate to France and to co-operate with Bemjamin 
Franklin and Arthur Lee, who were then in Paris, in 
the endeavor to obtain assistance in arms and money 
from the French Government. This was a severe trial 
to his patriotism, as it separated him from his home, 
compelled him to cross the ocean in winter, and ex- 
posed him to great peril of capture by the British cruis- 
ers, who were seeking him. He left France June 17, 
1779. In September of the same year he was again 
chosen to go to Paris, and there hold himself in readi- 
ness to negotiate a treaty of peace and of commerce 
with Great Britian, as soon as the British Cabinet 
might be found willing to listen to such pioposels. He 
sailed for France in November, from there he went to 
Holland, where he negotiated imiortant loans and 
formed important commercial treaties 

FinaHy a treaty of peace with England was signed 
Jan. 21, 1783. The re-action from the excitement, 
toil and anxiety through which Mr. Adams had passed 
threw him into a fever. After suffering from a con- 
tinued fever and becoming feeble and emaciated he 
was advised to goto England to drink the waters of 
Bath. While in England, still drooping anddespond- 
ing, he received dispatches from his own government 
urging the necessity of his going to Amsterdam to 
negotiate another loan. It was winter, his health was 
delicate, yet he immediately set out, and through 
storm, on sea, on horseback and foot,he made the trip. 

February 24, 1785, Congress appointed Mr. Adams 
envoy to the Court of St. James. Here he met face 
to face the King of England, who had so long re- 
garded him as a traitor. As England did not 
condescend to appoint a minister to the United 
States, and as Mr. Adams felt that he was accom- 
plishing but little, he sought permission to return to 
his own country, where he arrived in June, 1788. 

When Washington was first chosen President, John 
Adams, rendered illustiious by his signal services at 
home and abroad, was chosen Vice President, Again 
at the second election of Washington as President, 
Adams was chosen Vice President. In 1796, Wash- 
ington retired from public life, and Mr. Adams was 
elected President,though not without much opposition. 
Serving in this office four vears.he was succeeded by 
Mr. Jefferson, his opponent in politics. 

TVTiile Mr. Adams was Vice President the great 



French Revolution shook the continent of Europe, 
and it was upon this point which he was at issue with 
the majority of his countrymen led by Mr. Jefferson. 
Mr. Adams felt no sympathy with the French people 
in their struggle, for he had no confidence in their 
power of self-government, and he utterly abhored the 
classof atheist philosophers who he claimed caused it. 
On the other hand Jefferson's sympathies were strongly 
enlisted in behalf of the French people. Hence or- 
iginated the alienation between these distinguished 
men, and two powerful parties were thus soon organ- 
ized, Adams at the head of the one whose sympathies 
were with England and Jefferson led the other in 
sympathy with France. 

The world has seldom seen a spectacle of more 
moral beauty and grandeur, than was presented by the 
old age of Mr. Adams. The violence of party feeling 
had died away, and he had begun to receive that ju>t 
appreciation which, to most men, is not accorded till 
after death. No one could look upon his venerable 
form, and think of what he had done and suffered, 
and how he had given up all the prime and strength 
of his life to the public good, without the deepest 
emotion of gratitude and respect. It was his peculiar 
good fortune to witness the complete success of the 
institution which he had been so active in creating and 
supporting. In 1824, his cup of happiness was filled 
to the brim, by seeing his son elevated to the highest 
station in the gift of the people. 

The fourth of July, 1826, which completed the hall 
century since the signing of the Declaration of Inde- 
pendence, arrived, and there were but three of the 
signers of that immortal instrument left upon the 
earth to hail its morning light. And, as it is 
well known, on that day two of these finished their 
earthly pilgrimage, a coincidence so remarkable as 
to seem miraculous. For a few days before Mr. 
Adams had been rapidly failing, and on the morning 
of the fourth he found himself too weak to rise from 
his bed. On being requested to name a toast for the 
customary celebration of the day, he exclaimed " In- 
dependence forever." When the day was ushered 
in, by the ringing of bells and the firing of cannons, 
he was asked by one of his attendants if he knew 
what day it was? He replied, "O yes; it is the glor- 
ious fourth of July — God bless it — God bless you all." 
In the course of the day he said, " It is a great and 
glorious day." The last words he uttered were. 
" Tefferson survives." But he had, at one o'clock, re- 
signed his spirit into the hands of his God. 

The personal appearance and manners of Mr. 
Adams were not particularly prepossessing. His face, 
as his portrait manifests.was intellectual ard expres- 
sive, but his figure was low and ungraceful, and h'S 
manners were frequently abrupt and uncourteous. 
He had neither the lofty dignity of Washington, nor 
the engaging elegance and gracefulness which marked 
the manners and address of Tefferson. 



THIRD PRESIDENT. 



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JEIFPEiRS 



HOMAS JEFFERSON was 

burn April 2, 1743, at Shad- 

$well, Albermarle county, Va. 

His parents were Peier and 
Jane ( Randolph) Jefferson, 
the former a native of Wales, 
and the latter born in Lon- 
don. To them were born six 
daughters and two sons, of 
whom Thomas was the elder. 
When 14 years of age his 
father died. He received a 
most liberal education, hav- 
ing been kept diligently at school 
from the time he was five years of 
age. In 1760 he entered William 
r.nd Mary College. Williamsburg was then the seat 
of the Colonial Court, and it was the obodeof fashion 
a.id splendor. Young Jefferson, who was then 17 
years old, lived somewhat expensively, keeping fine 
horses, and much caressed by gay society, yet lie 
was earnestly devoted to his studies, and irreproacha- 
able in his morals. It is strange, however, under 
such influences,that he was not ruined. In the sec- 
ond year of his college course, moved by some un- 
explained inward impulse, he discarded his horses, 
society, and even his favorite violin, to which he had 
previously given much time. He often devoted fifteen 
hours a day to hard study, allowing himself for ex- 
ercise only a run in the evening twilight of a mile out 
of the city and back again. He thus attained very 
high intellectual culture, alike excellence in philoso- 
phy and the languages. The most difficult Latin and 
Greek authors he read wi'.h facility. A more finished 
scholar has seldom gone forth from college halls; and 



there was not to be found, perhaps, in all Virginia, a 
more pureminded, upright, gentlemanly young man. 

Immediately upon leaving college he began the 
study of law. For the short time he continued in the 
practice of his profession he rose rapidly and distin- 
guished himself by his energy and accuteness as a 
lawyer. But the times called for greater action. 
The policy of England had awakened the spirit of 
resistance of the American Colonies, and the enlarged 
views which Jefferson had ever entertained, soon led 
him into active political life. In 1769 he was chosen 
a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses In 
1772 he married Mrs. Martha Skelton, a very beauti- 
ful, wealthy and highly accomplished young widow 

Upon Mr. Jefferson's large estate at Shadwell, thsre 
was a majestic swell of land, called Monticello, which 
commanded a prospect of wonderful extent and 
beauty. This spot Mr. Jefferson selected for his new 
home; and here he reared a mansion of modest ye' 
elegant architecture, which, next to Mount Vernon 
became the most distinguished resort in our land. 

In 1775 he was sent to the Cclonial Congress, 
where, though a silent member, his abilities as a 
writer and a reasoner soon become known, and he 
was placed u[>on a number of important committees, 
and was chairman of the one appointed for the draw- 
ing up of a" declaration of independence. This com- 
mittee consisted of Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, 
Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman and Robert R. 
Livingston. Jefferson, as chairman, was appointed 
to draw up the paper. Franklin and Adams suggested 
a few verbal changes before it was submitted to Con- 
gress. On June 28, a few slight changes were made 
in it by Congress, and it was passed and signed July 
4, 1776. What must have been the feelings of that 



28 



THOMAS JEFFERSON. 



man — what the emotions that swelled his breast — 
who was charged with the preparation of that Dec- 
laration, which, while it made known the wrongs of 
America, was also to publish her to the world, free, 
soverign and independent. It is one of the most re- 
markable papers ever written ; and did noother effort 
of the mind of its author exist, that alone would be 
sufficient to stamp his name with immortality. 

In 1779 Mr. Jefferson was elected successor to 
Patrick Henry, as Governor of Virginia. Atone time 
the British officer, Tarleton, sent a secret expedition to 
Momicello, to capture the Governor. Scarcely five 
minutes elapsed after the hurried escape of Mr. Jef- 
ferson and his family, ere his mansion was in posses- 
sion of the British troops. His wife's health, never 
very good, was much injured by this excitement, and 
in the summer of 1782 she died. 

Mr. Jefferson was elected to Congress in 1783. 
Two years later he was appointed Minister Plenipo- 
tentiary to France. Returning to the United States 
in September, T789, he became Secretary of State 
in Washington's cabinet. This position he resigned 
Jan. 1, 1794. In 1797, he was chosen Vice Presi- 
dent, and four years later was elected President over 
Mr. Adams, with Aaron Burr as Vice President. In 
1804 he was re-elected with wonderful unanimity, 
and George Clinton, Vice President. 

The early part of Mr. Jefferson's second adminstra- 
tion was disturbed by an event which threatened the 
tranquility and peace of the Union; this was the con- 
spiracy of Aaron Burr. Defeated in the late election 
to the Vice Presidency, and led on by an unprincipled 
ambition, this extraordinary man formed the plan of a 
military expedition into the Spanish territories on our 
southwestern frontier, for the purpose of forming there 
a new republic. This has been generally supposed 
was a mere pretext ; and although it has not been 
generally known what his real plans were, there is no 
doubt that they were of a far more dangerous 
character. 

In 1809, at the expiration of the second term for 
which Mr. Jefferson had been elected, he determined 
to retire from political life. For a period of nearly 
forty years, he had been continually before the pub- 
lic, and all that time had been employed in offices of 
the greatest trust and responsibility. Having thus de- 
voted the best part of his life to the service of his 
country, he now felt desirous of that rest which his 
declining years required, and upon the organization of 
the new administration, in March, 1809, he bid fare- 
well forever to public life, and retired to Monticelio. 

Mr. Jefferson was profuse in his hospitality. Whole 
families came in their coaches with their horses, — 
fathers and mothers, boys and girls, babies and 
nurses, — and remained three and even six months. 
Life at Monticelio, for years, resembled that at a 
fashionable watering-place. 

The fourth of July, 1826, being the fiftieth anniver- 



sary of the Declaration of American Independence, 
great preparations were made in every part of the 
Union for its celebration, as the nation's jubilee, and 
the citizens of Washington, to add to the solemnity 
ot the occasion, invited Mr. Jefferson, as the framer. 
and one of the few surviving signers of the Declara- 
tion, to participate in their festivities. But an ill- 
ness, which had been of several weeks duration, and 
had been continually increasing, compelled him to 
decline the invitation. 

On the second of July, the disease under which 
he was laboring left him, but in such a reduced 
state that his medical attendants, entertained no 
hope of his recovery. From this time he was perfectly 
sensible that his last hour was at hand. On the next 
day, which was Monday, he asked of those around 
him, the day of the month, and on being told it was 
the third of July, he expressed the earnest wish tha': 
he might be permitted lo breathe the air of the fiftieth 
anniversary. His prayer was heard — that day, whose 
dawn was hailed with such rapture through our land, 
burst upon his eyes, and then they were closed for- 
ever. And what a noble consummation of a noble 
life! To die on that day, — the birthday of a nation,- - 
the day which his own name and his own act had 
rendered glorious; to die amidst the rejoicings and 
festivities of a whole nation, who looked up to him, 
as the author, under God, of their greatest blessings, 
was all that was wanting to fill up the record his life. 

Almost at the same hour of his death, the kin- 
dred spirit of the venerable Adams, as if to bear 
him company, left the scene of his earthly honors. 
Hand in hand they had stood forth, the champions of 
freedom ; hand in hand, during the dark and desper- 
ate struggle of the Revolution, they had cheered and 
animated their desponding countrymen; for half a 
century they had labored together for the good of 
the country; and now hand in hand they depart. 
In their lives they had been united in the same great 
cause of liberty, and in their deaths they were not 
divided. 

In person Mr. Jefferson was tall and thin, rather 
above six feet in height, but well formed; his eyes 
were light, his hair originally red, in after life became 
white and silvery ; his complexion was fair, his fore- 
head broad, and his whole countenance intelligent and 
thoughtful. He possessed great fortitude of mind as 
well as personal courage ; and i.is command of tem- 
per was such that his oldest and most intimate friends 
never recollected to have seen him in a passion. 
His manners, though dignified, were simple and un- 
affected, and his hospitality was so unbounded that 
all found at his house a ready welcome. In conver- 
sation he was fluent, eloquent and enthusiastic; and 
his language was remarkably pure and correct. He 
was a finished classical scholar, and in his writings is 
discemable the care with which he formed his style 
upon the best models of antiquity. 







/ (ZA< l ' ' -^^ 



£^iC^-( c K 



FOURTH PRESIDENT. 



3i 




pnQES npDisoij. 




AMES MADISON, "Father 
of the Constitution," and fourth 
F President of the United States, 
was horn March 16, 1757, and 
died at his home in Virginia, 
^® June 28, 1836. The name of 
James Madison is inseparably con- 
nected with most of the important 
events in that heroic period of our 
country during which the founda- 
tions of this great republic were 
laid. He was the last of the founders 
of the Constitution of the United 
States to be called to his eternal 
reward. 

The Madison family were among 
the early emigrants to the New World, 
landing upon the shores of the Chesa- 
peake but 15 years after the settle- 
ment of Jamestown. The father of 
James Madison was an opulent 
planter, residing upon a very fine es- 
tate called "Montpelier," Orange Co., 
Va. The mansion was situated in 
the midst of scenery highly pictur- 
esque and romantic, on the west side 
of South-west Mountain, at the foot of 
Blue Ridge. It was but 25 miles from the home of 
Jefferson at Monticello. The closest personal and 
political attachment existed between these illustrious 
men, from their early youth until death. 

The early education of Mr. Madison was conducted 
mostly at home under a private tutor. At the age of 
18 he was sent to Princeton College, in New Jersey. 
Here he applied himself to study with the most im- 



prudent zeal; allowing himself, for months, but three 
hours' sleep out of the 24. His health thus became so 
seriously impaired that he never recovered any vigor 
of constitution. He graduated in 177 1, with a feeble 
body, with a character of utmost purity, and with a 
mind highly disciplined and richly stored with learning 
which embellished and gave proficiency to his subsr" 
quent career. 

Returning to Virginia, he commenced the study of 
law and a course of extensive and systematic reading. 
This educational course, the spirit of the times in 
which he lived, and the society with which he asso- 
ciated, all combined to inspire him with a strong 
love of liberty, and to train him for his life-work ot 
a statesman. Being naturally of a religious turn of 
mind, and his frail health leading him to think that 
his life was not to be long, he directed especial atten- 
tion to theological studies. Endowed with a mind 
singularly free from passion and prejudice, and with 
almost unequalled powers of reasoning, he weighed 
all the arguments for and against revealed religion, 
until his faith became so established as never to 
be shaken. 

In the spring of 1776, when 26 years of age, he 
was elected a member of the Virginia Convention, to 
frame the constitution of the State. The next year 
(1777), he was a candidate for the General Assembly. 
He refused to treat the whisky-lovir.g voters, and 
consequently lost his election; but those who had 
witnessed the talent, energy and public spirit of the 
modest young man, enlisted themselves in his behalf, 
and he was appointed to the Executive Council. 1 

Both Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson were 
Governors of Virginia while Mr. Madison remained 
member of the Council ; and their appreciation of his 



32 



/AMES MADISON. 



intellectual, social and moral worth, contributed not 
a little to his subsequent eminence. In the year 
1780, he was elected a member of the Continental 
Congress. Here he met the most illustrious men in 
our land, and he was immediately assigned to one of 
the most conspicuous positions among them. 

For three years Mr. Madison continued in Con- 
gress, one of its most active and influential members. 
In the year 1784, his term having expired, he was 
elei ted a member of the Virginia Legislature. 

No man felt more deeply than Mr. Madison the 
utter inefficiency of the old confederacy, with no na- 
tional government, with no power to form treaties 
which would be binding, or to enforce law. There 
was not any State more prominent than Virginia in 
the declaration, that an efficient national government 
must be formed. In January, 1786, Mr. Madison 
carried a resolution through the General Assembly of 
Virginia, inviting the other States to appoint commis- 
sioners to meet in convention at Annapolis to discuss 
this subject. Five States only were represented. The 
convention, however, issued another call, drawn up 
by Mr. Madison, urging all the States to send their 
delegates to Philadelphia, in May, 1787, to draft 
a Constitution for the United States, to take the place 
of that Confederate League. The delegates met at 
the time appointed. Every State but Rhode Island 
was represented. George Washington was chosen 
president of the convention; and the present Consti- 
tution of the United States was then and there formed. 
There was, perhaps, no mind and no pen more ac- 
tive in framing this immortal document than the mind 
and the pen of James Madison. 

The Constitution, adopted by a vote Si to 79, was 
to be presented to the several States for acceptance. 
But grave solicitude was felt. Should it be rejected 
we should be left but a conglomeration of independent 
States, with but little power at home and little respect 
abroad. Mr. Madison was selected by the conven- 
tion to draw up an address to the people of the United 
States, expounding the principles of the Constitution, 
and urging its adoption. There was great opposition 
to it at first, but it at length triumphed over all, and 
went into effect in 1789. 

Mr. Madison was elected to the House of Repre- 
sentatives in the first Congress, and soon became the 
avowed leader of the Republican party. While in 
New York attending Congress, he met Mrs Todd, a 
young widow of remarkable power of fascination, 
whom he married. She was in person and character 
queenly, and probably no lady has thus far occupied 
so prominent a position in the very peculiar society 
which has constituted our republican court as Mrs. 
Mndison. 

Mr. Madison served as Secretary of State under 
Jefferson, and at the close of his administration 
was chosen President. At this time the encroach- 
ments of England had brought us to the verge of war. 



British orders in council destioyed our commerce, and 
our flag was exposed to constant insult. Mr. Madison 
was a man of peace. Scholarly in his taste, retiring 
in Ins disposition, war had no charms for him. But the 
meekest spirit can be roused. It makes one's blood 
boil, even now, to think of an American ship brought 
to, upon the ocean, by the guns of an English cruiser. 
A young lieutenant steps on board and orders the 
crew to be paraded before him. With great nonchal- 
ance he selects any number whom he may please to 
designate as British subjects ; orders them down the 
ship's side into his boat; and places them on the gun- 
deck of his man-of-war, to fight, by compulsion, the 
battles of England. This right of search and im- 
pressment, no efforts of our Government could induce 
the British cabinet to relinquish. 

On the 1 8th of June, 1812, President Madison gave 
his appioval to an act of Congress declaring war 
against Great Britain. Notwithstanding the bitter 
hostility of the Federal party to the war, the country 
in general approved; and Mr. Madison, on the 4th 
of March, 18 13, was re-elected by a large majority, 
and entered upon his second term of office. This is 
not the place to describe the various adventures of 
this war on the land and on the water. Our infant 
navy then laid the foundations of its renown in grap- 
pling with the most formidable power which ever 
swept the seas. The contest commenced in earnest 
by the appearance of a British fleet, early in February, 
18 13, in Chesapeake Bay, declaring nearly the whole 
coast of the United States under blockade. 

The Emperor of Russia offered his services as me 
ditator. America accepted ; England refused. A Brit- 
ish force of five thousand men landed on the banks 
of the Patuxet River, near its entrance into Chesa- 
peake Bay, and marched rapidly, by way of Bladens- 
burg, upon Washington. 

The straggling little city of Washington was thrown 
into consternation. The cannon of the brief conflict 
at Bladensburg echoed through the streets of the 
metropolis. The whole population fled from the city. 
The President, leaving Mrs. Madison in the White 
House, with her carriage drawn up at the doer to 
await his speedy return, hurried to meet the officers 
in a council of war He met our troops utterly routed, 
and he could not go back without danger of being 
captured. But few hours elapsed ere the Presidential 
Mansion, the Capitol, and all the public buildings in 
Washington were in flames. 

The war closed after two years of fighting, and on 
Feb. 13, 1815, the treaty of peace was signed at Ghent. 

On the 4th of March, 1817, his second term of 
office expired, and he resigned the Presidential chair 
to his friend, James Monroe. He retired to his beau- 
tiful home at Montpelier, and there passed the re- 
mainder of his days. On June 28, 1836, then at the 
age of 85 years, he fell asleep in death. Mrs. Madi- 
son died July 12, 1849. 




i '-*" 



y^?^^ 7 fa '^~ ft >■ ^Z_ 



FIFTH PRESIDENT. 



35 




prrjEg njoiftOE. ««B» 






AMES MONROE, the fifth 
Presidentof The United States, 
was born in Westmoreland Co., 
Va., April 28, 1758. His early 
life was passed at the place of 
\^.> /* ' nativity. His ancestors had for 
'1^'aJLs many years resided in the prov- 
n™fet| ince in which lie was born. When, 
•'^''7'. ai 1; j ears of age, in the process 
^MsKf °'" completing ^ s education at 
William and Mary College, the Co- 
lonial Congress assembled at Phila- 
delphia to deliberate upon the un- 
just and manifold oppressions of 
Great Britian, declared the separa- 
tion of the Colonies, and promul- 
gated the Declaration of Indepen- 
dence. Had he been born ten years before it is highly 
probable that he would have been one of the signers 
of that celebrated instrument. At this time he left 
school and enlisted among the patriots. 

He joined the army when everything looked hope- 
less and gloomy. The number of deserters increased 
from day to day. The invading armies came pouring 
in ; and the tories not only favored the cause of the 
mother country, but disheartened the new recruits, 
who were sufficiently terrified at the prospect of con- 
uncling with an enemy whom they had been taught 
to deem invincible. To such brave spirits as James 
Monroe, who went right onward, undismayed through 
difficulty and danger, the United States owe their 
political emancipation. The young cadet joined the 
ranks, and espoused the cause of his injured country, 
with a linn determination to live o. iie with her strife 



for liberty. Firmly yet sadly he shared in the mel- 
ancholy retreat from Harleam Heights and White 
Plains, and accompanied the dispirited army as it fled 
before its foes through New Jersey. In four months 
after the Declaration of Independence, the patriots 
had been beaten in seven battles. At the battle of 
Trenton he led the vanguard, and, in the act of charg- 
ing upon the enemy he received a wound in the left, 
shoulder. 

As a reward for his bravery, Mr. Monroe was pro- 
moted a captain of infantry ; and, having recovered 
from his wound, he rejoined the army. He, however, 
receded from the line of promotion, by becoming an 
officer in the staff of Lord Sterling. During the cam- 
paigns of 1777 and 1778, in the actions of Brandy 
wine, Germantown and Monmouth, he continued 
aid-de-camp; but becoming desirous to regain his 
position in the army, he exerted himself to collect a 
regiment for the Virginia line. This scheme failed 
owing to the exhausted condition of the State. Upon 
this failure he entered the office of Mr. Jefferson, at 
that period Governor, and pursued, with considerable 
ardor, the study of common law. He did not, however, 
entirely lay aside the knapsack for the green bag; 
but on the invasions of the enemy, served as avolun 
teer, during the two years of his legal pursuits. 

In 1782, he was elected from King George county, 
a member of the Leglislature of Virginia, and by thai 
body he was elevated to a seat in the Executive 
Council. He was thus honored with the confidence 
of his fellow citizens at 23 years of age ; and having 
at this early period displayed some of that ability 
and aptitude for legislation, which were afterwards 
employed with unremitting energy for the public good, 



3« 



JAMES MONROE. 



he was in the succeeding year chosen a member of 
ihe Congress of the United States. 
Deeplyas Mr. Monroe felt the imperfections of the old 
Confederacy, he was opposed to the new Constitution, 
ihinking, with many others of *he Republican party, 
that it gave too much power to the Central Government, 
and not enough to the individual States. Still he re- 
tained the esteem of his friends who were its warm 
supporters, and who, notwithstanding his opposition 
secured its adoption. In 1789, he became a member 
of the United States Senate; which office he held for 
four years. Every month the line of distinction be- 
tween the two great parties which divided the nation, 
the Federal and the Republican, was growing more 
distinct. The two prominent ideas which now sep- 
arated them were, that the Republican party was in 
sympathy with France, and also in favor of such a 
strict construction of the Constitution as to give the 
Central Government as little power, and the State 
Governments as much power, as the Constitution would 
warrant. The Federalists sympathized with England, 
and were in favor of a liberal construction of the Con- 
stitution, which would give as much power to the 
Central Government as tnat document could possibly 
authorize. 

The leading Federalists and Republicans were 
alike noble men, consecrating all their energies to the 
good of the nation. Two more honest men or more 
pure patriots than John Adams the Federalist, and 
James Monroe the Republican, never breathed. In 
building up this majestic nation, which is destined 
to eclipse all Grecian and Assyrian greatness, the com- 
bination of their antagonism was needed to create the 
light equilibrium. And yet each in his day was de- 
nounced as almost a demon. 

Washington was then President. England had es- 
poused the cause of the Bourbons against the princi- 
ples of the French Revolution. All Europe was drawn 
into the conflict. We were feeble and far away. 
Washington issued a proclamation of neutrality be- 
tween these contending powers. France had helped 
us in the struggle for our liberties. All the despotisms 
of Europe were now combined to prevent the French 
from escaping from a tyranny a thousand-fold worse 
than that which we had endured Col. Monroe, more 
magnanimous than prudent, was anxious that, at 
whatever hazard, we should help our old allies in 
their extremity. It was the impulse of a generous 
and noble nature. He violently opposed the Pres- 
ident's proclamation as ungrateful and wanting in 
magnanimity. 

Washington, who could appreciate such a character, 
developed his calm, serene, almost divine greatness, 
by appointing that very James Monroe, who was de- 
nouncing the policy of the Government, as the minister 
of that Government to the Republic of France. Mr. 
Monroe was welcomed by the National Convention 
in France wit a the most enthusiastic demonstrations. 



Shortly after his return to this countrv, Mr. Mon- 
roe was elected Governor of Virginia, and held the 
office for three yeais. He was again sent to France to 
co-operate with Chancellor Livingston in obtaining 
the vast territory then known as the Province of 
Louisiana, which France had but shortly before ob- 
tained from Spain. Their united efforts were suc- 
cessful. For the comparatively small sum of fifteen 
millions of dollars, the entire territory of Orleans and 
district of Louisiana were added to the United States. 
This was probably the largest transfer of real estate 
which was ever made in all the history of the world. 

From France Mr. Monroe went to England to ob- 
tain from that country some recognition of oik 
rights as neutrals, and to remonstrate against those 
odious impressments of our seamen. but Eng- 
land was unrelenting. He again returned to Eng- 
land on the same mission, but could receive no 
redress. He returned to his home and was again 
chosen Governor of Virginia. This he soon resigned 
to accept the position of Secretary of State under 
Madison. While in this office war with England was 
declared, the Secretary of War resigned, and during 
these trying times, the duties of the War Department 
were also put upon him. He was truly the armor- 
bearer of President Madison, and the most efficient 
business man in his cabinet. Upon the return ol 
peace he resigned the Department of War, but con- 
tinued in the office of Secretary of State until the ex- 
piration of Mr. Madison's adminstration. At the elec- 
tion held the previous autumn Mr. Monroe himself had 
been chosen President with but little opposition, and 
upon March 4, 1817, was inaugurated. Four year? 
later he was elected for a second term. 

Among the important measures of his Presidency 
were the cession of Florida to the United States; the 
Missouri Compromise, and the " Monroe doctrine.' 

This famous doctrine, since known as the " Monroe 
doctrine," was enunciated by him in 1823. At thar 
time the United States had recognized the independ- 
ence of the South American states, and did not wish 
to have European powers longer attempting to sub 
due portions of the American Continent. The doctrine 
is as follows: "That we should consider any attempt 
on the part of European powers to extend their sys- 
tem to any portion of this hemisphere as dangerous 
to our peace and safety," and "that we could not 
view any interposition for the purpose of oppressing 
or controlling American governments or provinces in 
any other light than as a manifestation by European 
powers of an unfriendly disposition toward the United 
States." This doctrine immediately affected thecourse 
of foreign governments, and has become the approved 
sentiment of the United States. 

At the end of his second term Mr Monroe retired 
to his home in Virginia, where he lived until 7830, 
when he went to New York to live with his son-in- 
law. In that city he died, on the 4th of July. '831 




J , 3 , "** ^ 'V»v5 



SIXTH PRES1DRNT. 










>©#/*£ f^ 







OHN QUINCY ADAMS, the 
sixth President of the United 
^States, was born in the rural 
home of his honored father. 
John Adams, in Qnincy, Mass , 
on the i ith cf July, 1767. His 
mother, a woman of exalted 
3 worth, watched over his childhood 
during the almost constant ab- 
sence of his father. When but 
eight years of age, he stood with 
' his mother on an eminence, listen- 
ing to the booming of the great bat- 
tle on Bunker's Hill, and gazing on 
upon the smoke and flames billow- 
ing up from the conflagration of 
Charlestown. 

When but eleven years old he 
took a tearful adieu of his mother, 
to sail with his fattier for Europe, 
through a fleet ot hostile British cruisers. The bright, 
animated boy spent a year and a half in Paris, where 
his father was associated with Franklin and Lee as 
minister plenipotentiary. His intelligence attracted 
the notice of these distinguished men, and he received 
from them flattering marks of attention. 

Mr. John Adams had scarcely returned to this 
country, in 1779, ere he was again sent abroad Again 
"John Quincy accompanied his father. At Paris he 
applied himself with great diligence, for six months, 
to .-.•udy; then accom pained his father to Holland, 
where he entered, first a school in Amsterdam, then 
the University at Leyden. About a year from this 
time, in 178 1, when the manly boy was but fourteen 
yea's of age, he was selected by Mr. Dana, our min- 
ister to the Russian court, as his private secretary. 

In this school of incessant labor and of enobling 
culture he spent fourteen months, and then returned 
to Holland through Sweden, Denmark, Hamburg and 
Bremen. This long journey he took alone, in the 
winter, when in his sixteenth year. Again he resumed 
xus studies, under a pri"ate tutor, at Hague. Thence. 



in the spring of 1782, he accompanied his father i: 
Paris, traveling leisurely, and forming acquaintance 
with the most distinguished men on the Continent 
examining arcliitectural remains, galleries of paintings 
and all renowned works of art. At Paris he again 
became associated with the most illustrious men ol 
all lands in the contemplations of the loftiest temporal 
themes which can engross the human mind Afte" 
a short visit to England he returned to Paris, ana 
consecrated all his energies to study until May, 1785, 
when he returned to America. To a brilliant young 
man of eighteen, who had seen much of the world, 
and who was familiar with the etiquette of courts, a 
residence with his father in London, under such cir- 
cumstances, must have been extremely attractive 
but with judgment very rare in one of his age, he pre- 
ferred to return to America to complete his education 
in an American college. He wished then to study 
law, that with an honorable profession, he might be 
able to obtain an independent support. 

Upon leaving Harvard College, at the age of twenty- 
he studied law for three years. In June, 1794, be- 
ing then but twenty-seven years of age, he was ap- 
pointed by Washington, resident minister at the 
Netherlands. Sailing from Boston in July, he reached 
London in October, where he was immediately admit- 
ted to the deliberations of Messrs. Jay and Pinckney. 
assisting them in negotiating a commercial treaty with 
Gieat Brilian. After thus spending a fortnight ii 
London, he proceeded to the Hague. 

In July, 1797, he left the Hague to go to Portugal as 
minister plenipotentiary. On his way to Portugal, 
upon arriving in London, he met with despatches 
directing him to the court of Benin, but requesting 
him to remain in London until he should receive his 
instructions. While waiting he was mairied to a» 
American lady to whom he had been previously en- 
gaged, — M'.ss Louisa Catherine Tohnson. daughter 
of Mr. Joshua Johnson, American consul in I ondon 
a lady endownd with that beauty and those accom- 
plishment which eminently fitted her to move in tm 
elevated sphere for which she w;is c'.os'ir.ed 



40 



JOHN QUINCY ADAMS. 



He reached Berlin with his wife in November, 1797 ; 
where he remained until July, 1799, when, having ful- 
filled all the purposes of his mission, he solicited his 
recall. 

Soon after his return, in 1802, he was chosen to 
the Senate of Massachusetts, from Boston, and then 
was elected Senator of the United States for six years, 
from the 4th of March, 1804. His reputation, his 
ability and his experience, placed him immediately 
among the most prominent and influential members 
of that body. Especially did he sustain the Govern- 
ment in its measures of resistance to the encroach- 
ments of England, destroying our commerce and in- 
sulting our flag. There was no man in America more 
familiar with the arrogance of the British court upon 
these points, and no one more resolved to present 
a firm resistance. 

In 1809, Madison succeeded Jefferson in the Pres- 
idential chair, and he immediately nominated John 
Quincy Adams minister to St. Petersburg. Resign- 
ing his professorship in Harvard College, he embarked 
at Boston, in August, 1809. 

While in Russia, Mr. Adams was an intense stu- 
dent. He devoted his attention to the language and 
history of Russia; to the Chinese trade; to the 
European system of weights, measures, and coins; to 
the climate and astronomical observations ; while he 
kept up a familiar acquaintance with the Greek and 
Latin classics. In all the universities of Europe, a 
more accomplished scholar could scarcely be found. 
All through life the Bible constituted an importart 
part of his studies. It was his rule to read five 
chapters every day. 

On the 4th of March, 1817, Mr. Monroe took the 
Presidential chair, and immediately appointed Mr. 
Adams Secretary of State. Taking leave of his num- 
erous friends in public and private life in Europe, he 
sailed in June, 1819, for the United States. On the 
18th of August, he again crossed the threshold of his 
home in Quincy. During the eight years of Mr. Mon- 
roe's administration, Mr. Adams continued Secretary 
of State. 

Some time before :he close of Mr. Monroe's second 
term of office, new candidates began to be presented 
for the Presidency. The friends of Mr. Adams brought 
forward his name. It was an exciting campaign. 
Party spirit was never more bitter. Two hundred and 
sixty electoral votes were cast. Andrew Jackson re- 
ceived ninety nine; John Quincy Adams, eighty-four; 
William H. Crawford, forty-one; Henry Clay, thirty- 
seven. As there was no choice by the people, the 
question went to the House of Representatives. Mr. 
Clay gave the vote of Kentucky to Mr. Adams, and 
he was elected. 

The friends of all the disappointed candidates now 
:ombined in a venomous and persistent assault upon 
Mr. Adams. There is nothing more disgraceful in 
»J»e past history of our country than the abuse which 



was poured in one uninterrupted stream, upon this 
high-minded, upright, patriotic man. There never was 
an administration more pure in principles, more con- 
scientiously devoted to the best interests of the coun- 
try, than that of John Quincy Adams; and never, per- 
haps, was there an administration more unscrupu- 
lously and outrageously assailed. 

Mr Adams was, to a very remarkable degree, ab- 
stemious and temperate in his habits; always rising 
early, and taking much exercise. When at his home in 
Quincy, he has been known to walk, before breakfast, 
seven miles to Boston. In Washington, it was said 
that he was the first man up in the city, lighting his 
own fire and applying himself to work in his library 
often long before dawn. 

On the 4th of March, 1829, Mr. Adams retired 
from the Presidency, and was succeeded by Andrew 
Jackson. John C. Calhoun was elected Vice ^resi- 
dent. The slavery question now began to assume 
portentous magnitude. Mr. Adams returned to 
Quincy and to his studies, which he pursued with un- 
abated zeal. But he was not long permitted to re- 
main in retirement. In November, 1830, he was 
elected representative to Congress. For seventeen 
years, until his death, he occupied the post as repre- 
sentative, towering above all his peers, ever ready to 
do brave battle' for freedom, and winning the title of 
" the old man eloquent." Upon taking his seat in 
the House, he announced that he should hold him- 
self bound to no party. Probably there never was a 
member more devoted to his duties. He was usually 
the first in his place in the morning, and the last to 
leave his seat in the evening. Not a measure could 
be brought forward and escape his scrutiny. 'I he 
battle which Mr. Adams fought, almost singly, against 
the proslavery party in the Government, was sublime 
in its moral daring and heroism. For persisting in 
presenting petitions for ihe abolition of slavery, he 
was threatened with indictment by the grand jury 
with expulsion from the House, with assassination 
but no threats could intimidate him, and his final 
triumph was complete. 

It has been said of President Adams, that when his 
body was bent and his hair silvered by the lapse of 
fourscore years, yielding to the simple faith of a little 
child, he was accustomed to repeat every night, before 
he slept, the prayer which his mother taught him in 
his infant years. 

On the 2istof February, r848, he rose on the floor 
of Congress, with a paper in his hand, to address the 
speaker. Suddenly he fell, again stricken by paraly- 
sis, and was caught in the arms of those around him. 
For a time he was senseless, as he was conveyed to 
the sofa in the rotunda. With reviving conscious- 
ness, he opened his eyes, looked calmly around and 
said " This is the end of earth .-"then after a moment's 
pause he added, "/am content." These were the 
last words of the grand " Old Man Eloquent." 





<- 7 /I 



aA. 



n 



'f / 



&L^? 




r 2y 



S£ VENTH PRESIDENT. 













NDREW JACKSON, the 
seventh President of the 
United States, was born in 
Waxhaw settlement, N. (:., 
March 15, 1767, a few days 
after his father's death. His 
parents were poor emigrants 
from Ireland, and took up 
their abode in Waxhaw set- 
tlement, where they lived in 
deepest poverty. 
Andrew, or Andy, as he was 
universally called, grew up a very 
rough, rude, turbulent boy. His 
features were coarse, his form un- 
gainly; and there was but very 
fittle in his character, made visible, which was at- 
tractive. 

When only thirteen years old he joined the volun- 
teers of Carolina against the British invasion. In 
1781, he and his brother Robert were captured and 
imprisoned for a time at Camden. A British officer 
ordered him to brush his mud-spattered boots. " I am 
a prisoner of war, not your servant," was the reply of 
the dauntless boy. 

The brute drew his sword, and aimed a desperate 
Dlow at the head of the helpless young prisoner. 
Andrew raised his hand, and thus received two fear- 
ful gashes, — one on the hand and the other upon the 
head. The officer then turned to his brother Robert 
with the same demand. He also refused, and re- 
ceived a blow from the keen-edged sabre, which quite 
disabled him, and which probably soon after caused 
his death. They suffered much other ill-treatment, and 
were finally stricken with the small-pox. Their 
mother was successful ; i\ obtaining their exchange, 



and took her sick boys home. After a long illn_ss. 
Andrew recovered, and the death of his mother soon 
left him entirely friendless. 

A idrew supported himself in various ways, such aa 
working at the saddler's trade, teaching school and 
clerking in a general store, until 1784, when he 
entered a law office at Salisbury, N. C. He, however, 
gave more attention to the wild amusements of the 
times than to his studies. In 1788, he was appointed 
solicitcr for the western district of North Carolina, of 
which Tennessee was then a part. This involved 
many long and tedious journeys amid dangers of 



every kind, but Andrew Jackson never knew fear. 



and the Indians had no desire to repeat a skirmish' 
witn the Sharp Knife. 

In 1791, Mr. Jackson was married to a woman whc> 
supposed herself divorced from her former husband. 
Great was the surprise of both parties, two years later, 
to find that the conditions of the divorce had just been 
definitely settled by the first husband. The marriage 
ceremony was performed a second time, but the occur- 
rence was often used by his enemies to bring Mr. 
Jackson into disfavor. 

During these years he worked hard at his profes 
sion, and frequently had one or more duels on hand, 
one of which, when he killed Dickenson, was espec- 
ially disgraceful. 

In January, 1796, the Territory of Tennessee then 
containing nearly eighty thousand inhabitants, the 
people met in convention at Knoxville to frame a con- 
stitution. Five were sent from each of the elevu 
counties. Andrew Jackson was one of the delegates." 
The new State was entitled to but one member in 
the National House of Representatives. Andre* lack- 
son was chosen that member. Mounting his horse he 
rode to Philedelphia, where CongTess then held its 



44 



ANDR&1? JACKSON. 



sessions, — a distance of about eight hundred miles. 

Jackson was an earnest advocate of the Demo- 
cratic party. Jefferson was his idol. He admired 
Bonaparte, loved France and hated England. As Mr. 
Jackson took his seat, Gen. Washington, whose 
second term of office was then expiring, delivered his 
last speech to Congress. A committee drew up a 
complimentary address in reply. Andrew Jackson 
did not approve of the address, and was one of the 
twelve who voted against it. He was not willing to 
say that Gen. Washington's adminstration had been 
" wise, firm and patriotic." 

Mr. Jackson was elected to the United States 
Senate in 1797, but soon resigned and returned home. 
Soon after he was chosen Judge of the Supreme Court 
of his State, which position he held for six years. 

When the war of 181 2 with Great Britian com- 
menced, Madison occupied the Presidential chair. 
Aaron Burr sent word to the President that there was 
an unknown man in the West, Andrew Jackson, who 
would do credit to a commission if one were con- 
ferred U|)on him. Just at that time Gen. Jackson 
jffeied his services and those of twenty-five hundred 
volunteers. His offer was accepted, and the troops 
were assembled at Nashville. 

As the British were hourly expected to make an at- 
tack upon New Orleans, where Gen Wilkinson was 
in command, he was ordered to descend the river 
with fifteen hundred troops to aid Wilkinson. The 
Expedition reached Natchez; and after a delay of sev 
eral weeks there, without accomplishing anything, 
the men were ordered back to their homes. But the 
energy Gen. Jackson had displayed, and his entire 
devotion to the comrfort of his soldiers, won him 
golden opinions; and he became the most popular 
man in the State. It was in this expedition that his 
toughness gave him the nickname of " Gld Hickory." 

Soon after this, while attempting to horsewhip Col. 
Thomas H. Benton, for a remark that gentleman 
made about his taking a part as second in a duel, in 
which a younger brother of Benton's was engaged, 
he received two severe pistol wounds. While he was 
lingering u[>on a bed of suffering news came that the 
Indians, who had combined under Tecumseh from 
Florida to the Lakes, to exterminate the white set- 
tlers, were committing the most awful ravages. De- 
cisive action became necessary. Gen. Jackson, with 
his fractured bone just beginning to heal, his arm in 
a sling, and unable to mount his horse without assis- 
tance, gave his amazing energies to the raising of an 
army to rendezvous at Fayettesville, Alabama. 

The Creek Indians had established a strong fort on 
one of the bends of the Tallapoosa River, near the cen- 
ter of Alabama, about fifty miles below Fort Strother. 
vVith an army of two thousand men, Gen Jackson 
traversed the pathless wilderness in a march of eleven 
days. He reached their fort, called Tohopeka or 
Horse-shoe, on the 27th of March. r8ia. The bend 



of the river enclosed nearly one hundred acres of 
tangled forest and wild ravine. Across the narrow 
neck the Indians had constructed a formidable breast- 
work of logs and brush. Here nine hundred warriors, 
with an ample suplyof arms were assembled. 

The fort was stormed. The fight was utterly des- 
perate. Not an Indian would accept of quarter. When 
bleeding and dying, they would fight those who en- 
deavored to spare their lives. From ten in the morn- 
ing until dark, the battle raged. The carnage was 
awful and revolting. Some threw themselves into the 
river; but the unerring bullet struck their heads as 
they swam. Nearly everyone of the nine hundred war- 
rios were killed A few probably, in the night, swam 
the' river and escaped. This ended the war. The 
power of the Creeks was broken forever. This bold 
plunge into the wilderness, with its terriffic slaughter, 
so appalled the savages, that lhe haggard remnants 
of the bands came to the camp, begging for peace. 

This closing of the Creek war enabled us to con- 
centrate all our militia upon the British, who were the 
allies of the Indians No man of less resolute will 
than Gen. Jackson could have conducted this Indian 
campaign to so successful an issue Immediately he 
was appointed major-general. 

Late in August, with an army of two thousand 
men, on a rushing march, Gen. Jackson came to 
Mobile. A British fleet came from Pensacola, landed- 
a force upon the beach, anchored near the little fort, 
and from both ship and shore commenced a furious 
assault The battle was long and doubtful. At length 
one of the ships was blown up and the rest retired. 

Garrisoning Mobile, where he had taken, his little 
army, he moved his troops to New Orleans, 
And the battle of New Orleans which soon ensued, 
was in reality a very arduous campaign. This won 
for Gen. Jackson an imperishable name. Here his 
troops, which numbered about four thousand men, 
won a signal victory over the British army of about 
nine thousand. His loss was but thirteen, while the 
loss of the British was two thousand six hundred. 

The name of Gen. Jackson soon began to be men- 
tioned in connection with the Presidency, but, in 1824, 
he was defeated by Mr. Adams. He was, however, 
successful in the election of 1828, and was re-elected 
for a second term in 1832. In r82Q, just before he 
assumed the reins of the government, he met with 
the most terrible affliction of his life in the death of 
his wife, whom he had loved with a devotion which has 
perhaps never been surpassed. From the shock of 
her death he never recovered. 

His administration was one of the most memorable 
in the annals of our country; applauded oy one party, 
condemned by the other. No man had more bitter 
enemies or warmer friends. At the expiration of his 
two terms of office he retired to the Hermitage, where 
he died June 8, 1845. The last years of Mr. Jack- 
son's life were that of a devoted Christian man. 




7 yt^Cr ^z^/.jU, 



EIGHTH PRESIDENT. 



M| iiprt'iui) Y^I] BOREI). 








@>g^V(M/S^\2) 




ARTIN VAN BUREN, the 
eighth President of the 
United States, was born at 
Kinderhook, N. Y., Dec. 5, 
1782. He died at the same 
place, July 24, 1862. His 
body rests in the cemetery 
at Kinderhook. Above it is 
a plain granite shaft fifteen feet 
high, bearing a simple inscription 
m about half way up on one face. 
V The lot is unfenced, unlxjrdered 
or unbounded by shrub or flower. 

There U out little in the life of Martin Van line 1 
of reman' 'c interest. He fought no battles, engaged 
in no wild adventures. Though his life was stormy in 
political and intellectual conflicts, and lie gained many 
signal victories, his days passed uneventful in those 
incidents which give zest to biography. His an- 
cestors, as his name indicates, were of Dutch origin, 
and were among the earliest emigrants from Holland 
to the banks of the Hudson. His father was a farmer, 
residing in the old town of Kinderhook. His mother, 
also of Dutch lineage, was a woman of superior intel- 
ligence and exemplary piety. 

.-fe was decidedly a precocious boy, developing un- 
usual activity, vigor and strength of mind. At the 
age of fourteen, he had finished his academic studies 
ai his native village, and commenced the study of 
law. As he bad not a collegiate education, seven 
years of study in a law-office were required of him 
before he could be admitted to the bar. Inspired with 
d lofty ambition, and conscious of his powers, he pur- 
sued his studies with indefatigable industry. After 
spending six years in an office in u is native village, 



he went to the city of New York, and prosecuted his 
studies for the seventh year. 

In 1803, Mr. Van Buren, then twenty-one years of 
age, commenced the practice of law in his native vil- 
lage. The great conflict between the Federal and 
Republican party was then at its height. Mr. Van 
Buren was from the beginning a politician. He had, 
perhaps, imbibed that -spirit while listening to the 
many discussions which had been carried on in his 
father's hotel. He was in cordial sympathy with 
Jefferson, and earnestly and eloquently espoused the 
cause of State Rights; though at thai time the Fed- 
eral party held the supremacy both in his town 
and St.ite 

His success and increasing ruputation led him 
after six years of practice, to remove to Hudson, tlu 
county seat of his county. Here he spent seven years, 
constantly gaining strength by contending in tin 
courts with some of the ablest men who have adorned 
the bar of his State. 

Just before leaving Kinderhook for Hudson, Mi. 
Van Buren married a lady alike distinguished for 
beauty and accomplishments. After twelve short 
years she sank into the grave, the victim of consump- 
tion, leaving her husband and four sons to weep ovei 
her loss. For twenty-five years, Mr. Van Buren was: 
an earnest, successful, assiduous lawyer. The record 
of those years is barren in items of public interest. 
In 1X1 2, when thirty years of age, he was chosen to 
the State Senate, and gave his strenuous support to 
Mr. Madison's adminstration. In 1815, he was ap- 
pointed Attorney-General, and the next year moved 
to Albany, the capital of the State. 

While he was acknowledged as one of the most 
p ominent leaders of th6 Democratic party, he had 



48 



MARTIN VAN BUREN. 



the moral courage to avow that true democracy did 
not require that " universal suffrage " which admits 
the vile, the degraded, the ignorant, to the right of 
governing the State. In true consistency with his 
democratic principles, he contended that, while the 
path leading to the privilege of voting should be open 
to every man without distinction, no one should be 
invested with that sacred prerogative, unless he were 
in some degree qualified for it by intelligence, virtue 
and some property interests in the welfare of the 
State. 

In 182 i he was elected :. member of the United 
States Senate; and in the same year, he took a seat 
in the convention to revise the constitution of his 
native State. His course in this convention secured 
the approval of men of all parties. No one could 
doubt the singleness of his endeavors to promote the 
interests of all classes in the community. In the 
Senate of the United States, he rose at once to a 
-onspicuous position as an active and useful legislator. 

In 1827, John Quincy Adams beirg then in the 
Presidential chair, Mr. Van Buren was re-elected to 
.he Senate. He had been from the beginning a de- 
termined opposer of the Administration, adopting the 
'St;ue Rights" view in opposition to what was 
deemed the Federal proclivities of Mr. Adams. 

Soon after this, in 1828, he was chosen Governorof 
the State of New York, and accordingly resigned his 
>eat in the Senate. Probably no one in the United 
States contributed so much towards ejecting John Q. 
^danis from the Presidential chair, and placing in it 
Andrew Jackson, as did Martin Van Buren. Whether 
entitled to the reputation or not, he certainly was re- 
garded throughout the United States as one of the 
most skillful, sagacious and cunning of politicians 
It was sup[»sed that no one knew so well as he how 
to touch the secret sptings of action; how to pull all 
the wires to put his machinery in motion; and how to 
organize a political army which would, secretly and 
Stealthily accomplish the most gigantic results. By 
these powers it is said that lie outwitted Mr. Adams, 
Mr. Clay, Mr. Webster, and secured results which 
few thought then could be accomplished. 

When Andrew Jackson was elected President he 
ap]K,inted Mr. Van Buren Secretary of Sta'e. This 
position he resigned in 1831, and was immediately 
appointed Minister to England, where he went the 
same autumn. The Senate, however, when it met, 
refused to ratify the nomination, and he returned 



home, apparently untroubled; was nominated Vice 
President in the place of Calhoun, at 'he re-election 
of President Jackson ; and with smiles for all and 
downs for none, he took his place at the head of that 
Senate which had refused to confirm his nomination 
as ambassador. 

His rejection by the Senate roused all the zeal of 
President Jackson in behalf of his repudiated favor- 
ite; and this, probably more than any other cause, 
secured his elevation to the chair of the Chief Execu 
tive. On the 20th of May, 1836, Mr. Van Buren re- 
ceived the Democratic nomination to succeed Gen. 
Jackson as President of the United States. He was 
elected by a handsome majority, to the delight of the 
retiring President. " Leaving New York out of the 
canvass," says Mr. Parton, "the election of Mr. Van 
Buren to the Presidency was as much the act of Gen. 
Jackson as though the Constitution had conferred 
upon him the power to appoint a successor." 

His administration was filled with exciting events. 
The insurrection in Canada, which threatened to in- 
volve this country in war with England, the agitation 
of the slavery question, and finally the great commer- 
cial panic which spread over the country, all were 
trials to his wisdom. The financial distress was at- 
tributed to the management of the Democratic party, 
and brought the President into such disfavor that he 
failed of re election. 

Willi the exception of being nominated for the 
Presidency by the "Free Soil" Democrats, in 1848, 
Mr. Van Buren lived quietly upon his estate until 
his death. 

He had ever been a prudent man, of frugal h&b'ts. 
and living within his income, had now fortunately a 
competence for his declining years. His unblemished 
character, his commanding abilities, his unquestioned 
patriotism, and the distinguished positions which he 
had occupied in the government of our country, se- 
cured to him not only the homage of his party, but 
the respect ot the whole community. It was on the 
4th of March, 1841, that Mr. Van Buren retired from 
the presidency. From his fine estate at Lindenwald, 
he still exerted a powerful influence upon the politics 
of the country. From this time until his death, on 
the 24th of July, 1862, at the age of eighty years, he 
resided at Lindenwald, a gentleman of leisure, of 
culture and of wealth; enjoyirg in a healthy old 
age, probably far more happiness than he had before 
experienced amid the stormy scenes of hi? active life. 







fa. Jfc fr&VL^D 



T^^ 



NINTH PRESIDENT. 



5' 




WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON. 






k 



. 



M ILLIAM HENRY HARRI- 
@) SON, the ninth President of 

S) the United States, was born 



at Berkeley, Va., Feb. 9, 1773. 
His father, Benjamin Harri- 
son, was in comparatively op- 
ulent circumstances, and was 
one of the most' distinguished 
men of his day. He was an 
intimate friend of George 
Washington, u as early elected 
a member of the Continental 
Congress, and was conspicuous 
amo'ig the patriots of Virginia in 
resisting the encroachments of the 
British crown. In the cejebrated 
Congress of 1775, Benjamin Har- 
rison and John Hancock were 
both candidates for the office of 
speaker. 

Mr Harrison was subsequently 
chosen Governor of Virginia, and 
was twice re-elected. His son, 
William Henry, of course enjoyed 
in childhood all the advantages which wealth and 
intellectual and cultivated society could give. Hav- 
ing received a thorough common-school education, he 
entered Hampden Sidney College, where he graduated 
with honor soon after the death of his father. He 
then repaired to Philadelphia tostudy medicine under 
the instructions of Dr. Rush and the guardianship of 
i'obert Morris, both of whom were, with his father, 
rs of the Declaration of Independence. 
Jpon the outbreak of the Indian troubles, and not- 
withstanding the "-emonsttances of his friends, he 
abandoned his medical studies ard entered the army, 
,iaving obtain*"! a commission of Ensign from Presi- 



dent Washington. He was then but 19 yer.rs old. 
From that time he passed gradually upward in rank 
until he became aid to General Wayne, after whose 
death he resigned his commission. He was then ap- 
pointed Secretary of the North-western Territory. This 
Territory »vas then entitled to but one member in 
Congress and Capt. Harrison was chosen to fill that 
position. 

In the spring of 1800 the North-western Territory 
was divided by Congress into two portions. The 
eastern portion, comprising the region now embraced 
in the State of Ohio, was called " The Territory 
north-west of the Ohio." The western portion, which 
included what is now called Indiana, Illinois and 
Wisconsin, was called the "Indiana Territory." Wil- 
liam Henry Harrison, then 27 years of age, was ap- 
pointed by John Adams, Governor of the Indiana 
Territory, and immediately after, also Governor of 
Upper Louisiana. He was thus ruler over almost as 
extensive a realm as any sovereign upon the globe. He 
was Superintendent of Indian Affairs, and was in- 
vested with powers nearly dictatorial over the now 
rapidly increasing white population. The ability and 
fidelity with which he discharged these responsible 
duties may be inferred from the fact that he was four 
times appointed to this office — first by John Adams, 
twice by Thomas Jefferson and afterwards by Presi- 
dent Madison. 

When he began his adminstration there were but 
three white settlements in that almost boundless region, 
now crowded with cities and resounding with all the 
tumult of wealth and traffic . ( >ne of these settlements 
was on the Ohio, nearly opposite Louisville; one at 
Vincennes, 011 the Wabash, and the thiid a French 
settlement. 

The vast wilderness over which Gov. Harrison 
reigned was filled with many tribes of Indians. Aho.i' 



s* 



WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON. 



the year 1806, two extraordinary men, twin brothers, 
of the Shawnese tribe, rose among them. One of 
inese was called Tecumseh, or " The Crouching 
Panther;" the other, Olliwacheca, or "The Prophet.'' 
Tecumseh was not only an Indian warrior, but a man 
of great sagacity, far-reaching foresight and indomit- 
able perseverance in any enterprise in which he might 
engage. He was inspired with the highest enthusiasm, 
and had long regarded with dread and with hatred 
the encroachment of the whites upon the hunting- 
grounds of his fathers. His brother, the Prophet, was 
anorator, who could sway the feelings of the untutored 
Indian as the gale tossed the tree -tops beneath which 
they dwelt. 

But the Prophet was not merely anorator: he was, 
in the superstitious minds of the Indians, invested 
with the superhuman dignity of a medicine-man or a 
magician. With an enthusiasm unsurpassed by Peter 
the Hermit rousing Europe to the crusades, he went 
from tribe to tribe, assuming that he was specially sent 
by the Great Spirit. 

Gov. Harrison made many attempts to conciliate 
the Indians, but at last the war came, and at Tippe- 
canoe the Indians were routed with great slaughter. 
October 28, 1812, his army began its march. When 
near the Prophet's town three Indians of rank made 
their appearance and inquired why Gov. Harrison was 
approaching them in so hostile an attitude. After a 
short conference, arrangements were made for a meet- 
ing the next day, to agree upon terms of peace. 

But Gov. Harrison was too well acquainted with 
the Indian character to be deceived by such protes- 
tations. Selecting a favorable spot for his night's en- 
campment, he took every precaution against surprise 
His troops were posted in a hollow square, and slept 
upon their arms. 

The troops threw themselves upon the ground for 
rest; but every man had his accoutrements on, his 
loaded musket by his side, and his bayonet fixed. The 
wakeful Governor, between three and four o'clock in 
the morning, had risen, and was sitting in conversa- 
tion with his aids by the embers of a waning fire. It 
was a chill, cloudy morning with a drizzling rain. In 
the darkness, the Indians had crept as near as possi- 
ble, and j'ist then, with a savage yell, rushed, with all 
the desperation which superstition and passion most 
highly inflamed could give, upon the left flank of the 
little army. The savages had been amply provided 
with guns and ammunition by the English. Their 
war-whoop was accompained by a shower of bullets. 

The camp-fires were instantly extinguished, as the 
light aided the Indians in their aim. With hide- 
pus yells, the Indian bands rushed on, not doubting a 
speedy and an entire victory. But Gen. Harrison's 
troops stood as immovable as the rocks around them 
until day dawned '■ they then made a simultaneous 
charge with the bayonet, and swept every thing be- 
fore them, and completely routing th^ foe. 



Gov. Harrison now had alt his energies tasked 
to the utmost. The British descending from the Can - 
adas, were of themselves a very formidable fone ; but 
with their savage allies, rushing like wolves from the 
forest, searching out every remote farm-house, burn- 
ing, plundering, scalping, torturing, the wide frontier 
was plunged into a state of consternation which even 
the most vivid imagination can but faintly conceive. 
The war-whoop was resounding everywhere in the 
forest. The horizon was illuminated with the conflagra- 
tion of the cabins of the settlers. Gen Hull had made 
the ignominious surrender of his forces at Detroit. 
Under these despairing circumstances, Gov. Harrison 
was appointed by President Madison commander-in- 
chief of the North-western army, with orders to retake 
Detroit, and to protect the frontiers. 

It would be difficult to place a man in a situation 
demanding more energy, sagacity and courage; bill 
General Harrison was found equal to the position, 
and nobly and triumphantly did he meet all the re 
sponsibilities. 

He won the love of his soldiers by always sharing 
with them their fatigue. His whole baggage, while 
pursuing the foe up the Thames, was carried in a 
valise; and his bedding consisted of a single blanket 
lashed over his saddle Thirty-five British officers, 
his prisoners of war, supped with him after the battle. 
The only fare he could give them was beef roasted 
before the fire, without bread or salt. , 

In 1816, Gen. Harrison was chosen a member of 
the National House of Representatives, to represent 
the District of Ohio. In Congress he proved an 
active member; and whenever he spoke, it was with 
force of reason and power of eloquence, which arrested 
the attention of all the members. 

In 1819, Harrison was elected to the Senate of 
Ohio; and in 1824, as one of the presidential electors 
of that State, he gave his vote for Henry Clay. The 
same year he was chosen to the United States Senate. 

In 1836, the friends of Gen. Harrison brought him 
forward as a candidate for the Presidency against 
Van Buren, but he was defeated. At the close of 
Mr. Van Buren's term, he was re-nominated by his 
party, and Mr. Harrison was unanimously nominated 
by the Whigs, with John Tyler forthe Vice Presidenc v. 
The contest was very animated. Gen Jackson gave 
all his influence to prevent Harrison's election ; but 
his triumph was signal. 

The cabinet which he formed, with Daniel Webster 
at its head as Secretary of State, was one of the most 
brilliant with which any President had ever been 
surrounded. Never were the prospects of an admin- 
istration more flattering, or the hopes of the country 
more sanguine. In the midst of these bright and 
joyous prospects, Gen. Harrison was seized by a 
pleurisv-fever and after a few days of violent sick- 
ness, died on the 4th of April ; just one month after 
his inauguration as President of the United States. 




V 1 - 





TENTH PRESIDENT. 



55 




■ - - ,, %m 

OHN TYLER, the tenth 
Presidentof the United States. 
He was born in Charles-city 
Co., Va., March 29, 1790. He 
was the favored child of af- 
fluence and high social po- 
sition. At the early age of 
twelve, John entered William 
and Mary College and grad- 
uated with much honor when 
but seventeen years old. After 
graduating, he devoted him- 
self with great assiduity to the 
study of law, partly with his 
father and portly with Edmund 
Randolph, one of the most distin- 
guished lawyers of Virginia. 

At nineteen years of age, ne 
commenced the practice of law. 
His success was rapid and aston- 
ishing. It is said that three 
months had not elapsed ere there 
was scarcely a case on the dock- 
et of the court in which he was 
tot retained. When but twenty-one vears of age, he 
was almost unanimously e'ected to a seat in the State 
Legislature. He connected himself with the Demo- 
cratic party, and warmly advocated the measures of 
Jefferson and Madison. For five successive years he 
was elected to the Legislature, receiving nearly the 
unanimous vote or his county. 

When but twenty-six years of age, he was elected 
a member of Congress. Here he acted earnestly and 
ably wuh the Democratic party, opposing a national 
bank, internal improvements by the General Govern- 




ment, a protective tariff, and advocating a strict con- 
struction of the Constitution, and the most careful 
vigilance over State rights. His labors in Congress 
were so arduous that before the close of his second 
term he found it necessary to resign and retire to his 
estate in Charles-city Co., to recruit his health. He, 
however, soon after consented to take his seat in the 
State Legislature, where his influence was powerful 
in promoting public works of great utility. With a 
reputation thus canstantly increasing, he was chosen 
by a very large majority of votes, Governor of his 
native State. His administration was signally a suc- 
cessful one. His popularity secured his re-election. 

John Randolph, a brilliant, erratic, half-crazed 
man, then represented Virginia in the Senate of the 
United States. A portion of the Democratic party 
was displeased with Mr. Randolph's wayward course, 
and brought forward John Tyler as his opponent, 
considering him the only man in Virginia of sufficient 
popularity to succeed against the renowned orator of 
Roanoke. Mr. T\ler was the victor. 

In accordance with his professions, upon taking his 
seat in the Senate, he joined the ranks of the opposi- 
tion. He opposed the tariff; he spoke against and 
voted against the bank as unconstitutional; he stren- 
uously opposed all restrictions upon slavery, resist- 
ing all projects of internal improvements by the Gen- 
eral Government, and avowed his sympathy with Mr. 
Calhoun's view of nullification ; he declared that Gen. 
Jackson, by his opposition to the nullifiers, had 
abandoned the principles of the Democratic party. 
Such was Mr. Tyler's record in Congress, — a record 
in perfect accordance with the principles which be 
had always avowed. 

Returning to Virginia, he resumed the practice of 
his profession. There was a rplit in the Deroocr^ic 



5* 



JOHN TYLER. 



Airty. His friends still regarded him as a true Jef- 
iersonian, gave him a dinner, and showered compli- 
ments upon him. He had now attained the age of 
forty-six. His career had been very brilliant. In con- 
sequence of his devotion to public business, his pri- 
vate affairs had fallen into some disorder; and it was 
not without satisfaction that he resumed the practice 
of law, and devoted himself to the culture of his plan- 
tation. Soon after this he removed to Williamsburg, 
for the better education of his children ; and he again 
look his seat in the Legislature of Virginia. 

By the Southern Whigs, he was sent to the national 
convention at Harrisburg to nominate a President in 
'839. The majority of votes were given to Gen. Har- 
rison, a genuine Whig, much to the disappointment of 
the South, who wished for Henry Clay. To concili- 
ate the Southern Whigs and to secure their vote, the 
convention then nominated John Tyler for Vice Pres- 
ident. It was well known that he was not in sympa- 
thy with the Whig party in the Noith: but the Vice 
President has but very little power in the Govern- 
ment, his main and almost only duty being to pre- 
side over the meetings of the Senate. Thus it hap- 
pened that a Whig President, and, in reality, a 
Democratic Vice President were chosen. 

In 1841, Mr. Tyler was inaugurated Vice Presi- 
dent of the United States. In one short month from 
that time, President Harrison died, and Mr. Tyler 
thus .cund himself, to his own surprise and that of 
the whole Nation, an occupant of the Presidential 
chair. This was a new test of the stability of our 
institutions, as it was the first time in the history of our 
country that such an event had occured. Mr. Tyler 
was at home in Williamsburg when he received the 
unexpected tidings of the death of President Harri- 
son. He hastened to Washington, and on the 6th of 
April was inaugurated to the high and responsible 
office. He was placed in a position of exceeding 
delicacy and difficulty. All his long life he had been 
opposed to the main principles of the party which had 
brought him into power. He had ever been a con- 
sistent, honest man, with an unblemished record. 
Gen. Harrison had selected a Whig cabinet. Should 
he retain them, and thus surround himself with coun- 
sellors whose views were antagonistic to his own? or, 
on the other hand, should he turn against the party 
which had elected him and select a cabinet in har- 
mony with himself, and which would oppose all those 
views which the Whigs deemed essential to the pub- 
lic welfare? This was his fearful dilemma. He in- 
vited the cabinet which President Haivrison had 
selected to retain their seats. He reccomm .Mided a 
day of fasting and prayer, that God would guide and 
bless us. 

The Whigs carried through Congress a bill for the 
incorporation of a fiscal bank of the United States. 
The President, after ten days' delay, returned it with 
his veto. He *ue£;ested, however, that he would 



approve of a bill drawn up upon such a plan as he 
proposed. Such a bill was accordingly prepared, and 
privately submitted to him. He gave it his approval. 
It was passed without alteration, and he sent it back 
with his veto. Here commenced the open rupture. 
It is said that Mr. Tyler was provoked to this meas- 
ure by a published letter from the Hon. John M. 
Botts, a distinguished Virginia Whig, who severely 
touched the [aide of the President. 

The opposition now exultingly received the Presi- 
dent into their arms. The party which elected him 
denounced him bitterly. All the members of his 
cabinet, excepting Mr. Webster, resigned. The Whigs 
of Congress, both the Senate and the House, held a 
meeting and issued an address to the people of the 
United States, proclaiming that all political alliance 
between the Whigs and President Tyler were at 
an end. 

Still the President attempted to conciliate. He 
appointed a new cabinet of distinguished Whigs and 
Conservatives, carefully leaving out all strong party 
men. Mr. Webster soon found it necessary to resign, 
forced out by the pressure of his Whig friends. Thus 
the four years of Mr. Tyler's unfortunate administra- 
tion passed sadly away. No one was satisfied. The 
land was filled with murmurs and vituperation. Whigs 
and Democrats alike assailed him. More and more, 
however, he brought himself into sympathy with his 
old friends, the Democrats, until at the close of his term, 
he gave his whole influence to the support of Mr. 
Polk, the Democratic candidate for his successor. 

On the 4th of March, 1845, he retired from the 
harassments of office, tothe regret of neither party, and 
probably to his own unspeakable lelief. His first wife, 
Miss Letitia Christian, died in Washington, in 1842; 
and in June, 1844, President Tyler was again married, 
at New York, to Miss Julia Gardiner, a young lady of 
many personal and intellectual accomplishments. 

The remainder of his days Mr. Tyler passed mainly 
in retirement at his beautiful home, — Sherwood For- 
est, Charles city Co., Va. A polished gentleman in 
his manners, richly furnished with information from 
books and experience in the world, and possessing 
brilliant powers of conversation, his family circle wis 
the scene of unusual attractions. With sufficient 
means for the exercise of a generous hospitality, he 
might have enjoyed a serene old age with the few 
friends who gathered around him, were it not for the 
storms of civil war which his own principles and 
policy had helped to introduce. 

When the great Rebellion rose, which the State 
rights and nullifying doctrines of Mr. John C. Cal- 
houn had inaugurated, President Tyler renounced his 
allegiance to the United States, and joined the Confed- 
erates. He was chosen a member of their Congress; 
and while engaged in active measures to destroy, by 
force of arms, 'he Government over which he had 
once presided, he was taken sick and soon died. 




««£ 



=3 



■ac_ 



^C 



■£LE VEN TH PRESIDEN7 . 



59 




ts 



JAMES IK 





l \ AMES K.POLK, the eleventh 
""BfcPresident of the United States, 
was born in Mecklenburg Co., 
N. C, Nov. 2, 1795. His par- 
ents were Samuel and Jane 
(Knox) Polk, the former a son 
of Col. Thomas Polk, who located 
at the above place, as one of the 
first pioneers, in 1735. 

In the year i3o6, with his wife 
and children, and soon after fol- 
lowed by most of the members of 
the Polk famly, Samuel Polk emi- 
grated some two or three hundred 
miles farther west, to the rich valley 
of the Duck River. Here in the 
midst of the wilderness, in a region 
which was subsequently called Mau- 
ry Co., they reared their log huts, 
and established their homes. In the 
hard toil of a new farm in the wil- 
derness, James K. Polk spent the 
early years of his childhood and 
youth. His father, adding the pur- 
suit of a surveyor to that of a farmer, 
gradually increased in wealth until 
he became one of the leading men of the region. His 
mother was a superior woman, of strong common 
sense and earnest piety. 

Very early in life, James developed a taste for 
reading and expressed the strongest desire to obtain 
a liberal education. His mother's training had made 
him methodical in his habits, had taught him punct- 
uality and industry, and had inspired him with lofty 
principles of morality. His health was frail ; and his 
father, fearing that he might not be able to endure a 



sedentary life, got a situation for him behind the 
counter, hoping to fit him for commercial pursuits. 

This was to James a bitter disappointment. He 
had no taste for these duties, and his daily tasks 
were irksome in the extreme. He remained in this 
uncongenial occupation but a few weeks, when at his 
earnest solicitation his father removed him, and made 
arrangements for him to prosecute his studies. Soon 
after he sent him to Murfreesboro Academy. With 
ardor which could scarcely be surpassed, he pressed 
forward in his studies, and in less than two and a half, 
years, in the autumn of 1815, entered the sophomorei 
class in the University of North Carolina, at Chapel 
Hill. Here he was one of the most exemplary of 
scholars, punctual in every exercise, never allowing 
himself to be absent from a recitation or a religious 
service. 

He graduated in 1818, with the highest honors, be- 
ing deemed the best scholar of his class, both in 
mathematics and the classics. He was then twenty- 
three years of age. Mr. Polk's health was at this 
time much impaired by the assiduity with which he 
had prosecuted his studies. After a short season of 
relaxation he went to Nashville, and entered the 
office of Felix Grundy, to study law. Here Mr. Polk 
renewed his acquaintance with Andrew Jackson, who 
resided on his plantation, the Hermitage, but a few 
miles from Nashville. They had probably been 
slightly acquainted before. 

Mr. Polk's father was a Jeffersonian Republican, 
and James K. Polk ever adhered to the same politi- 
cal faith. He was a popular public speaker, and was 
constantly called upon to address the meetings of his 
party friends. His skill as a speaker was such that 
he was popularly called the Napoleon of the stump. 
He was a man of unblemished morals, genial and 



6o 



/AMES K. POLK. 



courteous in his bearing, and with that sympathetic 
nature in the joy s and griefs of others which ever gave 
him troops of friends. In 1823, Mr. Polk was elected 
to the Legislature of Tennessee. Here he gave his 
strong influence towards the election of his friend, 
Mr. Jackson, to the Presidency of the United States. 
I In January, 1824, Mr. Polk married Miss Sarah 
Childress, of Rutherford Co., Tenn. His bride was 
altogether worthy of him, — a lady of beauty and cul- 
ture. In the fall of r825, Mr. Polk was chosen a 
member of Congress. The satisfaction which he gave 
to his constituents may be inferred from the fact, that 
for fourteen successive years, until 1839, he was con- 
tinued in that office. He then voluntarily withdrew, 
only that he might accept the Gubernatorial chair 
of Tennessee. In Congress he was a laborious 
member, a frequent and a popular speaker. He was 
always in his seat, always courteous ; and whenever 
he spoke it was always to the point, and without any 
ambitious rhetorical display. 

During five sessions of Congress, Mr. Polk was 
Speaker of the House Strong passions were roused, 
and stormy scenes were witnessed ; but Mr Polk per- 
formed his arduous duties to a very general satisfac- 
tion, and a unanimous vote of thanks to him was 
passed by the House as he withdrew on the 4th of 
March, 1839. 

In accordance with Southern usage, Mr. Polk, as a 
candidate for Governor, canvassed the State. He was 
elected by a large majority, and on the 14th of Octo- 
ber, rS39,took the oath of office at Nashville. In 1841, 
his term of office expired, and he was again the can- 
didate of the Democratic party, but was defeated. 

On the 4th of March, 1845, Mr. Polk was inaugur- 
ated President of the United States. The verdict of 
the country in favor of the annexation of Texas, exerted 
its influence upon Congress ; and the last act of the 
administration of President Tyler was to affix his sig- 
nature to a joint resolution of Congress, passed on the 
3d of March, approving of the annexation of Texas to 
the American Union. As Mexico still claimed Texas 
as one of her provinces, the Mexican minister, 
Almonte, immediately demanded his passports and 
left the country, declaring the act of the annexation 
to be an act hostile to Mexico. 

In his first message, President Polk urged that 
Texas should immediately, by act of Congress, be re- 
ceived into the Union on the same footing with the 
other States. In the meantime, Gen. Taylor was sent 



with an army into Texas to hold the country. He was 
sent first to Nueces, which the Mexicans said was the 
western boundary of Texas. Then he was sent pearly 
two hundred miles further west, to the Rio Grande, 
where he erected batteries which commanded the 
Mexican city of Matamoras, which was situated on 
the western banks. 

The anticipated collision soon took place, and wai 
was declared against Mexico by President Polk. The 
war was pushed forward by Mr. Polk's administration 
with great vigor. Gen. Taylor, whose army was first 
called one of "observation," then of "occupation," 
then of " invasion, "was sent forward to Monterey. The 
feeble Mexicans, in every encounter, were hopelessly 
and awfully slaughtered. The day of judgement 
alone can reveal the misery which this war caused. 
It was by the ingenuity of Mr. Polk's administration 
that the war was brought on. 

'To the victors belong the spoils." Mexico was 
prostrate before us. Her capital was in our hands. 
We now consented to peace upon the condition that 
Mexico should surrender to us, in addition to Texas, 
all of New Mexico, and all of Upper and Lower Cal- 
ifornia. This new demand embraced, exclusive of 
Texas, eight hundred thousand square miles. This 
was an extent of territory equal to nine States of the 
size of New York. Thus slavery was securing eighteen 
majestic States to be added to the Union. There were 
some Americans who thought it all right : there were 
others who thought it all wrong. In the prosecution 
of this war, we expended twenty thousand lives and 
more than a hundred million of dollars. Of this 
money fifteen millions were paid to Mexico. 

On the 3d of March, 1849, Mr. Polk retired from 
office, having served one term. The next day was 
Sunday. On the 5th, Gen. Taylor was inaugurated 
as his successor. Mr. Polk rode to the Capitol in the 
same carriage with Gen. Taylor; and the same even- 
ing, with Mrs. Polk, he commenced his return to 
Tennessee. He was then but fifty-four years of age. 
He had ever been strictly temperate in all his habits, 
and his health was good. With an ample fortune, 
a choice library, a cultivated mind, and domestic ties 
of the dearest nature, it seemed as though long years 
of tranquility and happiness were before him. But the 
cholera — that fearful scourge — was then sweeping up 
the Valley of the Mississippi. This he contracted, 
and died on the 15th of June, 1849, in the fifty-fourth 
year of his age, greatly mourned by his countrymen. 




Z-CtsCttez^rY , y<5 



yy ^&^ 



TWELFTH PRESIDENT. 



63 






/ACmAl^V TAYJkOiJ. 



ACHARY TAYLOR, twelfth 

f& President of the United States, 
I) 
was born on the 24th of Nov., 

1784, in Orange Co., Va. His 
%a father, Colonel Taylor, was 
a Virginian of note, and a dis- 
tinguished patriot and soldier of 
the Revolution. When Zachary 
was an infant, his father with his 
wife and two children, emigrated 
to Kentucky, where he settled in 
the pathless wilderness, a few 
miles from Louisville. In this front- 
ier home, away from civilization and 
all its refinements, yjung Zachary 
could enjoy but few social and educational advan- 
tages. When six years of age he attended a common 
school, and was then regarded as a bright, active boy, 
rather remarkable for bluntness and decision of char- 
acter He was strong, feailess and self-reliant, and 
manifested .1 strong desire to enter the army to fight 
the Indians who were ravaging the frontiers. There 
is little to lie recorded of the uneventful years of his 
childhood on his father's large but lonely plantation. 
In 1808, his father succeeded in obtaining for him 
the commission of lieutenant in the United States 
army ; and he joined the troops which were stationed 
at New Orleans under Gen. Wilkinson. Soon after 
. this he married Miss Margaret Smith, a young lady 
from one of the first families of Maryland. 

Immediately afte'r the declaration of war with Eng- 
land, in r8i2, Capt. Taylor (for he had then been 
promoted to that rank) was put in command of Fort 
Harrison, on the Wabash, about fifty miles above 
Vincennes. This fort had been built in the wilder- 
ness by Gen. Harrison. on his march to Tippecanoe. 
It was one of the first points of attack by the Indians, 
ied by Tecumseh. Its garrison consisted of a broken 



company of infantry numbering fifty men, many of 
whom were sick. 

Early in the autumn of i8r2, the Indians, stealthily, 
and in large numbers, moved upon the fort. Their 
approach was first indicated by the murder of two 
soldiers just outside of the stockade. Capt. Taylor 
made every possible preparation to meet the antici- 
pated assault. On the 4th of September, a band of 
forty painted and plumed savages came to the fort, 
waving a white flag, and informed Capt. Taylor that 
in the morning their chief would come to have a talk 
with him. It was evident that their object was merely 
to ascertain the state of things at the fort, and Capt. 
Taylor, well versed in the wiles of the savages, kept 
them at a distance. 

The sun went down; the savages disappeared, the 
garrison slept upon their arms. One hour before 
midnight the war whoop burst from a thousand lips 
in the forest around, followed by the discharge of 
musketry, and the rush of the foe. Every man, sick 
and well, sprang to his post. Every man knew that 
defeat was not merely death, but in the case of cap- 
ture, death by the most agonizing and prolonged tor- 
ture. No pen can describe, no immagination can 
conceive the scenes which ensued. The savages suc- 
ceeded in setting fire to one of the block-houses- 
Until six o'clock in the morning, this awful conflict 
continued. The savages then, baffled at every point, 
and gnashing their teeth with rage, retired. Capt. 
Taylor, for this galiant defence, was promoted to the 
rank of major by brevet. 

Until the close of the war, Major Taylor was placed 
in such situations that he saw but little more of active 
service. He was sent far away into the depths of the 
wilderness, to Fort Crawford, on Fox River, which 
empties into Green Bay. Here there was but little 
to be done but to wear away the tedious hours as one 
best could. There were no books, no society, no in- 



64 



ZACHARY TAYLOR 



tellectual stimulus. Thus with him the uneventful 
years rolled on Gradually he rose to the rank of 
colonel. In the Black Hawk war, which resulted in 
the capture of that renowned chieftain, Col Taylor 
took a subordinate but a brave and efficient part. 

For twenty four years Col. Taylor was engaged in 
the defence of the frontiers, in scenes so remote, and in 
(employments so obscure, that his name was unknown 
■beyond the limits of his own immediate acquaintance. 
In the year 1836, he was sent to Florida to compel 
the Seminole Indians to vacate that region and re- 
tire beyond the Mississippi, as their chiefs by treaty, 
iiac" promised they should do. The services rendered 
dee secured for Col. Taylor the high appreciation of 
the Government; and as a reward, he was elevated 
:c he rank of brigadier-general by brevet ; and soon 
after, in May, 1838, was appointed to the chief com- 
■nand of the United States troops in Florida. 

After two years of such wearisome employment 
imidst the everglades of the peninsula, Gen. Taylor 
Villained, at his own request, a change of command, 
ind was stationed over the Department of the South- 
west. This field embraced Louisiana, Mississippi, 
Alabama and Georgia. Establishing his headquarters 
nl Fort Jessup, in Louisiana, he removed his family 
ra a plantation which he purchased, near Baton Rogue. 
H«re he remained for five years, buried, as it were, 
from the world, but faithfully discharging every duty 
jn posed upon him. 

In 1S46, Gen. Taylor was sent to guard the land 
between the Nueces and Rio Grande, the latter river 
fbeing the boundary of Texas, which was then claimed 
by the United States. Soon the war with Mexico 
wr. 5 brought on, and at Palo Alto and Resaca de la 
Pa Ima, Gen. Taylor won brilliant victories over the 
Mexicans. The rank of major-general by brevet 
was then conferred upon Gen. Taylor, and his name 
was received with enthusiasm almost everywhere in 
the Nation. Then came the battles of Monterey and 
I uena Vista in which he won signal victories over 
fc jrces much larger than he commanded. 

His careless habits of dress and his unaffected 
simplicity, secured for Gen. Taylor among his troops, 
tl /s sobriquet of "Old Rough and Ready.' 

The tidings of the brilliant victory of Buena Vista 
spread the wildest enthusiasm over the country. The 
n. , me of Gen. Taylor was on every one's lips. The 
H hig party decided to take advantage of this wonder- 
fu/ popularity in bringing forward the unpolished, un- 

■" "red, honest soldier as their candidate for the 
1'iesidency. Gen. Taylor was astonished at the an- 
nt uncement, and for a time would not listen to it; de- 
claring that he was not at all qualified for such an 
oft ice. So little interest had he taken in politics that, 
foi forty years, he had not cast a vote. It was not 
wuhout chagrin that several distinguished statesmen 
vflio had been long years in the public service found 
? i.:ar claims set aside in behalf of one whose name 



had never been heard of, save in connection with Palo 
Alto, Resaca de la Palma, Monterey and Buena 
Vista. It is said that Daniel Webster, in his haste re- 
marked, " It is a nomination not fit to be made." 

Gen. Taylor was not an eloquent speaker nor a fine 
writer His friends took possession of him, and pre- 
pared such few communications as it was needful 
should be presented to the public. The popularity of 
the successful warrior swept the land. He was tri- 
umphantly elected over two opposing candidates, — 
Gen. Cass and Ex-President Martin Van Buren. 
Though he selected an excellent cabinet, the good 
old man found himself in a very uncongenial position, 
and was, at times, sorely perplexed and harassed. 
His mental sufferings were very severe, and probably 
tended to hasten his death. The pro-slavery party 
was pushing its claims with tireless energy, expedi- 
tions were fitting out to capture Cuba ; California was 
pleading for admission to the Union, while slavery 
stood at the door to bar her out. Gen. Taylor found 
the political conflicts in Washington to be far more 
trying to the nerves than battles with Mexicans or 
Indians 

In the midst of all these troubles, Gen. Taylor, 
after he had occupied the Presidential chair but little 
over a year, took cold, and after a brief sickness of 
but little over five days, died on the 9th of July, 1850. 
His last words were, " I am not afraid to die. I am 
ready. I have endeavored to do my duty." He died 
universally respected and beloved. An honest, un- 
pretending man, he had been steadily growing in the 
affections of the people ; and the Nation bitterly la- 
mented his death. 

Gen. Scott, who was thoroughly acquainted with 
Gen. Taylor, gave the following graphic and truthful 
description of his character:—" With a good store of 
common sense, Gen. Taylor's mind had not been en- 
larged and refreshed by reading, or much converse 
with the world. Rigidity of ideas was the conse- 
quence. The frontiers and small military posts had 
been his home. Hence he was quite ignorant for his 
rank, and quite bigoted in his ignorance. His sim- 
plicity was child-like, and with innumerable preju- 
dices, amusing and incorrigible, well suited to the 
tender age. Thus, if a man, however respectable, 
chanced to wear a coat of an unusual color, or his hat 
a little on one side of his head ; or an officer to leave 
a corner of his handkerchief dangling from an out- 
side pocket, — in any such case, this critic held the 
off .-rider to be a coxcomb (perhaps something worse), 
whom he would not, to use his oft repeated phrase, 
'touch with a pair of tongs.' 

"Any allusion to literature beyond good old Dil- 
worth's spelling-book, on the part of one wearing a 
sword, was evidence, with the same judge, of utter 
unfitness for heavy marchings and combats. Inshor* 
few men have ever had a more comfortable, '•»>"«. 
saving contempt for learnirg of every kind." 





'Mi^C^S 



J ^C^j^x^xru) 



THIRTEENTH PRESIDENT. 



6? 





1 ^'MILLARn FILLfflnHE.^ | 



*-*- 



-'vum^ 





ILLARD FILLMORE, thir- 
teenth President of the United 
States, was born at Summer 
Hill, Cayuga Co., N. Y ., on 
the -th of January, 1800. His 
^ father was a farmer, and ow- 
ing to misfortune, in humble cir- 
cumstances. Of his mother, the 
daughter of Dr. Abiathar Millard, 
of Pittsfield, Mass., it has been 
said that she possessed an intellect 
of very high order, united with much 
personal loveliness, sweetness of dis- 
position, graceful manners and ex- 
quisite sensibilities. She died in 
1 83 1 ; having lived to see her son a 
young man of distinguished prom- 
ise, though she was not permitted to witness the high 
dignity which he finally attained. 

In consequence of the secluded home and limited 
means of his father, Millard enjoyed but slender ad- 
vantages for education in his early years. The com- 
mon schools, which he occasionally attended were 
very imperfect institutions; and books were scarce 
and expensive. There was nothing then in his char- 
acter to indicate the brilliant career upon which he 
was about to enter. He was a plain farmer's boy ; 
intelligent, good-looking, kind-hearted. The sacred 
influences of home had taught him to revere the Bible, 
and had laid the foundations of an upright character. 
When fourteen years of age, his father sent him 
some hundred miles from home, to the then wilds of 
Livingston Cour.ty, to learn the trade of a clothier. 
Neai tlif mill there was a small villiage, where some 



enterprising man had commenced the collection of a 
village library. This proved an inestimable blessing 
to young Fillmore. His evenings were spent in read- 
ing Soon every leisure moment was occupied with 
books. His thirst fur knowledge became insatiate 
and the selections which he made were continually 
more elevating and instructive. He read history, 
biography, oratory, and thus gradually there was en- 
kindled in his heart a desire to be something more 
than a mere worker with his hands; and he was be- 
coming, almost unknown to himself, a well-informed, 
educated man. 

The young clothier had now attained the age 0/ 
nineteen years, and was of fine personal appearance 
and of gentlemanly demeanor. It so happened tha* 
there was a gentleman in the neighborhood of ample 
pecuniary means and of benevolence, — Judge Walter 
Wood, — who was struck with the prepossessing ap- 
pearance of young Fillmore. He made his acquaint- 
ance, and was so much impressed with his ability and 
attainments that he advised him to abandon his 
trade and devote himself to the study of the law. The 
young man replied, that he had no means of his own, 
no friends to help him and that his previous educa- 
tion had been very imperfect. But Judge Wood had 
so much confidence in him that he kindly offered to 
take him into his own office, and to loan him such 
money as he needed. Most gratefully the generous 
offer was accepted. 

There is in many minds a strange delusion about} 
a collegiate education. A young man is supposed to 
be liberally educated if he has graduated at some col-' 
lege. But many a boy loiters through university hall i 
<*nd then enters a law office, who is by no means as 



06 



MILLARD FILLMORE. 



well prepared to prosecute his legal studies as was 
Millard Fillmore when he graduated at the clothing- 
mill at the end of four years of manual labor, during 
which every leisure moment had been devoted to in- 
tense mental culture. 

In 1823, when twenty-three years of age, he was 
admitted to the Court of Common Pleas. He then 
went to the village of Aurora, and commenced the 
practice of law. In this secluded, peaceful region, 
his practice of course was limited, and there was no 
opportunity for a sudden rise in foitune or in fame. 
Here, in the year 1826, he married a lady of great 
moral worth, and one capable of adorning any station 
she might be called to fill, — Miss Abigail Powers. 

His elevation of character, his untiring industry, 
his legal acquirements, and his skill as an advocate, 
gradually attracted attention; and he was invited to 
enter into partnership under highly advantageous 
circumstances, with an elder member of the bar in 
Buffalo. Just before removing to Buffalo, in 1829, 
he took his seat in the House of Assembly, of the 
State of New York, as a representative from Erie 
County. Though he had never taken a very active 
part in politics, his vote and his sympathies were with 
the Whig party. The State was then Democratic, 
and he found himself in a helpless minority in the 
Legislature , still the testimony comes from all parties, 
that his courtesy, ability and integrity, won, to a very 
unusual degn e the respect of his associates. 

In the autumn of 1832, he was elected to a seat in 
the United States Congress He entered that troubled 
arena in some of the most tumultuous hours of our 
national history. The great conflict respecting the 
national bank and the removal of the deposits, was 
then raging. 

His term of two years closed ; and he returned to 
his profession, which he pursued with increasing rep- 
utation and success. After a lapse of two years 
he again became a candidate for Congress; was re- 
elected, and took his seat in 1837. His past expe 
rience as a representative gave him st»ength and 
confidence. The first term of service in Congress to 
any man can be but little more than an introduction. 
He was now prepared for active duty. All his ener- 
gies were brought to bear upon the public good. Every 
measure received his impress. 

Mr. Fillmore was now a man of wide repute, and 
his popularity filled the State, and in the year 1847, 
he was elected Comptroller of the State. 



Mr. Fillmore had attained the age of forty-seven 
years. His labors at the bar, in the Legislature, in 
Congress and as Comptroller, had given him very con- 
siderable fame. The Whigs were casting about to 
find suitable candidates for President and Vice-Presi- 
dent at the approaching election. Far away, on the 
waters of the Rio Grande, there was a rough old, 
soldier, who had fought one or two successful battles!, 
with the Mexicans, which had caused his name to be 
proclaimed in tiumpet-tones all over the land. But 
it was necessary to associate with him on the same 
ticket some man of reputation as a statesman. 

Under the influence of these considerations, the 
namesof Zachary Taylor and Millard Fillmore became 
the rallying-cry of the Whigs, as their candidates for 
President and Vice-Peesident. The Whig ticket was 
signally triumphant. On the 4th of March, 1849, 
Gen. Taylor was inaugurated President, and Millard 
Fillmore Vice-President, of the United States. 

On the 9th of July, 1850, President Taylor, but 
about one year and four months after his inaugura 
tion, was suddenly taken sick and died. By the Con- 
stitution, Vice-President Fillmore thus became Presi- 
dent. He appointed a very able cabinet, of which 
the illustrious Daniel Webster was Secretary of State. 

Mr. Fillmore had very serious difficulties to contend 
with, since the opposition had a majority in both 
Houses. He did everything in his power to conciliate 
the South; but the pro-slavery party in the South felt 
the inadequacy of all measuresof transient conciliation. 
The population of the free States was so rapidly in- 
creasing over that of the slave States that it was in- 
evitable that the power of the Government should 
soon pass into the hands of the free States. The 
famous compromise measures were adopted under Mr. 
Fillmore's adminstration, and the Japan Expedition 
was sent out. On the 4th of March, 1853, Mr Fill- 
more, having served one term, retired. 

In 1856, Mr. Fillmore was nominated for the Pres- 
idency by the " Know Nothing " party, but was beaten 
by Mr. Buchanan. After that Mr. Fillmore lived in 
retirement. During the terrible conflict of civil war, 
he was mostly silent. It was generally supposed that- 
his sympathies were rather with those who were en- 
deavoring to overthrow our institutions. President 
Fillmore kept aloof from the conflict, without any 
cordial words of cheer to the one party or the other. 
He was thus forgotten by both. He lived to a ripe 
old age, and died in Buffalo. N. Y., March 8, 1874- 




<LS 




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FOURTEENTH PRESIDENT. 




J£ri£&&E»j ■•** 



~i#~ ^FRANKLIN FIERCE.* ^ifeii#^ 



9 ; • : ''--^^ 





RANKLIN PIERCE, the 
fourteenth President of the 
' United States, was born in 
Hillsborough, N. H., Nov 
23, 1804. His father was a 
Revolutionary soldier, who, 
with his own strong arm, 
hewed out a home in the 
wilderness. He was a man 
of inflexible integrity; of 
strong, though uncultivated 
mind, and an uncompromis- 
ing Democrat. The mother of 
Franklin Pierce was all that a son 
could desire, — an intelligent, pru- 
dent, affectionate, Christian wom- 
an. Franklin was the sixth of eight children. 

Franklin was a very bright and handsome boy, gen- 
erous, warm-hearted and brave. He won alike the 
love of old and young. The boys on the play ground 
loved him. His teachers loved him. The neighbors 
looked upon him with pride and affection. He was 
by instinct a gentleman; always speaking kind words, 
doing kind deeds, with a peculiar unstudied tact 
which taught him what was agreeable. Without de- 
veloping any precocity of genius, or any unnatural 
devotion to books, he was a good scholar; in body, 
in mind, in affections, a finely-developed boy. 

When sixteen years of age, in the year 1820, he 
entered Bowdoin College, at Brunswick, Me He was 
one of the most popular young men in the college. 
The purity of his moral character, the unvarying 
courtesy of his demeanor, his rank as a scholar, and 



genial nature, rendered him a universal favorite. 
There was something very peculiarly winning in his 
address, and it was evidently not in the slightest de- 
gree studied : it was the simple outgushing of his 
own magnanimous and loving nature. 

Upon graduating, in the year 1824, Franklin Pierce 
commenced the study of law in the office of Judge 
Woodbury, one of the most distinguished lawyers of 
the State, and a man of great private worth. The 
eminent social qualities of the young lawyer, his 
father's prominence as a public man, and the brilliant 
political career into which Judge Woodbury was en- 
tering, all tended to entice Mr. Pierce into the faci- 
nating yet perilous path of political life. With all 
the ardor of his nature he espoused the cause of Gen. 
Jackson for the Presidency. He commenced the 
practice of law in Hillsborough, and was soon elected 
to represent the town in the State Legislature. Here 
he served for four years. The last two years he was 
chosen speaker of the house by a very large vote. 

In 1833, at the age of twenty-nine, he was elected 
a member of Congress. Without taking an active 
part in debates, he was faithful and laborious in duty 
and ever rising in the estimation of those with whom 
he was associatad. 

In 1837, being then but thirty-three years of age, 
he was elected to the Senate of the United States; 
taking his seat just as Mr. Van Buren commenced 
his administration. He was the youngest member in 
the Senate. In the year 1834, he married Miss Jane 
Means Appleton, a lady of rare beauty and accom- 
plishments, and one admirably fitted to adorn every 
station with which her husband was honoied. Of the 



bRANKLIN PIERCE. 



three sons who were born to them, all now sleep with 
their parents in the grave. 

In the year 1838, Mr. Pierce, with growing fame 
and increasing business as a lawyer, took up his 
residence in Concord, the capital of New Hampshire. 
President Polk, upon his accession to office, appointed 
Mr. Pierce attorney-general of the United States; but 
the offer was declined, in consequence of numerous 
professional engagements at home, and the precariuos 
state of Mrs. Pierce's health. He also, about the 
same time declined the nomination for governor by the 
Democratic party. The war with Mexico called Mr. 
Pierce in the army. Receiving the appointment of 
brigadier-general, he embarked, with a portion of his 
troops, at Newport, R I., on the 27th of May, 1847. 
He took an important part in this war, proving him- 
self a brave and true soldier. 

When Gen. Pierce reached his home in his native 
State, he was received enthusiastically by the advo- 
cates of the Mexican war, and coldly by his oppo- 
nents. He resumed the practice of his profession, 
very frequently taking an active part in political ques- 
tions, giving his cordial support to the pro-slavery 
wing of the Democratic party. The compromise 
measures met cordially with his approval; and he 
'strenuously advocated the enforcement of the infa- 
mous fugitive-slave law, which so shocked the religious 
sensibilities of the North. He thus became distin- 
guished as a " Northern man with Southern principles.'' 
The strong partisans of slavery in the South conse- 
quently regarded him as a man whom they could 
safely trust in office to carry out their plans. 

On the 1 2th of June, 1852, the Democratic conven- 
tion met in Baltimore to nominate a candidate for the 
Presidency. For four days they continued in session, 
and in thirty-five ballotings no one had obtained a 
two-thirds vote. Not a vote thus far had been thrown 
for Gen. Pierce. Then the Virginia delegation 
brought forward his name. There were fourteen 
more ballotings, during which Gen. Pierce constantly 
gained strength, until, at the forty-ninth ballot, he 
received two hundred and eighty-two votes, and all 
other candidates eleven. Gen. Winfield Scott was 
the Whig candidate. Gen. Pierce was chosen with 
great unanimity. Only four States — Vermont, Mas- 
sachusetts, Kentucky and Tennessee — cast their 
electoral votes against him Gen. Franklin Pierce 
was therefore inaugurated President of the United 
States on the 4th of March, 1853. 



His administration proved one of the most stormy our 
country had ever experienced. The controversy he 
tween slavery and freedom was then approaching its 
culminating point It became evident that there was 
an "irrepressible conflict " between them, and that 
this Nation could not long exist " half slave and half 
free." President Pierce, during the whole of his ad- 
ministration, did every thing he could to conciliate 
the South ; but it was all in vain. The conflict every 
year grew more violent, and threats of the dissolution 
of the Union were borne to the North on eveiy South- 
ern breeze. 

Such was the condition of affairs when President 
Pierce approached the close of his four-years' term 
of office. The North had become thoroughly alien- 
ated from him. The anti-slavery sentiment, goaded 
by great outrages, had been rapidly increasing; all 
the intellectual ability and social worth of President 
Pierce were forgotten in deep reprehension of his ad- 
ministrative acts. The slaveholders of the South, also, 
unmindful of the fidelity with which he had advo- 
cated those measures of Government which they ap- 
proved, and perhaps, also, feeling that he had 
rendered himself so unpopular as no longer to be 
able acceptably to serve them, ungratefully dropped 
him, and nominated James Buchanan to succeed him. 

On the 4th of March, 1857, President Pierce re- 
tired to his home in Concord. Of three children, two 
had died, and his only surviving child had been 
killed before his eyes by a railroad accident , and his 
wife, one of the most estimable and accomplished of 
ladies, was rapidly sinking in consumption. The 
hour of dreadful gloom soon came, and he was left 
alone in the world, without wife or child. 

When the terrible Rebellion burst forth, which di- 
vided our country into two parties, and two only, Mr. 
Pierce remained steadfast in the principles whii h he 
had always cherished, and gave his sympathies to 
that pro-slavery party with which he had ever been 
allied. He declined to do anything, either by voice 
or pen, to strengthen the hand of the National ( lov- 
ernment. He continued to reside in Concord until 
the time of his death, which occurred in October, 
1869. He was one of the most genial and social oi 
men, an honored communicant of the Episcopal 
Church, and one of the kindest of neighbors. Gen 
erous to a fault, he contributed liberally for the al- 
leviation of suffering and want, and many of his towns 
people were often gladened by his material bounty. 




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I-IFTEENTH PRESIDENT, 





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AMES BUCHANAN, the fif- 
.teenth President of the United 
States, was born in a small 
frontier town, at the foot of the 
eastern ridge of the Allegha- 
nies, in Franklin Co., Perm., on 
the 23d of April, 1 7 9 1. The place 
where the humble cabin of his 
father stood was called Stony 
Batter. It was a wild and ro- 
mantic spot in a gorge of the moun- 
tains, with towering summits rising 
grandly all around. His father 
was a native of the north of Ireland ; 
a poor man, who had emigrated in 
1783, with little property save his 
own strong arms. Five years afterwards he married 
Elizabeth Spear, the daughter of a respectable farmer, 
and, with his young bride, plunged into the wilder- 
ness, staked his claim, reared his log-hut, opened a 
cleaving with his axe, and settled down there to per- 
form his obscure part in the drama of life. In this se- 
cluded home, where James was born, he remained 
for eight years, enjoying but few social or intellectual 
advantagi s. When James was eight years of age, his 
father removed to the village of Mercersburg, where 
his son was placed at school, and commenced a 
course of study in English, Latin and Creek. His 
progress was rapid, and at the age of fourteen, he 
entered Dickinson College, at Carlisle. Here he de- 
veloped remarkable talent, and took his stand among 
the first scholars in the institution. His application 
to study was intense, and yet his native powers en- 



abled him to master the most abstruse subjects wi '- 
facility. 

In the year 1809, he graduated with the highest 
honors of his clas:.. He was then eighteen years of 
age; tall and graceful, vigorous in health, fond of 
athletic sport, an unerring shot, and enlivened with 
an exuberant flow of animal spirits. He immediately 
commenced the study of law in the city of Lancaster, 
and was admitted to the bar in 1812, when he was 
but twenty-one years of age. Very rapidly he rose 
in his profession, and at once took undisputed stand 
with the ablest lawyers of the State. When but 
twenty-six years of age, unaided by counsel, he suc- 
cessfully defended before the State Senate 01 e of the 
judges of the State, who was tried upon articles ol 
impeachment. At the age of thirty it was generally 
admitted that he stood at the head of the bar; and 
there was no lawyer in the State who had a more lu- 
crative practice. 

In 1820, he reluctantly consented to run as i 
candidate for Congress. He was elected, and foi 
ten years he remained a member of the Lower House 
During the vacations of Congress, he occasionally 
tried some important case. In 1831, he retired 
altogether from the toils of his profession, having ac- 
quired an ample fortune. 

den. Jackson, upon his elevation to the Presidency, 
appointed Mr. Buchanan minister to Russia. The 
duties of his mission he performed with ability, which 
gave satisfaction to all parties. Upon his return, ir« 
1833, he was elected to a seat in the United States 
Senate. He there met, as his associates, Webster, 
Clay, Wright and Calhoun. He advocated the meas- 
ures proposed by President Jackson, of xnalring repn- 



70 



JAMES BUCHANAN. 



sals against France, to enforce the payment of our 
claims against that country ; and defended the course 
of the President in his unprecedented and wholesale 
removal from office of those who were not the sup- 
porters of his administration. Upon this question he 
was brought into direct collision with Henry Clay. 
He also, with voice and vote, advocated expunging 
from the journal of the Senate the vote of censure 
against Gen. Jackson for removing the deposits. 
Earnestly he opposed the abolition of slavery in the 
District of Columbia, and urged the prohibition of the 
circulation of anti-slavery documents by the United 
States mails. 

As to petitions on the subject of slavery, he advo- 
cated that they should be respectfully received; and 
that the reply should be returned, that Congress had 
no power to legislate upon the subject. " Congress," 
said he, "might as well undertake to interfere with 
slavery under a foreign government as in any of the 
States where it now exists." 

U|>on Mr. Polk's accession to the Presidency, Mr. 
Buchanan became Secretary of State, and as such, 
took his share of the responsibility in the conduct of 
the Mexican War. Mr. Polk assumed that crossing 
the Nueces by the American troops into the disputed 
territory was not wrong, but for the Mexicans to cross 
the Rio Grande into that territory was a declaration 
of war. No candid man can read with pleasure the 
account of the course our Government pursued in that 
movement 

Mr. Buchanan identified himself thoroughly with 
the party devoted to the perpetuation and extension 
of slavery, and brought all the energies of his mind 
to bear agdinst the VVilmot Proviso. He gave his 
cordial approval to the compromise measures of 1S50, 
which included the fugitive-slave law. Mr. Pierce, 
upon his election to the Presidency, honored Mr. 
Buchanan with the mission to England. 

In the year 1856, a national Democratic conven- 
tion nominated Mr. Buchanan for the Presidency. The 
political conflict was one of the most severe in which 
our country has ever engaged. All the friends of 
slavery were on one side; all the advocates of its re- 
striction and final abolition, on the other. Mr. Fre- 
mont, the candidate of the enemies of slavery, re- 
reived 114 electoral votes. Mr. Buchanan received 
174, and was elected. The popular vote stood 
1,340,618, for Fremont, 1,224,750 for Buchanan. On 
March 4th. 1857, Mr. Buchanan was inaugurated. 

Mr. Buchanan was far advanced in life. Only four 
vears were wanting to fill up his threescore years and 
ten. His own friends, those with whom he had been 
allied in political principles and action for years, were 
seeking the destruction of the Government, that they 
might rear upon the ruins of our free institutions a 
nation whose corner-stone should be human slavery. 
In this emergency, Mr. Buchanan was hopelessly be- 
wildered He could not, with his long-avowed prin- 



ciples, consistently oppose the State-rights party in 
their assumptions. As President of the United States, 
bound by his oath faithfully to administer the laws, 
he could not, without perjury of the grossest kind, 
unite with those endeavoring to overthrow the repub- 
lic. He therefore did nothing. 

The opponents of Mr. Buchanan's administration 
nominated Abraham Lincoln as their standard bearer 
in the next Presidential canvass. The pro-slaverv 
party declared, that if he were elected, and the con- 
trol of the Government were thus taken from their 
hands, they would secede from the Union, taking 
with them, as they retired, the National Capitol at 
Washington, and the lion's share of the territory of 
the United States. 

Mr. Buchanan's sympathy with the pro-slaver)' 
party was such, that he had been willing to offer them 
far more than they had ventured to claim. All the 
South had professed to ask of the North was non- 
intervention upon the subject of slavery. Mr. Bu- 
chanan had been ready to offer them the active co- 
operation of the Government to defend and extend 
the institution. 

As the storm increased in violence, the slaveholders 
claiming the right to secede, and Mr. Buchanan avow- 
ing that Congress had no power to prevent it, one of 
the most pitiable exhibitions of governmental im- 
becility was exhibited the world has ever seen. He 
declared that Congress had no power to enforce its 
laws in any State which had withdrawn, or which 
was attempting to withdraw from the Union. This 
was not the doctrine of Andrew Jackson, when, with 
his hand upon his sword hilt, he exclaimed. " The 
Union must and shall be preserved!" 

South Carolina seceded in December, i860; nearly 
three months before the inauguration of President 
Lincoln. Mr. Buchanan looked on in listless despair. 
The rebel flag was raised in Charleston : Fort Sumpter 
was besieged; our forts, navy-yards and arsenals 
were seized; our depots of military stores were plun- 
dered ; and our custom-houses and post-offices were 
appropriated by the rebels. 

The energy of the rebels, and the imbecility of our 
Executive, were alike marvelous. The Nation looked 
on in agony, waiting for the slow weeks to glide away, 
and close the administration, so terrible in its weak- 
ness At length the long-looked-for hour of deliver- 
ance came, when Abraham Lincoln was to receive the 
scepter. 

The administration of President Buchanan was 
certainly the most calamitous our country has ex- 
perienced. His best friends cannot recall it with 
pleasure. And still more deplorable it is for his fame, 
that in that dreadful conflict which rolled its billows 
of flame and blood over our whole land, no word came 
from his lips to indicate his wish that our country's 
banner should triumph over the flag of the rebellion 
He died at his Wheatland retreat, June 1, i863. 



4 






o^//rc&<- 



cc-r^s 



SIXTEENTH P RES/ DENT. 






\&WZ^^E®flBfflBm 



I 4 ABRAHAM > #>#<|?| < LINCOLN. )> | 







BRAHAM LINCOLN, the 
sixteenth President of the 
^United States, was horn in 
Hardin Co., Ky., Feb. 12, 
1 809. About the year 1 7 80, a 
man by the name of Abraham 
Lincoln left Virginia with his 
family and moved into the then 
wildsof Kentucky. Only two years 
after this emigration, still a young 
man, while working one day in a 
field, was stealthily approached by 
an Indian and shot dead. His widow 
was left in extreme poverty with five 
little children, three boys and two 
girls. Thomas, the youngest of the 
boys, was four years of age at his 
father's death. This Thomas was 
the father of Abraham Lincoln, the 
President of the United States 
whose name must henceforth forever be enrolled 
with the most prominent in the annals of our world. 
Of course no record has been kept of the life 
of one so lowly as Thomas Lincoln. He was among 
the poorest of the poor. His home was a wretched 
log-cabin; his food the coarsest and the meanest. 
Education he had none; he could never either read 
or write. As soon as he was able to do anything for 
himself, he was compelled to leave the cabin of his 
starving mother, and push out into the world, a friend- 
e>s wandering boy, seeking work. He hired him- 
self out, and thus spent the whole of his youth as a 
Jiborer in the fields of others. 

When twenty-eight years of age he built a log- 
1 ibin of his own, and married Nancy Hanks, the 
daughter of another family of poor Kentucky emi- 
grants, who had also come from Virginia. Their 
second child was Abraham Lincoln, the subject of 
this sketch. The mother of Abraham was a noble 
woman, gentle, loving, pensive, created to adorn 
a palace, doomed to toil and pine, and die in a hovel. 
"All that I am, or hope to be," exclaims the grate- 
ful son " I owe to my angel-mother. 

When he was eight years of age, his father sold his 



cabin and small farm, and moved to Indiana. Whei- 
two years later his mother died. 

Abraham soon became the scribe of the uneducated 
community around him. He could not have had a 
better school than this to teach him to put thoughts 
into words. He also became an eager reader. The 
books he could obtain were few; but these he sead 
and re-read until they were almost committed to 
memory. 

As the years rolled on, the lot of this lowly family 
was the usual lot of humanity. There were joys ana 
griefs, weddings and funerals. Abraham's sisto 
Sarah, to whom he was tenderly attached, was mai 
lied when a child of but fourteen years of age, and 
soon died. The family was gradually scattered. Mr 
Thomas Lincoln sold out his squatter's claim ; n 1830 
and emigrated to Macon Co., 111. 

Abraham Lincoln was then twenty-one years of age. 
With vigorous hands he aided his father in rearing 
another log-cabin. Abraham worked diligently at this 
until he saw the family comfortably settled, and theii 
small lot of enclosed prairie planted with corn, when 
he announced to his father his intention to leave 
home, and to go out into the world and seek his for- 
tune. Little did he or his friends imagine how bril- 
liant that fortune was to be. He saw the value o( 
education and was intensely earnest to improve his 
mind to the utmost of his power. He saw the ruin 
which ardent spirits were causing, and became 
strictly temperate; refusing to allow a drop of intoxi- 
cating liquor to pass his lips. And he had read in 
God's word, "Thou shalt not take the name of the 
Lord thy God in v .1,.;" and a profane expression he. 
was never heard to utter. Religion he revered. Hii 
morals were pure, and he was uncontaminated by a 
single vice. 

Young Abraham worked for a time as a hired laboret 
among the farmers. Then he went to Springfield 
where he was employed in building a large flat-boat 
In this he took a herd of swine, floated them dows 
the Sangamon to the Illinois, and thence by the Mia 
sissippi to New Orleans. Whatever Abraham Lir 
coin undertook, he performed so faithfully as to giv, 
great satisfaction to his employers. In this adven 



8o 



ABRAHAM LINCOLN. 



ture his employers were so well pleased, that upon 
his return tney placed a store and mill under his care. 

In 1832, at the outbreak of the Black Hawk war, he 
enlisted and was chosen captain of a company. He 
returned to Sangamon County, and although only 23 
years of age, was a candidate for the Legislature, but 
was defeated. He soon after received from Andrew 
Jackson the appointment of Postmaster of New Salem, 
His only post-office was his hat. All the letters he 
received he carried there ready to deliver to those 
he chanced to meet. He studied surveying, and soon 
made this his business. In 1834 he again became a 
candidate for the Legislature, and was elected Mr. 
Stuart, of Springfield, advised him to study law. He 
walked from New Salem to Springfield, borrowed of 
Mr. Stuart a load of books, carried them back and 
began his legal studies. When the Legislature as- 
sembled he trudged on foot with his pack on his back 
one hundred miles to Vandalia, then the capital. In 
1836 he was re-elected to the Legislature. Here it 
was he first met Stephen A. Douglas. In 1839 he re- 
moved to Springfield and began the practice of law. 
His success with the jury was so great that he was 
soon engaged in almost every noted case in the circuit. 

In 1854 the great discussion began between Mr. 
Lincoln and Mr Douglas, on the slavery question. 
In the organization of the Republican party in Illinois, 
in 1856, he took an active part, and at once became 
one of the leaders in that party. Mr. Lincoln's 
speeches in opposition to Senator Douglas in the con- 
test in 1858 for a seat in the Senate, form a most 
notable part of his histoiy. The issue was on the 
ilavery question, and lie took the broad ground of 
:he Declaration of Independence, that all men are 
created equal. Mr. Lincoln was defeated in this con- 
test, but won a far higher prize. 

The great Republican Convention met at Chicago 
on the 16th of June, i860. The delegates and 
strangers who crowded the city amounted to twenty- 
five thousand. An immense building called "The 
Wigwam," was reared to accommodate the Conven- 
tion. There were eleven candidates for whom votes 
were - thrown. William H Seward, a man whose fame 
as a statesman had long filled the land, was the most 
prominent. It was generally supposed he would be 
the nominee. Abraham Lincoln, however, received 
the nomination on the third ballot. Little did he then 
dream of the weary years of toil and care, and the 
bloody death, to whijh that nomination doomed him: 
Andaslittledid he dream that he waste render services 
to his country, which would fix upon him the eyes of 
the whole civilized world, and which would give him 
a place in the affections of his countrymen, second 
only, if second, to that of Washington. 

Election day came and Mr. Lincoln received 180 
electoral votes out of 203 cast, and was, therefore, 
constitutionally elected President of the United States. 
The tirade of abuse that was poured upon this good 



and merciful man, especially by the slaveholders, was 
greater than upon any other man ever elected to this 
high position. In February, 1861, Mr. Lincoln started 
for Washington, stopping in all the large cities on his 
way making speeches. The whole journey was fraught 
with much danger. Many of the Southern States had 
already seceded, and several attempts at assassination 
were afterwards brought to light. A gang in Balti- 
more had arranged, upon his arrivalio" get up a row," 
and in the confusion to make sure of his death with 
revolvers and hand-grenades. A detective unravelled 
the plot A secret and special train was provided ta 
take him from HarrisLmrg, through Baltimore, at an 
unexpected hour of the night. The train started al 
half-past ten ; and to prevent ai.y possible communi- 
cation on the part ot the Secessionists with their Con- 
federate gang in Baltimore, as soon as the train had 
started the telegraph-wires were cut. Mr. Lincoln 
reached Washington in safety and was inaugurated, 
although great anxiety was felt by all loyal people 

In the selection of his cabinet Mr. Lincoln gave 
to Mr Seward the Department of State, and to other 
prominent opponents before the convention he gave 
important positions. 

During no other administration have the duties 
devolving upon the President been so manifold, and 
the responsibilities so great, as those which fell to 
the lot of President Lincoln. Knowing this, and 
feeling his own weakness and inability to meet, and in 
hi; own strength to cope with, the difficulties, he 
learned early to seek Divine wisdom and guidance in 
determining his plans, and Divine comfort in all his 
triab, bo'h personal and national Contrary to his 
own estimate of himself, Mr. Lincoln was one of the 
most courageous of men. He went directly into the 
rebel capital just as the retreating foe was leaving, 
witli no guard but a few sailors. From the time he 
had left Springfield, in r86r, however, plans had been 
made for his assassination, and he at last fell a victim 
to one of them. April 14, 1865, lie, with Gen. Grant, 
was urgently invited to attend Fords' Theater. It 
was announced that they would te present. Gen. 
Grant, however, left the city. President Lincoln, feel- 
ing, witli his characteristic kindliness of heart, that 
it would be a disappointment if he should fail them, 
very reluctantly consented to go. While listening to 
the play an actor by the name of John Wilkes Booth 
entered the box where the President and family were 
seated, and firtd a bullet into his brains. He died the 
next morning at seven o'clock. 

Never before, in the history of the world was a nation 
plunged into such deep grief by the death of its ruler. 
Strong men met in the streets and wept in speechless 
anguish. It is not too much to say that a nation was 
in tears. His was a life which will fitly become a 
model. His name as the savior of his country will 
live with that of Washington's, iis father; his country- 
men being unable to decide wi>i. U >s tl><; greater. 





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SEVENTEENTH PRESIDENT. 



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NDREW JOHNSON, seven- 
teenth President of the United 
States. The early life- of 
Andrew Johnson contains but 
the record of poverty, destitu- 
tion and friendlessness. He 
7 was born December 29, 180S, 
in Raleigh, N. C. His parents, 
belonging to the class of the 
"poor whites " of the South, were 
in such circumstances, that they 
could not c".nf:r _/ei\ the slight- 
est advantages of education upon 
their child. When Andrew was five 
years of age, his father accidentally 
lost nis life while heiorically endeavoring to save a 
friend from drowning. Tr nul ten /ecir* of age, Andrew 
was a ragged boy abour the streets, supported by the 
labor of his mother, who obtained her living with 
her own hands. 

He then, having never attended a school one day, 
and being unable either to read or write, was ap- 
prenticed to a tailor in his native town. A gentleman 
was in the habit of going to the tailor's shop occasion- 
ally, and reading to the boys at work there. He often 
read from the speeches of distinguished British states- 
men. Andrew, who was endowed with a mind of more 
than ordinary native ability, became much interested 
in these speeches ; his ambition was roused, and he 
was inspired with a strong desire to learn to read. 

He accordingly applied himself to the alphabet, and 
with the assistance of some of his fellow-workmen, 
iearned his letters. He then called upon the gentle- 
man to borrow the book of speeches. The owner, 



pleased with his zeal, not only gave him the booK 
but assisted him in learning to combine the letters 
into words. Under such difficulties he pressed 01. 
ward laboriously, spending usually ten or twelve hours 
at work in the shop, and then robbing himself of rest 
and recreation to devote such time as he could to 
reading. 

He went to Tennessee in 1826, and located at 
Greenville, where he married a young lady who pos 
sessed some education. Under her instructions he 
learned to write and cipher. He became prominent 
in the village debating society, and a favorite with 
the students of Greenville College. In 1828, he or- 
ganized a working man's party, which elected him 
alderman, and in 1830 elected him mayor, which 
position he held three years. 

He now began to take a lively interest in political 
affairs; identifying himself with the working-classes, 
to which he belonged. In 1835, he was elected a 
member of the House of Representatives of Tennes- 
see. He was then just twenty-seven years of age. 
He became a very active member of the legislature 
gave his adhesion to the Democratic party, and in 
1840 "stumped the State," advocating Martin Van 
Buren's claims to the Presidency, in opposition to thos^ 
of Gen. Harrison. In this campaign he acquired much 
readiness as a speaker, and extended and increased 
his reputation. 

In 1841, he was elected State Senator; in 1843, he 
was elected a member of Congress, and by successive 
elections, held that important post for ten years. In 
1853, he was elected Governor of Tennessee, and 
was re-elected in 1855. In all these res]>onsible posi 
tions, he discharged his duties with distinguished abi. 



«4 



ANDRE W JOHNSON. 



ity, and proved himself the warm friend of the work- 
ing classes. In 1857, Mr. Johnson was elected 
United States Senator. 

Years before, in 1S45, he had warmly advocated 
the annexation of Texas, stating however, as his 
•reason, that he thought this annexation would prob- 
ably prove " to be the gateway out of which the sable 
50ns of Africa are to pass from bondage to freedom, 
jmd become merged in a population congenial to 
themselves." In 1850, he also supported the com- 
promise measures, the two essential features of which 
were, that the white people of the Territories should 
be permitted to decide for themselves whether they 
would enslave the colored people or not, and that 
the r ree States of the North should return to the 
South persons who attempted to escape from slavery. 

Mr. Johnson was never ashamed of his lowly origin: 
on the contrary, he often took pride in avowing that 
he owed his distinction to his own exertions. "Sir," 
said he on the floor of the Senate, " I do not forget 
that I am a mechanic ; neither do I forget that Adam 
was a tailor and sewed fig leaves, and that our Sav- 
ior was the son of a carpenter." 

In the Charleston-Baltimore convention of 1800, ne 
•was the choice of the Tennessee Democrats for the 
presidency. In 1861, when the purpose of the South- 
ern Democracy became apparent, he took a decided 
stand in favor of the Union, and held that " slavery 
must be held subordinate to the Union at whatever 
cost." He returned to Tennessee, and repeatedly 
imperiled his own life to protect the Unionists of 
Tennesee. Tennessee having seceded from the 
Union, President Lincoln, on March 4th, 1862, ap- 
pointed him Military Governor of the State, and he 
established the most stringent military rule. His 
numerous proclamations attracted wide attention. In 

1864, he was elected Vice-President of the United 
States, and upon the death of Mr. Lincoln, April 15, 

1865, became President. In a speech two days later 
he said, " The American people must be taught, if 
they do not already feel, that treason is a crime and 
must be punished ; that the Government will not 
always beai with its enemies; that it is strong not 
only to protect, but to punish. * * The people 
must understand that it (treason) is the blackest of 
crimes, and will surely be punished." Yet his whole 
administration, the history of which is so well known, 
w»s in utter iawnsistency with, and the most violent 



opposition to, the principles laid down in that speech. 

In his loose policy of reconstruction and general 
amnesty, he was opposed by Congress ; and he char- 
acterized Congress as a new rebellion, and lawlessly 
defied it, in everything possible, to the utmost. In 
the beginning of 1868, on account of "high crimes 
and misdemeanors," the principal of which was the 
removal of Secretary Stanton, in violation of the Ten- 
ure of Office Act, articles of impeachment were pre- 
ferred against him, and the trial began March 23. 

It was very tedious, continuing for nearly three 
months. A test article of the impeachment was at 
length submitted to the court for its action. It was 
certain that as the court voted upon that article so 
would it vote upon all. Thirty-four voices pronounced 
the President guilty. As a two-thirds vote was neces- 
sary to his condemnation, he was pronounced ac- 
quitted, notwithstanding the great majority against 
him. The change of one vote from the not guilty 
side would have sustained the impeachment. 

The President, for the remainder of his term, was 
but little regarded. He continued, though impotent!; - , 
his conflict with Congress. His own party did not 
think it expedient to renominate him for the Presi- 
dency. The Nation rallied, with enthusiasm unpar- 
alleled since the days of Washington, around the name 
of Gen. Grant. Andrew Johnson was forgotten. 
The bullet of the assassin introduced him to the 
President's chair. Notwithstanding this, never was 
there presented to a man a better opportunity to im- 
mortalize his name, and to win the gratitude of a 
nation. He failed utterly. He retired to his home 
in Greenville, Tenn., taking no very active part in 
politics until 1875. On Jan. 26, after an exciting 
struggle, he was chosen by the Legislature of Ten- 
nessee, United States Senator in the forty-fourth Con- 
gress, and took his seat in that body, at the special 
session convened by President Grant, on the 5th of 
March. On the 27th of July, 1875, the ex-President 
made a visit to his daughter's home, near Carter 
Station, Tenn. When he started on his journey, he was 
apparently in his usual vigorous health, but on reach- 
ing the residence of his child the following day, was 
stricken with paralysis, rendering him unconscious. 
He rallied occasionally, but finally passed away at 
2 a.m., July 31, aged sixty-seven years. His fun- 
eral was attended at Geenville, on the 3d of August, 
with every demonstration of respect. 




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EIGHTEENTH PRESIDENT. 












LYSSES S. GRANT, the 
4!) eighteenth President of the 
'United States, was born on 
the 29th of April, 1822, of 
Christian parents, in a humble 
' home, at Point Pleasant, on the 
banks of the Ohio. Shortly after 
his father moved to George 
town, Brown Co., O. In this re- 
mote frontier hamlet, Ulysses 
received a common-school edu- 
cation. At the age of seven- 
teen, in the year 1839, he entered 
the Military Academy at West 
Point. Here he was regarded as a 
solid, sensible young man of fair abilities, and of 
sturdy, honest character. He took respectable rank 
as a scholar. In June, 1843, he graduated, about the 
middle in his class, and was sent as lieutenant of in- 
fantry to one of the distant military posts in the Mis- 
souri Territory. Two years he past in these dreary 
solitudes, watching the vagabond and exasperating 
Indians. 

The war with Mexico came. Lieut. Grant was 
sent with his regiment to Corpus Christ!. His first 
battle was at Palo Alto. There was no chance here 
for the exhibition of either skill or heroism, nor at 
Resaca de la Palma, his second battle. At the battle 
of. Monterey, his third engagement, it is said that 
he performed a signal service of daring and skillful 
horsemanship. His brigade had exhausted its am- 
munition. A messenger must be sent for more, along 
a route exposed to the bullets of the foe. Lieut. 
Grant, adopting an expedient learned of the Indians, 
grasped the mane of his horse, and hanging upon one 
side of the aniroal, ran the gauntlet in entire safety. 



From Monterey he was sent, with the fourth infantry, 
to aid Gen. Scott, at the siege of Vera Cruz. In 
preparation for the march to the city of Mexico, he 
was appointed quartermaster of his regiment. At the 
battle of Molino del Rey, he was promoted to a 
first lieutenancy, and was brevetted captain at Cha- 
pultepec. 

At the close of the Mexican War, Capt. Grant re- 
turned with his regiment to New York, and was again 
sent to one of the military posts on the frontier. The 
discovery of gold in California causing an immense 
tide of emigration to flow to the Pacific shores, Capt. 
Grant was sent with a battalion to Fort Dallas, in 
Oregon, for the protection of the interests of the im- 
migrants. Life was wearisome in those wilds. Capt. 
Grant resigned his commission and returned to the 
States; and having married, entered upon the cultiva- 
tion of a small farm near St. Louis, Mo. He had but 
little skill as a farmer. Finding his toil not re- 
munerative, he turned to mercantile life, entering into 
the leather business, with a younger brother, at Ga- 
lena, 111. This was in the year i860. As the tidings 
of the rebels firing on Fort Sumpter reached the ears 
of Capt. Grant in his counting-room, he said, — 
"Uncle Sam has educated me for the army: though 
I have served him through one war, I do not feelthat 
I have yet repaid the debt. I am still ready to discharge 
my obligations. I shall therefore buckle on my tword 
and see Uncle Sam through this war too." 

He went into the streets, raised a company of vol- 
unteers, and led them as their captain to Springfield, 
the capital of the State, where their services were 
offered to Gov. Yates. The Governor, impressed by 
the zeal and straightforward executive ability of Capt. 
Grant, gave him a desk in his office, to assist in the 
volunteer organization that was being formed in the 
State in behalf of the Government. On the is* 1 * of 



88 



UL YSSES S. GRA NT. 



June, 1861, Capt. Grant received a commission as 
Colonel of the Twenty-first Regiment of Illinois Vol- 
unteers. His merits as a West Point graduate, who 
had served for 15 years in the regular army, were such 
that he was soon promoted to the rank of Brigadier- 
General and was placed in command at Cairo. The 
rebels raised their banner at Paducah, near the mouth 
of the Tennessee River. Scarcely had its folds ap- 
peared in the breeze ere Gen. Grant was there. The 
rebels fled. Their banner fell, and the star and 
stripes were unfurled in its stead. 

He entered the service with great determination 
and immediately began active duty. This was the be- 
ginning, and until the surrender of Lee at Richmond 
he was ever pushing the enemy with great vigor and 
effectiveness. At Belmont, a few days later, he sur- 
prised and routed the rebels, then at Fort Henry 
won another victory. Then came the brilliant fight 
at Fort Donelson. The nation was electrified by the 
victory, and the brave leader of the boys in blue was 
immediately made a Major-General, and the military 
district of Tennessee was assigned to him. 

Like all great captains, Gen. Grant knew well how 
to secure the results of victory. He immediately 
pushed on to the enemies' lines. Then came the 
terrible battles of Pittsburg Landing, Corinth, and the 
siege of Vicksburg, where Gen. Pemberton made an 
unconditional surrender of the city with over thirty 
thousand men and one-hundred and seventy-two can- 
non. The fall of Vicksburg was by far the most 
severe blow which the rebels had thus far encountered, 
and opened up the Mississippi from Cairo to the Gulf. 

Gen. Grant was next ordered to co-operate with 
Gen. Banks in a movement upon Texas, and pro- 
ceeded to New Orleans, where he was thrown from 
his horse, and received severe injuries, from which he 
was laid up for months. He then rushed to the aid 
<*fGens. Rosecrans and Thomas at Chattanooga, and 
by a wonderful series of strategic and technical meas- 
ures put the Union Army in fighting condition. Then 
followed the bloody battles at Chattanooga, Lookout 
Mountain and Missionary Ridge, in which the rebels 
were routed with great loss. This won for him un- 
bounded praise in the North. On the 4th of Febru- 
ary, 1864, Congress revived the grade of lieutenant- 
general, and the rank was conferred on Gen. Grant. 
He repaired to Washington to receive his credentials 
ajid enter upon th« duties of his new office 



Gen. Grant decided as soon as he took charge ot 
ihe army to concentrate the widely-dispersed National 
troops for an attack upon Richmond, the nominal 
capital of the Rebellion, and endeavor there to de- 
stroy the rebel armies which would be promptly as- 
sembled from all quarters for its defence. The whole 
continent seemed to tremble under the tramp of these 
majestic armies, rushing to the decisive battle field. 
Steamers were crowded with troops. Railway trains 
were burdened with closely packed thousands. His 
plans were comprehensive and involved a 'series of 
campaigns, which were executed with remarkable en- 
ergy and ability, and were consummated at the sur- 
render of Lee, April 9, 1865. 

The war was ended. The Union was saved. The 
almost unanimous voice of the Nation declared Gen. 
Grant to be the most prominent instrument in its sal- 
vation. The eminent services he had thus rendered 
the country brought him conspicuously forward as the 
Republican candidate for the Presidential chair. 

At the Republican Convention held at Chicago. 
May 21, 1868, he was unanimously nominated for the 
Presidency, and at the autumn election received a 
majority of the popular vote, and 214 out of 294 
electoral votes. 

The National Convention of the Republican party 
which met at Philadelphia on the 5th of June, T872, 
placed Gen. Grant in nomination for a second term 
by a unanimous vote. The selection was emphati- 
cally indorsed by the people five months later, 292 
electoral votes being cast for him. 

Soon after the close of his second term, Gen. Grant 
started upon his famous trip around the world. He 
visited almost every country of the civilized world, 
and was everywhere received with such ovations 
and demonstrations of respect and honor, private 
as well as public and official, as were never before 
bestowed upon any citizen of the United States. 

He was the most prominent candidate before the 
Republican National Convention in 1880 for a re- 
nomination for President. He went to New York and 
embarked in the brokerage business under the firm 
nameof Grant & Ward. The latter proved a villain, 
wrecked Grant's fortune, and for larceny was sent to 
the penitentiary. The General was attacked with 
cancer in the throat, but suffered in his stoic-like 
manner, never complaining. He was re-instated as 
General of the Army and retired by Congress. The 
cancer soon finished its deadly work, and July 23, 
1885, the nation went in mourning over the death of 
' the illustrious General. 




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NINETEENTH PEES/VENT. 



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UTHERFORD B. HAYES, 
the nineteenth President of 
the United States, was born in 
Delaware, 0., Oct. 4, 1822, al- 
most three months after the 
death of his father, Rutherford 
Hayes. His ancestry on both 
the paternal and maternal sides, 
was of the most honorable char- 
acter. It can be traced, it is said, 
as far back as 1280, when Hayes and 
Rutherford were two Scottish chief- 
tains, fighting side by side with 
Baliol, William Wallace and Robert 
Bruce. Both families belonged to the 
nobility, owned extensive estates, 
and had a large following. Misfor- 
tune cv.-r faking the family, George Hayes left Scot- 
land in 1680,* and settled in Windsor, Conn. His son 
George was bom in Windsor, and remained there 
during his life. Daniel Hayes, son of the latter, mar- 
ried Sarah L>;e, and lived from the time of his mar- 
riage until his death in Simsbury, Conn. Ezekiel, 
son of Daniel, was born in 1724, and was a manufac- 
turer of scythes at Bradford, Conn. Rutherford Hayes, 
son of Ezekiel ai/d grandfather of President Hayes, was 
born in New Haven, in August, 1756. He was a farmer, 
blacksmith and tavern-keeper. He emigrated to 
Vermont at an unknown date, settling in Brattleboro, 
where he established a hotel. Here his son Ruth- 
erford Hayes the father of President Hayes, was 



born. He was married, in September, 1813, to Sophia 
Birchard, of Wilmington, Vt., whose ancestors emi- 
grated thither from Connecticut, they having been 
among the wealthiest and best famlies of Norwich. 
Her ancestry on the male side are traced back to 
1635, to John Birchard, one of the principal founders 
of Norwich. Both of her grandfathers were soldiers 
in the Revolutionary War. 

The father of President Hayes was an industrious 
frugal and opened-hearted man. He was of a me- 
chanical turn, and could mend a plow, knit a stock- 
ing, or do almost anything else that he choose to 
undertake. He was a member of the Church, active 
in all the benevolent enterprises of the town, and con- 
ducted his business on Christian principles. After 
the close of the war of i8r2, for reasons inexplicable 
to his neighbors, he resolved to emigrate to Ohio. 

The journey from Vermont to Ohio in that day 
when there were no canals, steamers, not railways, 
was a very serious affair. A tour of inspection was 
first made, occupying four months. Mr. Hayes deter 
mined to move to Delaware, where the family arrived 
in 1817. He died July 22, 1822, a victim of malarial 
fever, less than three months before the birth of the 
son, of whom we now write. Mrs. Hayes, in her sore be- 
reavement, found the support she so much needed in 
her brother Sardis, who had been a member of the 
household from the day of its departure from Ver- 
mont, and in an orphan girl whom she had adopted 
some time before as an act of charity. 

Mrs. Hayes at this period was very weak, and the 



92 



RUTHERFORD B. HAYES. 



subject of this sketch was so feeble at birth that he 
was not expected to live beyond a month or two at 
most. As the months went by he grew weaker and 
weaker, so that the neighbors were in the habit of in- 
quiring from time to time " if Mrs. Hayes' baby died 
last night." On one occasion a neighbor, who was on 
familiar terms with the family, after alluding to the 
hoy's big head, and the mother's assiduous care of 
'him, said in a bantering way, " That's right! Stick to 
him. You have got him along so far, and I shouldn't 
wonder if he would really come to something yet." 

" You need not laugh," said Mrs. Hayes. " You 
wait and see. You can't tell but I shall make him 
President of the United States yet." The boy lived, 
in spite of the universal predictions of his speedy 
death; and when, in 1825, his older brother was 
drowned, he became, if possible, still dearer to his 
mother. 

The boy was seven years old before he w^nt to 
school. His education, however, was not neglected. 
He probably learned as much from his mother and 
fister as he would have done at school. His sports 
were almost wholly within doors, his playmates being 
his sister and her associates. These circumstances 
tended, no doubt, to foster that gentleness of dispo- 
sition, and that delicate consideration for the feelings 
of others, which are marked traits of his character. 

His uncle Sardis Birchard took the deepest interest 
in his education; and as the boy's health had im- 
proved, and he was making good progress in his 
studies, he proposed to send him to college. His pre- 
paration commenced with a tutor at home; but he 
was afterwards sent for one year to a professor in the 
Wesleyan University, in Middletown, Conn. He en- 
tered Kenyon College in 1838, at the age of sixteen, 
and was graduated at the head of his class in 1842. 

Immediately after his graduation he began the 
study of law in the office of Thomas Sparrow, Esq., 
in Columbus. Finding his opportunities for study in 
Columbus somewhat limited, he determined to enter 
the Law School at Cambridge, Mass., where he re- 
mained two years. 

In 1845, after graduating at the Law School, he was 
admitted to the bar at Marietta, Ohio, and shortly 
afterward went into practice as an attorney-at-law 
with Ralph P. Buckland, of Fremont. Here he re- 
mained three years, acquiring but a limited practice, 
and apparently unambitious of distinction in his pro- 
fession. 

Vi 1849 he rridved to Cincinnati, where his ambi- 
tion found a new stimulus. For several years, how- 
ever, his progress was slow. Two events, occurring at 
this period, had a powerful influence upon his subse- 
quent 'ife. One of these was his marrage with Miss 
'Lucy Ware Webb, daughter of Dr. James Webb, of 
Chilicothe; the other was his introduction to the Cin- 
cinnati Literary Club, a body embracing among its 
members such men as n hief Justice Salmon j\ Chase } 



Gen. John Pope, Gov. Edward F. Noyes, and many 
others hardly less distinguished in after life. The 
marriage was a fortunate one in every respect, as 
everybody knows. Not one of all the wives of our 
Presidents was more universally admired, reverenced 
and beloved than was Mrs. Hayes, and no one did 
more than she to reflect honor upon American woman, 
hood. The Literary Cluu brought Mr. Hayes into 
constant association with young men of high char- 
acter and noble aims, and lured him to display the 
qualities so long hidden by his bashfulness and 
modesty. 

In 1856 he was nominated to the office of Judge of 
the Court of Common Pleas; but he declined to ac. 
cept the nomination. Two years later, the office ok 
city solicitor becoming vacant, the City Council 
elected him for the unexpired term. 

In 1861, when the Rebellion broke out, he was at 
the zenith of his professional VS.. His rank at the 
bar was among the the first. But the news of the 
attack on Fort Sumpter found him eager to take -id 
arms for the defense of his country. 

His military record was bright and illustrious. In 
October, 1S61, he was made Lieutenant-Colonel, and 
in August, 1862, promoted Colonel of the 79th Ohio 
regiment, but he refused to leave his old comrades 
and go among strangers. Subsequently, however, he 
was made Colonel of his old regiment. At the battle 
of South Mountain he received a wound, and while 
faint and bleeding displayed courage and fortitude 
that won admiration from all. 

Col. Hayes was detached from his regiment, after 
his recovery, to act as Brigadier-General, and placed 
in command of the celebrated Kanawha division, 
and for gallant and meritorious services in the battles 
of Winchester, Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek, he was 
promoted Brigadier-General. He was also brevetted 
Major-General, "for gallant and distinguished services 
during the campaigns of 1864, in West Virginia." In 
the course of his arduous services, four horses were 
shot from under him, and he was wounded four times. 

In 1864, Gen. Hayes was elected to Congress, from 
the Second Ohio District, which had long been Dem- 
ocratic. He was not present during the campaign, 
and after his election was importuned to resign his 
commission in the army ; but he finally declared, " I 
shall never come to Washington until I can come by 
the way of Richmond." He was re-elected in tS66. 

In 1867, Gen Hayes was elected Governor of Ohio, 
over Hon. Allen G. Thurman, a popular Democrat. 
In 1869 was re-elected over George H. Pendleton. 
He was elected Governor for the third term in 1875. 

In r876 he was the standard bearer of the Repub- 
lican Party in the Presidential contest, and after a 
hard long contest was chosen President, and was in 
augurated Monday, March 5, 1875. He served his 
full term, not, hcwever, with satisfaction to his party, 
but his administration was an average or*.; 



TWENTIETH FRESTDENT. 



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JAMES A, (iAKFIEED. 









AMES A. GARFIELD, twen- 
tieth President of the United 
States, was born Nov. 19, 
1831, in the woods of Orange, 
Cuyahoga Co., O His par- 
ents were Abram and Eliza 
^3 (Ballou) Garfield, both of New 
England ancestry and from fami- 
lies well known in the early his- 
tory of that section of our coun- 
try, but had moved to the Western 
Reserve, in Ohio, early in its settle- 
ment. 

The house in which James A. was 
born was not unlike the houses of 
poor Ohio farmers of that day. It 
,tis about 20x30 feet, built of logs, with the spaces be- 
.ween the logs filled with clay. His father was a 
nard working farmer, and he soon had his fields 
jleared, an orchard planted, and a log barn built, 
f he household comprised the father and mother and 
heir four children — Mehetabel, Thomas, Mary and 
'ames. In May, 1823, the father, from a cold con- 
tacted in helping to put out a forest fire, died. At 
this time James was about eighteen months old, and 
Thomas about ten years old. No one, perhaps, can 
(ell how much James was indeLted to his brother's 
toil and self-sacrifice during the twenty years suc- 
ceeding his father's death, but undoubtedly very 
much. He now lives in Michigan, and the two sis- 
ters live in Solon, O., near their birthplace. 

The early educational advantages young Garfield 
enjoyed were very limited, yet he made the most of 
them. He labored at farm work for others, did car- 
penter work, chopped wood, or did anything that 
would bring in a few dollars to aid his widowed 
mother in he' struggles to keep the little family to- 



gether. Nor was Gen. Garfield ever ashamed of his 
origin, and he never forgot the friends of his strug- 
gling childhood, youth and manhood, neither did they 
ever forget him. When in the highest seats of honor, 
the humblest friend of his boyhood was as kindly 
greeted as ever. The poorest laborer was sure of the 
sympathy of one who had known all the bitterness 
of want and the sweetness of bread earned by the 
sweat of the brow. He was ever the simple, plain, 
modest gentleman. 

The highest ambition of young Garfield until hi 
was about sixteen years old was to be a captain of 
a vessel on Lake Erie. He was anxious to go aboard 
a vessel, which his mother strongly opposed. She 
finally consented to his going to Cleveland, with the 
understanding, however, that he should try to obtair 
some other kind of employment. He walked all the 
way to Cleveland. This was his first visit to the city 
After making many applications for work, and trying 
to get aboard a lake vessel, and not meeting with 
success, he engaged as a driver for his cousin, Amos 
Letcher, on the Ohio & Pennsylvania Canal. He re- 
mained at this work but a short time when he wen" 
home, and attended the seminary at Chester for 
about three years, when he entered Hiram and the 
Eclectic Institute, teaching a few terms of school in 
the meantime, and doing other work. This school 
was started by the Disciples of Christ in 1850, of 
which church he was then a member. He became 
janitor and bell-ringer in order to help pay his way 
He then became both teacher and pupil. He soon 
" exhausted Hiram " and needed more ; hence, in the 
fall of 1854, he entered Williams College, from which 
he graduated in 1856, taking one of the highest hiv.- 
ors of his class. He afterwards returned to Hiram 
College as its President. As above stated, he early 
united with the Christian or Diciples Church at 
Hiram, and was ever after a devoted, zealous mem- 
ber, often preaching in its pulpit and places where 
he happened to be. Dr. Noah Porter, President of 
Yale College, says of him in reference to his religion : 



9« 



JAMES A. GARFIELD. 



" President Garfield was more than a man of 
strong moral and religious convictions. His whole 
history, from boyhood to the last, shows that duty to 
man and to God, anddevotion to Christ and life and 
faith and spiritual commission were controlling springs 
of his being, and to a more than usual degree. In 
my judgment there is no more interesting feature of 
his character than his loyal allegiance to the body of 
Christians in which he was trained, and the fervent 
sympathy whicli he ever showed in their Christian 
communion. Not many of the few 'wise and mighty 
and noble who are called' show a similar loyalty to 
the less stately and cultured Christian communions 
in which they have been reared. Too often it is true 
that as they step upward in social and political sig- 
nificance they step upward from one degree to 
another in some of the many types of fashionable 
Christianity. President Garfield adhered to the 
church of his mother, the church in which he was 
trained, and in which he served as a pillar and an 
evangelist, and yet with the largest and most unsec- 
tarian charity for all 'who loveour Lord in sincerity.'" 

Mr. Garfield was united in marriage witli Miss 
Lucretia Rudolph, Nov. 1 1, 1858, who proved herself 
worthy as the wife of one whom all the world loved and 
mourned. To them were born seven children, five of 
whom are still living, four boys and one girl. 

Mr. Garfield made his first political speeches in 1856, 
in Hiram and the neighboring villages, and three 
years later he began to speak at county mass-meet- 
ings, and became the favorite speaker wherever he 
was. During this year he was elected to the Ohio 
Senate. He also began to study law at Cleveland, 
and in 1861 was admitted to the bar. The great 
Rebellion broke out in the early part of this year, 
and Mr. Garfield at once resolved to fight as he had 
talked, and enlisted to defend the old flag. He re- 
ceived his commission as Lieut. -Colonel of the Forty- 
second Regiment of Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Aug. 
14, 1861. He was immediately put into active ser- 
vice, and before he had ever seen a gun fired in action, 
was placed in command of four regiments of infantry 
and eight companies of cavalry, charged with the 
work of driving out of his native State the officer 
f ( Humphrey Marshall) reputed to be the ablest of 
those, not educated to war whom Kentucky had given 
to the Rebellion. This work was bravely and speed- 
ily accomplished, although against great odds. Pres- 
ident Lincoln, on his success commissioned him 
Brigadier-General, Jan. 10, 1862; and as "he had 
been the youngest man in the Ohio Senate two years 
before, so now he was the youngest General in the 
army." He was with Gen. Buell's army at Shiloh, 
in its operations around Corinth and its march through 
Alabama. He was then detailed as a memberof the 
General Court-Martial for the trial of Gen. Fitz-John 
Porter. He was then ordered to report to Gen. Rose- 
crans, and was assigned to the " Chief of Staff." 

The military history of Gen. Garfield closed with 



his brilliant services at Chickamauga, where he won 
the stars of the Major-General. 

Without an effort on his part Gei? Garfield wa» 
elected to Congress in the fall of 1862 from the 
Nineteenth District of Ohio. This section of Ohio 
had been represented in Congress for sixty year* 
mainly by two men — Elisha Whittlesey and Joshuv 
R. Giddings. It was not without a struggle that he 
resigned his place in the army. At the time he en- 
tered Congress he was the youngest member in that 
body. There he remained by successive re- 
elections until he was elected President in 1880. 
Of his labors in Congress Senator Hoar says : " Since 
the year 1864 you cannot think of a question which 
has been debated in Congress, or discussed before a 
tribunel of the American people, in regard to which 
you will not find, if you wish instruction, the argu, 
ment on one side stated, in almost every instance 
better than by anybody else, in some speech made in 
the House of Representatives or on the hustings by 
Mr. Garfield." 

Upon Jan. 14, 1880, Gen. Garfield was elected to 
the U. S. Senate, and on the eighth of June, of the 
same year, was nominated as the candidate of his 
party for President at the great Chicago Convention. 
He was elected in the following November, and on 
March 4, 1881, was inaugurated. Probably no ad- 
ministration ever opened its existence under brighter 
auspices than that of President Garfield, and every 
day it grew in favor with the people, and by the first 
of July he had completed all the initiatory and pre- 
liminary work of his administration and was prepar- 
ing to leave the city to meet his friends at Williams 
College. While on his way and at the depot, in com- 
pany with Secretary Blaine, a man stepped behind 
him, drew a revolver, and fired directly at his back. 
The President tottered and fell, and as he did so the 
assassin fired a second shot, the bullet cutting the 
left coat sleeve of his victim, but inflicting no farther 
injury. It has been very truthfully said that this was 
" the shot that was heard round the world " Never 
before in the history of the Nation had anything oc- 
curred which so nearly froze the blood of the peop!° 
for the moment, as this awful deed. He was smit- 
ten on the brightest, gladdest day of all his life, and 
was at the summit of his power and hope. For eighty 
days, all during the hot months of July and August, 
lie lingered and suffered. He, however, remained 
master of himself till the last, and by his magnificent 
bearing was teaching the country and the world the 
noblest of human lessons — how to live grandly in the 
very clutch of death. Great in life, he was surpass- 
ingly great in death. He passed serenely away Sept. 
19, 1883, at Elberon, N. J., on the very bank of the 
ocean, where he had been taken shortly previous. The 
world wept at his death, as it never had done on the 
death of any other man who had ever lived upon it. 
The murderer was duly tried, found guilty and exe- 
cuted, in one year after he committ<»d the foul deed. 



TWENTY. FIRST PRESIDENT. 



99 











HESTER A. ARTHUR, 
twenty-first PresKi-ni of the 

United States, was born in 

Franklin Courty, Vermont, on 

the fifthofOc'ober, 1830, and is 

the oldest of a family of two 

sons and five daughters. His 

father was the Rev. Dr. William 

Arthur, a Baptist clergyman, who 

emigrated to tb.s country from 

the county Antrim, Ireland, in 

his 1 8th year, and died in 1875, in 

Newtonville, neai Albany, after a 

long and successful ministry. 

Young Arthur was educated at 
Union College, S< henectady, where 
he excelled in all his studies. Af- 
ter his graduation he taught school 
in Vermont for two years, and at 
the expiration of that time came to 
New York, with $500 in his pocket, 
and entered the ofifice of ex-Judge 
E. D. Culver as student. After 
being admitted to the bar he formed 
a partnership with his intimate friend and room-mate, 
Henry D. Gardiner, with the intention of practicing 
in the West, and for three months they roamed about 
in the Western States in search of an eligible site, 
Out in the end returned to New York, where they 
hung out their shingle, and entered upon a success- 
ful career almost from the start. General Arthur 
soon afterward nuu-rrd the daughter of Lieutenant 



Herndon, of the United States Navy, who was lost at 
sea. Congress voted a gold medal to his widow in 
recognition of the bravery he displayed on that occa- 
sion. Mrs. Arthur died shortly before Mr. Arthur's 
nomination to the Vice Presidency, leaving two 
children. 

Gen. Arthur obtained considerable legal celebrity 
in his first great case, the famous Lemmon suit, 
brought to recover possession of eight slaves who had 
been declared free by Judge Paine, of the Superior 
Court of New York City. It was in 1852 that Jon^ 
athan Lemmon, of Virginia, went to New York with 
his slaves, intending to ship them to Texas, when 
they were discovered and freed. The Judge decided 
that they could not be held by the owner under the 
Fugitive Slave Law. A howl of rage went up from 
the South, and the Virginia Legislature authorized the 
Attorney General of that State to assist in an appeal. 
Wm. M. Evarts and Chester A. Arthur were employed 
to represent the People, and they won their case, 
which then went to the Supreme Court of the United 
States. Charles O'Conor here espoused the cause 
of the slave-holders, but he too was beaten by Messrs 
Evarts and Arthur, and a long step was taken toward 
the emancipation of the black race. 

Another great service was rendered by General 
Arthur in the same cause in 1856. Lizzie Jennings, 
a respectable colored woman, was put off a Fourth 
Avenue car with violence after she had paid her fare. 
General Arthur sued on her behalf, and secured a 
verdict of $500 damages. The next day the compa- 
ny issued an order to admit colored persons to ride 
on their cars, and the other car companies quickly 



CHESTER A. ARTHUR. 



followed their example. Before that the Sixth Ave- 
nue Company ran a few special cars for colored per- 
sons and the other lines refused to let them ride at all. 

General Arthur was a delegate to the Convention 
at Saratoga that founded the Republican party. 
Previous to the war he was Judge-Advocate of the 
Second Brigade of the State of New York, and Gov- 
ernor Morgan, of that State, appointed him Engineer- 
in-Chief of his staff. In 1 86 1 , he was made Inspec- 
tor General, and soon afterward became Quartermas- 
ter-General. In each of these offices he rendered 
great service to the Government during the war. At 
the end of Governor Morgan's term he resumed the 
practice of the law, forming a partnership with Mr. 
Ransom, and then Mr. Phelps, the District Attorney 
of New Yoik, was added to the firm. The legal prac- 
tice of this well-known firm was very large and lucra- 
tive, each of the gentlemen composing it were able 
lawyers, and possessed a splendid local reputation, if 
not indeed one of national' extent. 

He always took a leading part in State and city 
politics. He was appointed Collector of the Port of 
New York by President Grant, Nov. 21 1872, to suc- 
ceed Thomas Murphy, and held the office until July, 
20, 1878, when he was succeeded by Collector Merritt. 

Mr. Arthur was nominated on the Presidential 
ticket, with Gen. James A. Garfield, at the famous 
National Republican Convention held at Chicago in 
June, 1880. This was perhaps the greatest political 
convention that ever assembled on the continent. It 
was composed of the hading politicians of the Re- 
publican party, all able men, and each stood firm and 
fought vigorously and with signal tenacity for their 
respective candidates that were before the conven- 
tion for the nomination. Finally Gen. Garfield re- 
ceived the nomination for President and Gen. Arthur 
for Vice-President. The campaign which followed 
was one of the most animated known in the history of 
our country. Gen. Hancock, the standard-bearer of 
the Democratic party, was a popular man, and his 
party made a valiant fight for his election. 

Finally the election came and the country's choice 
.vas Garfield and Arthur. They were inaugurated 
.vlarch 4, 1881, as President and Vice-President. 
K few months only had passed ere the newly chosen 
President was the victim of the assassin's bullet. Then 
came terrible weeks of suffering, — those moment* of 
anxious suspense, when the hearts of all civilized na- 



tions were throbbing in unison, longing for the re- 
covery of the noble, the good President. The remark- 
able patience that he manifested during those hours 
and weeks, and even months, of the most terrible suf- 
fering man has often been called upon to endure, was 
seemingly more than human. It was certainly God- 
like. During all this period of deepest anxiety Mr. 
Arthur's every move was watched, and be it said to hi? 
credit that his every action displayed only an earnest 
desire that the suffering Garfield might recover, to 
serve the remainder of the term he had so auspi- 
ciously begun. Not a selfish feeling was manifested 
in deed or look of this man, even though the mos^ 
honored position in the world was at any momen? 
likely to fall to him. 

At last God in his mercy relieved President Gar- 
field from further suffering, and the world, as nevei 
before in its history over the death of any othei 
man, wept at his bier. Then it became the duty ol 
the Vice President to assume the responsibilities ol 
the high office, and he took the oath in New York. 
Sept. 20, 1881. The position was an embarrassing 
one to him, made doubly so from the facts that all 
eyes were on him, anxious to know what he would do, 
what policy he would pursue, and who he would se- 
lect as advisers. The duties of the office had been 
greatly neglected during the President's long illness, 
and many important measures were to be immediately 
decided by him; and still farther to embarrass him he 
did not fail to realize under what circumstances he 
became President, and knew the feelings of many on 
this point. Under these trying circumstances President 
Arthur took the reins of the Government in his o\\ . 
hands ; and, as embarrassing as were the condition yt 
affair? he happily surprised the nation, acting so 
wiseiv hat but few criticised \iis administration. 
He served the nation well and faithfully, until the 
close of his administration, March 4, 1885, and was 
a popular candidate before his party for a second 
term. His name was ably presented before the con 
vention at Chicago, and was received with great 
favor, and doubtless but for the personal popularity 
of one of the opposing candidates, he would have 
been selected as the standard-bearer of his partx 
for another campaign. He retired to private life car- 
rying with him the best wishes of the American peo- 
ple, whom he had served in a manner satisfactory 
to them and with credit to himself. 







( -l^trLgs? C/^uC^Ct 



Cl/i^JU 



TWENTY-SECOND PRESIDENT. 



'°3 





si,. _ M „_, . ., m 

1 



j>vcwv 













TEPHEN GROVER CLEVE- 
LAND, the twenty second Pres- 
ident of the United States, was 
born in 1837, in the obscure 
town of Caldwell, Essex Co., 
N. J., and in a little two-and-a- 
half-story white house which is still 
standing, characteristically to mark 
the humble birth-place of one of 
America's great men in striking con- 
trast with the Old World, where all 
men high in office must be high in 
origin and born in the cradle of 
wealth. When the subject of this 
sketch was three years of age, his 
father, who was a Presbyterian min- 
ister, with a large family and a small salary, moved, 
by way of the Hudson River and Erie Canal, to 
Fayetteville, in search of an increased income and a 
larger field of work. Fayetteville was then the most 
straggling of country villages, about five miles from 
Pompey Hill, wherj Governor Seymour was born. 

At the last mentioned place young Grover com- 
menced going to school in the " good, old-fashioned 
way," and presumably distinguished himself after the 
manner of all village boys, in doing the things he 
ought not to do. Such is the distinguishing trait of 
all geniuses and independent thinkers. When he 
arrived at the age of 14 years, he had outgrown the 
capacity of the village school and expressed a most 



emphatic desire to be sent to an academy. To this 
his father decidedly objected. Academies in those 
days cost money; besides, his father wanted him to 
become self-supporting by the quickest possible 
means, and this at that time in Fayetteville seemed 
to be a position in a country store, where his father 
and the large family on his hands had considerable 
influence. Grover was to be paid $50 for his services 
the first year, and if he proved trustworthy he was to 
receive $ioo the second year. Here the lad com- 
menced his career as salesman, and in two years he 
had earned so good a reputation for trustworthiness 
that his employers desired to retain him for an in- 
definite length of time. Otherwise he did not ex- 
hibit as yet any particular " flashes of genius " or 
eccentricities of talent. He was simply a good boy. 
But instead of remaining with this firm in Fayette- 
ville, he went with the family in their removal to 
Clinton, where he had an opportunity of attending a 
high school. Here he industriously pursued his 
studies until the family removed with him to a point 
on Black River known as the " Holland Patent," a 
village of 500 or 600 people, r5 miles north of Utica, 
N. Y. At this place his father died, after preaching 
but three Sundays. This event broke up the family, 
and Grover set out for New York City to accept, at a 
small salary, the position of " under-teacher " in an 
asylum for the blind. He taught faithfully for two 
years, and although he obtained a good reputation in 
this capacity, he concluded that teaching was not his 



10 4 



S. GROVE R CLEVhLAJND. 



calling for life, and, reversing the traditional order, 
he left the city to seek his fortune, instead of going 
to a city. He first thought of Cleveland, Ohio, as 
th^re was some charm in that name for him; but 
before proceeding to that place he went to Buffalo to 
tsk the'advice of his uncle, Lewis F. Allan, a noted 
stock-breeder of that place. The latter did not 
speak enthusiastically. "What is it you want to do, 
my boy?" he asked. "Well, sir, I want to study 
law," was the reply, " Good gracious ! " remarked 
ih* old gentleman ; " do you, indeed ? What ever put 
that into your head? How much money have you 
got?" "Well, sir, to tell the truth, I haven't got 
any. 

After a long consultation, his uncle offered him a 
place temporarily as assistant herd-keeper, at $50 a 
year, while he could " look around." One day soon 
afterward he boldly walked into the office of Rogers, 
Bowen & Rogers, of Buffalo, and told ihem what he 
wanted. A number of young men were already en- 
gaged in the office, but Grover's persistency won, and 
he was finally permitted to come as an office boy and 
nave the use of the law library, for the nominal sum 
of %i or $4 a week. Out of this he had to pay for 
his board and washing. The walk to and from his 
uncle's was a long and rugged one; and, although 
the first winter was a memorably severe one, his 
shoes were out of repair and his overcoat — he had 
none — yet he was nevertheless prompt and regular. 
On the first day of his service here, his senior em- 
ployer threw down a copy of Blackstone before him 
with a bang that made the dust fly, saying "That's 
where they all begin." A titter ran around the little 
circle of clerks and students, as they thought that 
was enough to scare young Grover out of his plans ; 
out in due time he mastered that cumbersome volume. 
Then, as ever afterward, however, Mr. Cleveland 
exhibited a talent for executiveness rather than for 
chasing principles through all their metaphysical 
possibilities. " Let us quit talking and go and do 
it," was practically his motto. 

The first public office to which Mr. Cleveland was 
elected was that of Sheriff of Erie Co., N. Y., in 
which Buffalo is situated; and in such capacity it fell 
to his duty to inflict capital pi'.ishment upon two 
caiminals. In 1881 he was elected Mayor of the 
City of Buffalo, ci the Democratic ticket, with es- 
pecial reference to the bringing about certain reforms 



in the administration of the municipal affairs of that 
city. In this office, as well as that of Sheriff, his 
performance of duty has generally been considered 
fair, with possibly a few exceptions which were fer- 
reted out and magnified during the last Presidential 
campaign. As a specimen of his plain language in 
a veto message, we quote from one vetoing an iniqui 
tous street-cleaning contract: "This is a time fo\ 
plain speech, and my objection to your action shall 
be plainly stated. I regard it as the culmination of 
a mos bare-faced, impudent and shameless scheme 
to betray the interests of the people and to worsa 
than squander the people's money." The New York 
Sun afterward very highly commended Mr. Cleve- 
land's administration as Mayor of Buffalo, and there- 
upon recommended him for Governor of the Empire 
State. To the latter office he was elected in 1882, 
and his administration of the affairs of State was 
generally satisfactory. The mistakes he made, if 
any, were made very public throughout the nation 
after he was nominated for President of the United 
States. For this high office he was nominated July 
ir, 1884, by the National Democratic Convention at 
Chicago, when other competitors were Thomas F. 
Bayard, Roswell P. Flower, Thomas A. Hendricks, 
Benjamin F. Butler, Allen G. Thurman, etc.; and he 
was elected by the people, by a majority of about a 
thousand, over the brilliant and long-tried Repub- 
lican statesman, James G. Blaine. President Cleve- 
land resigned his office as Governor of New York in 
January, 1885, in order to prepare for his duties as 
the Chief Executive of ihe United States, in which 
capacity his term commenced at noon on the 4th ol 
March, 1885. 

The silver question precipitated a controversy 
between those who were in favor of the continu- 
ance of silver coinage and those who were opposed, 
Mr. Cleveland answering for the latter, even before 
his inauguration. 

On June 2, 1886, President Cleveland married 
Frances, daughter of his deceased friend and 
partner, Oscar Folsom, of the Buffalo Bar. Their 
union has been blessed by the birth of one daugh- 
ter, Ruth. In the campaign of 1888, President 
Cleveland was renominated by his party, but the 
Republican candidate, Gen. Benjamin Harrison, 
was victorious. In the nominations of 1892 these 
two candidates for the highest position in the gift 
of the people were again pitted against each other 
and President Cleveland was victorious by an 
overwhelming majority. 




^Q^oof C&& 



TWENTY-THIRD PRESIDENT. 



I* J 




■■»'V 



-"o♦o.■©X^©- ♦*■ 




[ENJAMIN HARRISON, the 

twenty-third President, is 
the descendant of one of the 
historical families of this 
country. The head of the 
family was a Major General 
Harrison, one of Oliver 
Cromwell's trusted follow- 
ers and fighters. In the zenith of Crom- 
well's power it became the duty of this 
Harrison to participate in the trial of 
Charles I, and afterward tc sign the 
death warrant of the king. He subse- 
quently paid for this with his life, being 
hung Oct. 13, 1660. His. descendants 
came to America, and the next of the 
family that appears in history is Benja- 
rrin Harrison, of Virginia, great-grand- 
father of the subject of this sketch, and 
after whom he was named. Benjamin Harrison 
was a member of the Continental Congress during 
the years 1774-5-6, and was one of the original 
signers of the Declaration of Independence. He 
wa three times elected Governor of Virginia* 
Gen William Henry Harrison, the son of the 



■«**• 



distinguished patriot of the Revolution, after a. suo. 
cessful career as a soldier during the War of 1812, 
and with -a clean record as Governor of the North- 
western Territory, was elected President of the 
United States in 1 840. His career was cut short 
by death within one month :ifter Iiis inauguration. 
President Harrison was born at North Bend, 
Hamilton Co., Ohio, Aug. 20, 18S3 His life up to 
the time of his graduation by the Miami University, 
at Oxford, Ohio, was the uneventful one of a coun- 
try lad of a family of small means. His father was 
able to give him a good education, and nothing 
more. He became engaged while at college to tho 
daughter of Dr. Scott, Principal of a female schoo 
at Oxford. After graduating he determined to en- 
ter upon the study of the law. He went to Cin 
cinnati and then read law for tvro years. At the 
expiration of that time young Harrison received tb> 
only inheritance of his life; his aunt dying left him 
a lot valued at $800. He regarded this legacy as & 
fortune, and decided to get married at once, 'aka 
this money and go to some Eastern town an '. be- 
gin the practice of law. He sold his lot, and with 
the money in his pocket, he started out witc his 
young wife to fight for a place in the world- M« 



108 



BENJAMIN HARRISONS 



decided to go to Indianapolis, which was even at 
that time a town of promise. He met with slight 
encouragement at first, making scarcely anything 
the first year. He worked diligently, applying him- 
self closely to his calling, built up an extensive 
practice and took a leading rank in the legal pro- 
fession. He is the father of two children. 

In 1860 Mr. Harrison was nominated for the 
position of Supreme Court Reporter, and then be- 
gan his experience as a stump speakei He can- 
vassed the State thoroughly, and was elected by a 
handsome majority. In 1862 lie raised the 17th 
Indiana Infantry, and was chosen its Colonel. His 
regiment was composed of the rawest of material, 
out Col. Harrison employed all his time at first 
mastering military tactics and drilling his men, 
when he therefore came to move toward the East 
with Sherman his regiment was one of the best 
drilled and organized in the army. At Resaca he 
especially distinguished himself, and for his bravery 
at Peachtree Creek he was made a Brigadier Gen- 
eral, Gen. Hooker speaking of him in the most 
complimentary terms. 

During the absence of Gen. Harrison in the field 
the Supreme Court declared the office of the Su- 
preme Court Reporter vacant, and another person 
was elected to the position. From the time of leav- 
ing Indiana with his regiment until the fall ot 1864 
he had taken no leave of absence, but having been 
nominated that year for the same office, he got a 
thirty-day leave of absence, and during that time 
made a brilliant canvass of the State, and was elected 
for another term. He then started to rejoin Sher- 
man, but on the way was stricken down with scarlet 
iever, and after a most trying siege made his way 
to the front in time to participate in the closing 
incidents of the war. 

In 1868 Gen. Harrison declined r, re-election as 
reporter, and resumed the practice of law. In 1876 
i>e was a candidate for Governor, Although de- 
feated, the brilliant campaign he made won lor him 
a National reputation, and he was much sought, es- 
pecia].y in the East, to make speeches. In 1880, 
as usual, he took an active part in the campaign, 
and was elected to the United States Senate. Here 
ue served six years, anfj was known as one oi the 
iWest men, bast lawyer^-nd strongest debaters in 



that body. With the expiration of his Senatorial 
term he returned to the practice of his profession, 
becoming the head of one of the strongest firms in 
the State. 

The political campaign of 1888 was one of the 
most memorable in the history of our country. The 
convention which assembled in Chicago in June and 
named Mr. Harrison as the chief standard bearer 
of the Republican party, was great in ever}' partic- 
ular, and on this account, and the attitude it as- 
sumed upon the vital questions of the day, chief 
among which was the tariff, awoke a deep interest 
in the campaign throughout the Nation. Shortly 
after the nomination delegations began to visit Mr. 
Harrison at Indianapolis, his home. This move- 
ment became popular, and from all sections of the 
country societies, clubs and delegations journeyed 
thither to pay their respects to the distinguished 
statesman. The popularity of these was greatly 
increased on account of the remarkable speeches 
made by Mr. Harrison. He spoke daily all through 
the summer and autumn to these visiting delega- 
tions, and so varied, masterly and eloquent were 
his speeches that they at once placed him in the 
foremost rank of American orators and statesmen. 

On account of his eloquence as a speaker and his 
power as a debater, he was called upon at an un- 
commonly early age to take part in the discussion 
of the great questions that then began to agitato 
the country. He was an uncompromising ant: 
slavery man, and was matched against some of the 
most eminent Democratic speakers of his Statu 
No man who felt the touch of his blade de; ired tc 
be pitted with him again. With all his e!oq-'ence 
as an orator lie never spoke for oratorical effect, 
but his words always went like bullets to the mark 
He is purely -American in his ideas and is a spies 
did type of the American statesman. Gifted with 
quick perception, a logical mind and a ready tongue, 
he is one of tfc» most distinguished impromptu 
speakers in the Nation. Many of these speeches 
sparkled with the rarest of eloquence and contained 
arguments of greatest weight. Many of his terse 
statements have already become aphorisms. Origi- 
nal in thought, precise in logic, terse in statement, 
yet withal faultless in eloquence, he is recognized as 
the sound statesman and brill Ian orator C tac day 




LAFAYETTE AND 



SALINE COUNTIES, 



MISSOURI. 



©^ - ^S-^-^- 




JM*^ 



- -^M 





INTRODUCTORY. 






^^^»;S^y[IK time lias arrived when it 
becomes the duty of the 
people of this county to per- 
petuate the names of their 
pioneers, to furnish a record 
of their early settlement, 
and relate the story of their 
progress. The civilization of our 
day, the enlightenment of the age 
and the duty that men of the pres- 
ent time owe to their ancestors, to 
themselves and to their posterity, 
demand that a record of their lives 
and deeds should be made. In bio- 
graphical history is found a power 
to instruct man by precedent, to 
enliven the mental faculties, and 
to waft down the river of time a 
safe vessel in which the names and actions of the 
people who contributed to raise this country from its 
primitive state may be preserved. Surely and rapidly 
the great and aged men, who in their prime entered 
the wilderness and claimed the virgin soil as their 
heritage, are passing to their graves. The number re- 
maining who can relate the incidents of the first days 
of settlement is becoming small indeed, so that an 
actual necessity exists for the collection and preser- 
vation of events without delay, before all the early 
settlers are cut down by the scythe of Time. 

To be forgotten has been the great dread of mankind 
from remotest ages. All will be forgotten soon enough, 
in spite of their best works and the most earnest 
efforts of their friends to perserve the memory of 
their lives. The means employed to prevent oblivion 
and to perpetuate their memory has been in propor- 
tion to the amount of intelligence they possessed. 
Th : pyramids of Egypt were built to perpetuate the 
names and deeds of their great rulers.-, The exhu- 
mations made by the archeologists of Egypt from 
buried .Memphis indicate a desire of those people 



to perpetuate the memory of their achievements 
The erection of the great obelisks were for the same 
purpose. Coming down to a later period, we find the 
Greeks and Romans erecting mausoleums and monu- 
ments, and carving out statues to chronicle their 
great achievements and carry them down the ages. 
It is also evident that the Mound-builders, in piling 
up their great mounds of earth, had but this idea — 
to leave something to show that they had lived. All 
these works, though many of them costly in the ex- 
treme, give but a faint idea of the lives and charac- 
ters of those whose memory they were intended to 
perpetuate, and scarcely anything of the masses of 
the people that then lived. The great pyramids and 
some of the obelisks remain objects only of curiosity; 
the mausoleums, monuments and statues are crum- 
bling into dust. 

It was left to modern ages to establish an intelli- 
gent, undecaying, immutable method of perpetuating 
a full history — immutable in that it is almost un- 
limited in extent and perpetual in its action; and 
this is through the art of printing. 

To the present generation, however, we are in- 
debted for the introduction of the admirable system 
of local biography. By this system every man, thougr 
he has not achieved what the world calls greatness, 
his the means to perpetuate his life, his history, 
through the coming ages. 

The scythe of Time cuts down all ; nothing of the 
physical man is left. The monument which his chil- 
dren or friends may erect to his memory in the cemc, 
tery will crumble into dust and pass away; but his 
life, his achievements, the work he has accomplished, 
which otherwise would be forgotten, is perpetuated 
by a record of this kind. 

To preserve the lineaments of our companions we 
engrave their portraits, for the same reason we col- 
lect the attainable facts of their history. Nor do we 
think it necessary, as we speak only truth of them, to 
wait until they are dead, or until those who know 
them a : -to do this we are ashamed only to 

publish t ) the woild the history of those whose live." 
are unworthy of public record. 






Si 





/^^C^t^r 







■■ ~ 








/^ APT. AI EDGAR ASBURY, President of 
((( ^ tlie American Bank of Higginsville, Chair- 
^^?/ man of the Advisory Board of the Con- 
federate Home of Missouri, stockholder and Di- 
rector of the Higginsville Milling Company, 
Treasurer and owner of one-half interest in the 
Corder Coal Company, at Corder, owner of one- 
half interest in the Excelsior Coal Company, and 
a one-third interest in the Y. S. A. Coal Com- 
pany, of Higginsville, occupies a position among 
the influential and eminent men of Missouri. An 
energetic and thorough business man of undoubted 
abilit}-, he is widely known as a promoter of finan- 
cial organizations and benevolent enterprises. Capt. 
Asbury was born in Pruntytown, Taylor County, 
W. Va., August 16, 1836. He is of English de- 
scent, and traces his ancestry back to a brother of 
the renowned Bishop Asbury. 

The paternal great-grandfather of our subject 
was one of the heroes of the Revolution. Grand- 
father John Asbury was a farmer in Fauquier 
County, Va., where he died. His son, Col. John 
Asbury, was born at the homestead in Fauquier 
County, Va., and successfully followed mercan- 
tile pursuits in the Old Dominion, where he served 
efficiently as Judge of the County Court and Col- 
onel in the Virginia Militia. In 1856, he took 
his family to Richmond, Ray County, Mo., where 
he farmed extensively, and also kept an hotel 
until the war broke out, when he returned to Vir- 
ginia. After the war was ended, he again came to 
Missouri and located at Pittsburgh, Clinton 
County, where lie engaged in general merchandise 
until he died in 1882, aged over three-score years 
and ten. Col. Asbury was an active member of 
the Baptist Church and highly esteemed by all 
who knew him. 



The mother of our subject, Leah Bayly (Rogers) 
Asbury, was a native of Fauquier County, Ya., a 
granddaughter of Hon. Pierce Bayly, of Virginia. 
and a daughter of Col. William A. Rogers, a soldier 
of the Revolution, under the command of Gen. 
Washington. Col. William A. Rogers wasasonof 
Edward Rogers, who was of English descent, a sol- 
dier and a man of courage and endurance. William 
A. Rogers was an extensive agriculturist of Vir- 
ginia, near Pruntytown, and held various official po- 
sitions of trust, representing his constituents in the 
Legislature and filling the important office of High 
Sheriff. At the good old age of eighty years, he 
passed away, leaving behind him the record of an 
honored and upright life. The mother of our sub- 
ject died in Plattsburgh in 1878 and left a large 
family to mourn her loss. Of her ten sons and 
daughters, eight grew to adult age, our subject be- 
ing the sixth in order of birth. Two sons and 
three daughters are now living. 

William P., the eldest son, served in the Con- 
federate army during a part of the Civil War, 
and afterward practiced law for a time at Rich- 
mond, Mo. Heremoved thence to Warren sburgh, 
where he became a prominent attorney and re- 
sided until his death. Mountjoy was a soldier in 
the Confederate army, and served as Quarter- 
master of a brigade with the rank of Captain, re- 
maining in active duty until the close of the war. 
He now resides in Anson, Jones County, Tex., 
where he owns a large sheep ranch. The third 
son is our subject. Virginia Bird is the wife of 
lion. W. F. Davis, who was a representative in the 
Legislature during his residence in Clinton County, 
Mo., but subsequently removed to St. Joe, where 
he now resides. Penelope M. has been twice mar- 
ried. Her first husband, Zadock Shields, repre- 



118 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



sen ted his district in the Legislature of Virginia, 
and was Sheriff of Taylor County, W. Va. After 
his dciilh she married a cousin of the same name, 
and they nowreside in Flemington, W. Va. Emma 
is the wife of David S. Hall, and lives at Cripple 
Creek, Colo. 

Our subject was reared in Pruntytown, W. Va., 
and received his education principally at Rector 
College. For two years he clerked for his brother, 
William P., who was a merchant of Wheeling, 
W. Va. Later, he entered Alleghanj' College, at 
Mead vi lie, Pa., where he prosecuted his studies for 
one year. In company with his father, he then 
came to Missouri, journeying by boal to Lexing- 
ton, and thence coming overland to Richmond. 
There lie entered the law office of Hon. C. T. dar- 
ner, and Maj. Oliver, formerly a member of Con- 
gress, and after a course of legal study under those 
prominent lawyers, he was admitted in 1859 to 
practice at the Bar of Missouri by Judge George 
W. Dunn. He opened an office in Houston, this 
State, where for one year lie practiced alone, and 
then formed a partnership with Hon. William II. 
H. Thomas, of the same place. 

In the fall of I860 our subject was elected 
School Commissioner of Texas County, and served 
in this capacity until the war began, in the spring 
of 1861, when lie was elected a delegate to the 
Jefferson City Secession Convention, called to- 
gether by Gov. Jackson. He was sent by the 
Governor with three wagon-loads of powder, and 
commissions for the Missouri State Guard to Gen. 
Mcllride and his staff in Texas County. It was a 
very hazardous undertaking, but at the time our 
subject did not realize the whole dancer. When 
he had safely delivered the powder and the com- 
missions with which he had been intrusted, Gen. 
Mcllride. appreciating his ability and courage, ap- 
pointed him aji Aide-de-camp on his staff, with 
the rank of Lieutenant-colonel in the Missouri 
state Guard. From that time our subject carried 
commissions to the other officers, and frequently 
returned after having experienced many narrow 
escapes from capture and death. 

Captain Asbury was in the battle of Wilson 
Creek and afterward at Lexington, where his horse 
was shot under him. He also engaged in the bat- 



tles of Prairie Grove and Elkkorn, on the staff of 
Gen. Frost, of St. Louis. He remained with this 
command but a short time, when he resigned ami 
raised a company in Southern Missouri for (Jen. 
McBride, who was forming a brigade for the Con- 
federate service. Capt. Asbury recruited a com- 
pany for Col. Shaler.and turned it over tohim. He 
subsequently organized a company of cavalry for 
Col. Cornell, being elected Captain of the company. 
While taking his company out of Missouri, he was 
Captured by the Federals at West Plains, and was 
placed in the stockade at Springfield. Thence he was 
sent to Gratiot Prison, in St. Louis, and after six 
weeks was taken for exchange to Fortress Mon- 
roe. Upon his arrival Gen. Butler refused the ex- 
change of all the officers, and (apt. Asbury with 
others was sent to Ft. Norfolk, where he was in 
prison for six weeks. June 13, 1863, while being 
transferred to Ft. Delaware, he and twenty-six 
other Confederate officer- engaged in the capture 
of the steamer "Maple Leaf." an account of which 
is best told in the words of the Captain himself, as 
follows: 

"On June 13, 1863, myself and twenty-six Con- 
federate officers, having been cooped up in a room, 
12x18 feet, with but one window, and that barred, 
in Ft. Norfolk, were surprised and much gratified at 
the order to prepare for removal lo Ft. Delaware, 
and at once were taken out into the fresh air and 
placed upon the magnificent United States steamer 
••Maple Leaf," which was passing on her way from 
New Orleans to Ft. Delaware. On board of the 
boat were about seventy-live Confederate officers, 
prisoners of war. from New Orleans, guarded by 
about fifty United States soldiers. Among the 
prisoners was the Captain of the Confederate ves- 
sel -Star of the West," which had been recently 
captured at New Orleans. When we went aboard, 
we were cordially received by the Confederates, 
and at once we passed out of the bay. and then 
steaming 1>\ Fortress Monroe we were soon out at 
sea. or out of the mouth of the Chesapeake. 
Everything was still, and the evening shades had 
begun to lengthen when, at the tap of the great 
bell (the Confederate-' agreed signal to seize the 
ship), every man from his station pounced down 
upon his man, armed and unarmed, and a desper- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



119 



ate struggle for supremacy ensued. Bach man to 
his man. arm to arm, and "Freedom or Death," was 
the word. The first to yield was the guard, and 
each one yielding strengthened the attacking 
party, for it gave them guns, sabers and pistols. 

"The commanding officer was asleep in his cabin. 
Two Confederate officers broke in his door and 
commanded him to surrender. Waking from his 
sleep, he drew his sword to defend himself. The 
Confederates quietly told him that the boat was 
ours, and that resistance was useless, and he gave 
up his sword. Within five minutes from the tap 
of the bell, the officers, guard and crew of the 
".Maple Leaf" were cowering under the guns and 
pistols of the Confederates. Not a lick was given, 
not a shot was fired, but, as it seemed, in a twinkle 
the transaction was completed. Gray uniforms 
took the place of the blue, and the vessel moved 
on as if nothing had occurred. The course was 
veered a little, a hurried council was held, and 
the Captain of the "Star of the West" took com- 
mand of the "Maple Leaf." We headed for the 
Virginia coast, with the determination to land and 
burn the vessel, but before this was carried out 
milder counsels prevailed. The Federal officers 
agreed to take an oath of parole, and also agreed 
that they would proceed on their way to Ft. Dela- 
ware, and that they would not communicate the 
event of the day at any intervening point, or un- 
til they reached their destination, upon the condi- 
tion that the Confederates would parole them and 
save the vessel. They also agreed to take care of 
the sick Confederates who could not make the 
journey' of one hundred or more miles through 
the country to the Confederate lines. 

"The Confederates stood guard over the Fed- 
eral officers and soldiers until the last Confederate 
was in the small boat, and near the shore, when, at 
a signal, the vessel was surrendered to them. The 
Confederates having taken all the arms and plenty 
of ammunition, they gave a yell and salute and 
were lost in the woods. The "Maple Leaf" was 
then headed for Ft. Delaware, but night and dark- 
ness being on us, I, being one of the sick that re- 
mained, knew nothing of our course until we ar- 
rived back at Fortress Monroe, to the very point 
our friends were trying to prevent the Federal of- 



ficers from going, knowing that the Federal cav- 
alry would be put on them at once, and possibly in- 
tercept them on their way. And true it was, for 
before twelve o'clock that night, one thousand cav- 
alrymen were after them, but did not intercept 
them, for the whole company, without the loss of 
a man, after great hardships, sore feet, hunger and 
thirst and tired out, reached the Confederate lines 
on the third day's journey. This last I learned 
after mj- exchange in 1864." 

Thus ends the thrilling relation of the "Maple 
Leaf" and its capture as told by Capt. Asbury, 
but he further continues the story of his captivity, 
which we will chronicle in his words. "I reached 
Ft. Delaware in July, 1863, and was sent to John- 
son's Island, Lake Eric, where 1 was confined until 
February, 1864. I suffered much from hunger and 
exposure, but had endured most discomfort at Ft. 
Norfolk, where my health was seriously impaired." 
Capt. Asbury would have died on Johnson's Is- 
land if it had not been for the Federal surgeon, 
who kindly gave him attention and medicine as he 
required. In 1864, he was sent to Fortress Mon- 
roe, and remained there for sometime, or until he 
was offered for exchange. There were twenty- 
seven hundred officers on the island, one thousand 
of whom drew lots, and only three hundred of that 
number were selected. Being one of the fortunate 
ones, Capt. Asbury was paroled in June, 1864, and 
sent through the lines to Richmond, Va., from 
which city he proceeded to the parole cam]) at 
Demopolis, Ala. In August, 1864, he was ordered 
to his command west of the Mississippi, lie trav- 
eled the entire distance on horseback, swam the 
horse across the Mississippi, while he paddled over 
in a "dug-out," and then joined Gen. Shelby at 
Batesville, Ark. lie then raised another company 
for ( Jen. Shelby, but he was unable to get them out 
of Missouri to Arkansas, and was obliged to so re- 
port to Gen. Shelby, who sent two companies of 
cavalry for I hem. 

Gen. Shelby then desired our subject to become 
a member of the company and stand his chance 
for election as Captain, but under the existing 
circumstances he declined. As a compromise he 
accompanied Col. Rathburn to Missouri for the 
purpose of recruiting volunteers. He was success- 



120 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



fill in securing about thirty men, whom he turned 
over to the regiment, and then started to see his 
family at Richmond, Mo., not knowing they had 
meantime removed to Virginia. He swam the 
horse across the river at Lexington, and went up the 
Missouri to Clay County, as he could not make 
Richmond on account of the soldiers. While he and 
Capt. Henlj' were endeavoring to reach Richmond, 
they were stopped on the Albany bridge by cavalry 
in Federal uniform, and when they started to run 
the soldiers yelled: "If you are Southern men do 
not run." Our subject and his partner halted, and 
found the leader was the notorious "Bill" Ander- 
son, returning from a fight at Centralia, and with 
him they went for safety. The command intended 
to cross the Missouri at Sibley, but the Federal cav- 
alry and infantry, six hundred strong, overtook 
them, and a battle ensued. "Bill" Anderson 
charged at the head of his men, and in the rush of 
the conflict he was killed. 1 1 is men fell back in 
line and waited to be attacked. The Federals also 
withdrew, and there was no further battle. Lieut. 
Arch Clemens then took command of Anderson's 
men, and the company made a detour around the 
Federals, crossed the Missouri at Brunswick, and 
went south to Howell County, Mo. 

Our subject was now in the company of desper- 
ate men, and was anxious to get away from them. 
After he arrived in Howell County, he stalled off 
on a side road, taking a boy with him, who also 
wished to leave the gang, but they were overtaken 
by some of the party and forced to return. After 
a series of explanations and a course of argument, 
in which he agreed with them on several points, 
he was allowed to depart. His entreaties and re- 
quest were made to Arch Clemens, who escorted 
him to the line out of danger. Immediately fol- 
lowing this adventure, Capt. Asbury made his way 
as quickly as possible to Gen. Kirby Smith's head- 
quarters at Shreveport, La. With Maj. Beard he 
took charge of the Clothing Bureau at Huutsville, 
Tex., until the close of the war. When ( Jen. Kirby 
Smith, his staff and wagons, came through on the 
way to Mexico, our subject organized a company of 
old Confederates and escorted him for two or three 
hundred miles to protect his wagon-trains from 
pillage. Having decided to resign the captaincv, 



he tendered his resignation to Gen. Smith, who 
accepted it. lie surrendered at Galveston, whence 
he came to Missouri via NewOrleans and St. Louis, 
and arrived at Dover .Inly 9, 1865. His posses- 
sions at that time consisted of a twenty-dollar 
gold piece, all that remained of what was paid him 
in Texas for his horse and pistols. 

Capt. Asbury could not practice law on account 
of the iron-clad oath prescribed by the radical 
government of Missouri. He therefore engaged 
as clerk in a general store in Dover, where his 
brother, W. 1'., was a partner, and continued there 
for some time. At Dover. November '.*, 1865, lie 
married Miss Ellen, daughter of P. 51. Gaw, an old 
settler of Dover, in which place Mrs. Asbury was 
born. Her father was from Virginia originally, 
but now resides in Higginsville. Our subject con- 
tinued as clerk until January 1, I860, when he 
bought out the partner of his brother, and the 
firm continued as Asbury Bros., doing an exten- 
sive business. In 1868, he purchased his brother's 
interest and conducted the business alone. Dur- 
ing the next four years he made $16,000, and con- 
tinued at Dover; he also started a branch store in 
Higginsville, where he was in partnership with 
II. (i. Smith, the business being conducted under 
the firm name of Smith & Asbury. In 1878, he 
sold out at Dover and removed to Higginsville. 
He was much interested in securing the right of 
way of the Chicago & Alton Railroad, and took 
the first share in the road here. The company has 
shown him many courtesies, and he is still a stock- 
holder of the road. 

In 1878, Capt. Asbury began banking with a 
capital of $10,000. In 1880, he organized the 
Asbury-Catron Banking Company with a capital 
stock of $30,000, and for three years served as 
President. In 1883, he changed the name to the 
American Bank, and increased the capital stock 
to $50,000, continuing as President. The Asbury 
Bank, as it is often called, is the oldest and largest 
institution of the kind in Higginsville, and does a 
regular banking business, carrying a surplus of 
$10,000. In 1801, Capt. Asbury built the Amer- 
ican Bank Block, at the corner of Russell and 
Brown Streets, one of the finest buildings in the 
county, erected at a cost of $15,000, and occupy- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



121 



ing a frontage of fifty feet, with a depth of one 
hundred feet. For many years our subject has 
been interested in mining with Capt. II. G. Smith, 
their partnership having lasted twenty-five years. 
Smith & Asbury opened the Corder Shaft, located 
at Corder, a twenty-inch vein, and own six hun- 
dred acres of coal land, employing one hundred 
and twenty-five men. They are sinking another 
shaft to furnish the Chicago & Alton Railroad. 
There are twenty houses upon the property, and a 
branch of the bank is also located at Corder. Capt. 
Asbury opened the Excelsior shaft about a quar- 
ter <>f a mile from Higginsville, and has mined it 
successfully in partnership with .). II. Campbell, 
who manages it. The company has eight houses 
there and owns lots in the city. With Messrs. 
Smith and Young, Capt. Asbury bought the old 
Winsor shaft, which they reopened and named the 
V. S. A. Coal Company, employing about seventy- 
five men. 

Our subject has been interested in farming and 
real estate both here and in Kansas City, and has ever 
been foremost in the promotion of all enterprises 
of merit in this section of the State. He assisted 
in the organization of the Higginsville Milling 
Company, and is also one of its most efficient 
Directors and stockholders. In 187'.), he laid out 
Asbury's Addition to Higginsville, and has since- 
sold the entire one hundred and sixty acres as 
thus subdivided. In 1880, he erected his resi- 
dence at the corner of Shelly and Brown Streets, 
which is one of the most attractive homes in the 
city. (apt. and Mrs. Asbury became the parents of 
five children: Eva, a graduate of Hardin College, 
at Mexico, Mo., died in Higginsville in June, 
18'.>2, aged twenty-five years. Hugh (i., who was 
educated at the William Jewell Col lege, at Liberty, 
Mo., is teller of the American Hank. Leah B. was 
graduated from Hardin College and afterward 
from Hollins' Institute, at Roanoke, Ya., Class of 
'89, and is now at home. Ai Edgar, Jr.. is a stu- 
dent in the Missouri Military Academy at Mexico. 
Harvey N., a boy of fourteen years of age. and 
the youngest child, is at home. Capt. Asbury and 
family are widely known, and are among the im- 
portant factors in the social as well as the business 
life of this part of the State. They have a large 



circle of friends and acquaintances, and command 
the esteem and confidence of the entire commu- 
nity. 

Capt. Asbury interested himself in the incorpor- 
ation of the La Fayette County Fair Association, 
and has been Treasurer of the organization ever 
since. He has also materially aided in the educa- 
tional advancement of Higginsville, and was one 
of three (('apt. licit. Dr. Fulkerson and himself) 
who secured the location of the Confederate Home 
of Missouri at Higginsville, and received through 
their labors the three hundred and sixty-two acres 
needed for a site. In conjunction with these gen- 
tlemen, he supervised the erection of the cottages 
and also the main building and the laying out of 
the grounds. He is a member of the Baptist Church 
and one of its valued Trustees. He has been gen- 
erous in his contributions toother denomination-., 
and in various ways has contributed to their sup- 
port. He is a prominent Mason, having attained 
the rank of Knight Templar. His membership is 
with Lodge No. 364, A. F. & A. M.; Chapter No. 106 
in Higginsville, and De Molay Comraandery No. .'! 
at Lexington. He belongs to the American Bank- 
ers' Association and the State Bankers' Association. 
In political affiliations, he is first, last and always 
a Democrat, and with the immortal Jackson be- 
lieves with his whole heart and strength in the 
principles he advocates. As an earnest, energetic 
and representative American citizen, he takes a 
deep and abiding interest in the conduct of local 
and national affairs. 



LE, 



j.pSi=- 



Q) 



WOHN WILLIAM BROWNING, one of the 
popular and well-known farmer residents 
of Saline County, Mo., is one of the good 
citizens that Missouri has produced, lie i> 
a native son of the soil and is proud of his State 
and country. Devoted to business, Mr. Browning 
has but little time to dabble with State affairs, but 
when he does express an opinion it is always on 
the side of peace and order. The family is of 



122 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



English extraction and came to America in the 
early days of the new country, settling in Vir- 
ginia, where the grandfather of Mr. Browning was 
born. This grandfather bore the family name of 
William and was the father of six children, only 
one of whom was a son. 

The father of our subject also bore the name 
of William and was born in Pulaski County. Ky., 
but removed to Missouri when only nine years of 
age, making the trip with his mother and family. 
They all selected Saline County as their place of 
residence and located east of Elmwood. In due 
time Miss Nancy Logsdon became the wife of Mr. 
Browning, Sr. Mrs. Browning was the daughter 
of John Logsdon, of Saline County, where she 
was born, reared, educated and married. When 
the War of the Rebellion burst out with all its 
terrible force upon the country, Mr. Browning 
was one of the first to volunteer, and served faith- 
fully throughout the entire struggle, being one of 
the State Guards. In politics, he is an ardent Re- 
publican and bravely supports and upholds the 
principles of that party at any and ail times. In 
1871, Mr. Browning, Sr., removed to Sweet Springs, 
settling upon the place where he now resides and 
works at his trade of a carpenter. 

The subject of this sketch, John William Brown- 
ing, was born near Sweet Water Spring, April 24. 
1854, and was educated in the public schools of 
the county, diligently pursuing his studies, hav- 
ing early learned the importance and value of 
knowledge. At the age of twenty-two he left the 
home roof and began life for himself, pursuing 
the occupation of farming. October 19, 1882, Mr. 
Browning married Miss Mary S., daughter of Will- 
iam and Mary Hickman, of La Fayette County, 
and a native of Kentucky. The Hickman family 
hails from Kentucky, but is of English descent. 
The name of the grandfather of Mrs. Browning 
was William, that being a family name in the 
Hickman family also. He was bom in Kentucky 
and married in that State, but later removed to 
Missouri and settled near Lexington. The maiden 
name of the grandmother of Mrs. Browning was 
Ennis. 

When the father of Mrs. Browning was a lad of 
ten or twelve years, the family removed to a farm 



four miles south of Alma, La Fayette County. 
The family of which Mrs. Browning's father was 
a member consisted of four boys and three girls, 
who grew to years of maturity: John died in 
California; Catherine, the wife of Henry Butler, 
died in Seattle, Wash.; Betsy Ann, wife of Chris- 
topher Mulker, died in La Fayette County ; Will- 
iam, father of Mrs. Browning; Elnora died in 
California; James resides in Cedar County, Mo.; 
and Alfred resides at Higginsville, La Fayette 
County, Mo. 

The father of Mrs. Browning was born in La 
Fayette County in 1836, and died in the same 
county in 1886. Mr. Hickman was one of the 
State Guards during the War of the Rebellion, 
serving one year in that capacity in the Federal 
arm}-. After this, he returned home and remained 
until his marriage, when he settled on a farm 
south of Alma. About 1868 Mr. Hickman removed 
to a farm, which he improved, lying south of 
Blackburn, in La Fayette and Saline Counties, 
known as the William Hickman Farm. At the 
time of his decease he was the owner of about 
three hundred and twenty acres of well-improved 
land. Throughout his entire life Mr. Hickman 
was a farmer. In June, 1856, he secured a part- 
ner in his toil, Miss Mary E., daughter of John 
and Nancy Smelser, of La Fayette County. The 
following children were born to the union of Mr. 
and Mrs. Hickman: Mary S., wife of our subject; 
John A., who resides on the old homestead; Will- 
iam F., who resides on the Grandfather Hick- 
man farm, south of Alma; Addie N., wife of 
Jesse Hitt, of Dover, La Fayette Count}'; and one 
child who died in infancy. Mr. Hickman and his 
family were consistent members of the Christian 
Church. 

The children born to the marriage of Mr. and 
Mrs. Browning are as follows: Susie X., Mary E. 
and John William. After his marriage, Mr. Brown- 
ing rented a farm in Saline County until 1891, 
when he purchased a farm of eighty acres known 
as the Dr. Halley Farm, two and one-fourth 
miles from Blackburn, and he here resides. On 
this land he carries on farming and stock-raising, 
being especially interested in Poland-China hogs, 
of which breed he has a very fine drove, ranging 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



12.3 



in value from the little suckling pig, worth $10, to 
a veteran porker, for which Mr. Browning would 
not take $100. His residence is pleasantly situ- 
ated on a slight rise of ground, and is a very 
substantial and imposing structure. In front of 
this beautiful home stretches a velvety lawn, dot- 
ted with large and shade-giving trees. 

Mrs. Browning, the wife of our subject, was 
educated in the public schools of the county and at 
Camden Point Female Orphan School, in Platte 
(ounly.au excellent institution, where young ladies 
who are not orphans are also admitted. So thor- 
oughly did this boarding-school impart knowledge 
to Mrs. Browning, that for one term prior to her 
marriage she was the efficient teacher of a dis- 
trict school. Mr. Browning is a well-known man 
in Ids portion of the county, and his upright life 
reflects credit upon himself as well as on the State 
that gave him birth. Mr. Browning came of a 
good old family, and five of the ten children 
born to his parents now survive, namely: Lucy, 
wife of Henry Richardson, of Texas; John W., 
our subject; Sarah, George L. and Nancy. One 
brother, Henry O, died at the age of sixteen, and 
four children died in infancy. 




s^ft AMUEL L. SMITH, one of the most promi- 
nent men of township 49, range 26, La 
Fayette County, Mo., is presented in this 
sketch. His birth occurred December 28, 
182;"), in Hampshire County, W. Va., he being a son 
of Lewis and Mary (Emmitt) Smith, the former born 
in AVest Virginia, although his father was an Eng- 
lishman and a minister of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. The mother of our subject was also a 
native of West Virginia, and was of German 
origin. Lewis Smith was a soldier of the War of 
1812, and after the close of the Civil War re- 
moved to Pike Count3', 111., where he remained 
until the time of his death in 1879, the demise of 
his wife having occurred two years previously. 



Our subject grew to manhood in his native State, 
obtaining an education in the district school-, 
which prepared him for his life work. The teacher 
of the log cabin school was a practical surveyor, 
and seeing the eagerness of his pupil, readily im- 
parted his knowledge, which was put to advantage 
very soon afterward. For some forty years our 
subject followed the business of sui veying in con- 
nection with that of agriculture, and served at one 
time as Deputy County Surveyor of Johnson 
County, Mo. On the Nth of November, 1853, he 
married Miss Lavina McCauley, who was born in 
Hampshire County. \V. Va., August 10, 1832, a 
daughter of John and Sarah (Smith) McCauley. 
The paternal ancestors of Mrs. Smith were of 
Scotch-Irish descent, the grandfather having served 
in Colonial times as a soldier in the Revolutionary 
War. 

The maternal ancestors of Mrs. Smith came 
from England, and of the nine children born 
to her parents, she is the only one remaining. 
Our subject and wife became the father and 
mother of a family of live children, as follows: 
Walter II. and John L., living; but Edward ( I.. 
Mollie S. (who married J. A. Atterbury),and Gus- 
tavus A. are numbered with the dead. In 1855, 
our subject removed with his wife and children to 
La Fayette County, Mo., but later went to John- 
son County, where they remained until the break- 
ing out of the Civil War. In this county he 
served for some time as Justice of the Peace. At 
the beginning of the war he started to make 
preparations to join in the fray, and finally en- 
listed in the fall of 1862, in Company I, Second 
Missouri Cavalry, C. S. A., and participated in the 
battles of Prairie Grove, Springfield, Hartsville 
and Helena, beside numerous skirmishes, where the 
danger was just as great, if the glory was not. 

While with Shelby's brigade in the southern 
part of Missouri, our subject was captured when 
on a recruiting expedition, and was confined from 
August until March, being exchanged at Rich- 
mond, Va. After this experience he returned 
home to Missouri, and in 1863 removed to La 
Fayette County, at first renting land, later settling 
upon a farm in township 48, range 26, where he 
remained for some time, not locating upon his 



124 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



present farm until 1881. Our subject ha.>- two 
hundred and forty acres in this and Davis Town- 
ships, of which he holds the title deed, and has 
made of the farm one of the finest in the neigh- 
borhood. Both Mr. and Mrs. Smith are active 
and devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church South, he having served as Steward, while 
Mrs. Smith is a member of a Foreign Missionary 
Society, being one of the working members of that 
denomination in this place. Mr. Smith has been 
a successful farmer, believing in the best kind of 
stuck, of which he has some line specimens. His 
political views have led him to affiliate with the 
Democratic party, in whose policy he firmly be- 
lieves. 






<fl fifclLLIAM THIEMAN is a prominent and 
\ / tlnift\ farmer "I' La Fayette County, lo- 
tyy cated upon section 27, range 25, township 
I '.I, where he has one of the finest farms in this 
part of the State of Missouri. His birth took place 
in this county June 15, 1848, the son of John II. 
and Sophia Thieman, natives of Germany. The 
father of our subject was one of those worthy sons 
of the Fatherland who came over to America about 
1844, trusting that in this land of freedom there 
would be room for the growth of the young brood 
that was overflowing his hearth. After landing in 
the United States, Mr. Thieman. with his family, 
came immediately West to Missouri, where they 
settled upon a farm in La Fayette County. 

The farm upon which the father of our subject 
settled was about two miles southwest of the pres- 
ent site of the town of Concordia. There he en- 
tered land from the Government and began in 
pioneer style the development of it. This was at 
that time a sparsely inhabited country; houses 
were very far apart; the prairies were pathless, the 
markets far away, and the wild creatures of the 
country roamed at will. Those early days were 
times of self-denial and trial. Sickness and death 
invaded homes which often were not strong 



enough or warm enough to shelter the weak; 
while sometimes the strong, brave-hearted father 
would be taken down; at others it would be the 
mother, when truly the family heart would be 
wrung. 

Fortunately, no such trial came among the pio- 
neer hardships of our present subject. A family 
of live children survived these parents: Henry W., 
Frederick. Lewis F. and August were the names of 
the brothers of our subject. John Thieman was 
one of the early German settlers and won the es- 
teem of all with whom he came in contact. His 
death took place in 1889, after years of devout at- 
tendance upon the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
with which he had membership. The county lost 
in him a good and peaceable citizen, who since the 
war had been a member of the Republican party. 
Always honest and industrious, he was an example 
to the younger generation. His health and strength 
were remarkable, and at the age of seventy-five 
years lie was able to plow and hoe his corn. 

Our subject was reared to man's estate upon the 
farm of his worthy father, and attended the schools 
of the neighborhood, such as they were at that 
time. For a short time, Mr. Thieman followed the 
trade of a carpenter, then for a number of years 
he followed the business of saw -milling and thresh- 
ing, but farming seemed to be the occupation which 
best suited his tastes, and to that he finally settled 
down. Our subject was united in marriage witli 
Miss Lydia Rehkop, February 29, 1880. She was 
a daughter of Henry Rehkop, of Concordia, Mo., 
but was born in Canada. Six children have come 
to bless the home of our subject, to whom the par- 
ents have given the following names: Lewis W., 
Daniel B., Melvin N., Laura B., Delia L. and 
Irvin D. 

In the spring of 1892, our subject settled upon 
his present farm, consisting of three hundred and 
twenty acres of land. He is what may be called a 
self-made man, yet is so well informed and reliable 
that his fellow-citizens have wisely elected him 
School Director, his position upon all educational 
matters meeting their approval. Progress and im- 
provement he believes in and shows it by his 
stock-raising. With him the best is none too good, 
his cattle being of the best Shorthorn breed and 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



125 




his hogs the choicest Poland-Chinas. Before clos- 
ing this brief sketch we wish to mention that Mr. 
Thienian is an earnest worker and a member of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church and a man highly 
respected in his neighborhood. 



■ S0> - " f#N 



GEORGE B. BLANCHARD, a prominent ag- 
riculturist and successful breeder of thor- 
^^!$( oughbred and trotting horses, has at various 
times been engaged in leading mercantile inter- 
ests, and is widely known in Marshall, throughout 
Saline County, and in other portions of Missouri. 
Asa member of business, religious and political 
associations, he commands a large circle of friends 
and acquaintances, by whom he is universally re- 
spected and esteemed. 

Our subject was born in Lewis County, Mo., 
near Monticello, August 1. 1839, and for over fifty 
years has been an eye-witness of the growth and 
progress of the State. His father, Hiram A., was 
a native of Wheeling. Va., and was born in 1812. 
His grandfather was a native of England, and was 
married in the Old Country, and located in Vir- 
ginia, where he worked as a carpenter, and after- 
ward removed to Missouri, where lie died. In 
later years he became a speculator and was success- 
ful, dealing in real estate in Wheeling and, becom- 
ing prosperous, loaned out money. His son, Hiram 
A., was married in Virginia, removed to Ohio, re- 
mained there a short time, and then located in Lewis 
County, Mo., in 1837. Here he farmed and then 
engaged in the merchandise business and finally, 
in 1849, he located in Marion County, and again 
engaged in farming and general business. In 1868, 
he sold out and settled on a farm near Waverly, 
La Fayette County, and resides there now, over :i 
full four-score years of age. In politics, lie has 
ever been a Democrat, and, in religious belief, he 
is a Methodist of the good old kind. 

The mother of our subject was Amanda. I. Steph- 
ens, who was born in Stephensburg, Va., a daughter 
of Joseph Stephens, a large farmer in the ( lid Do- 



minion. She died in Waverly, leaving eight chil- 
dren, of a family of nine. George B., the eldest, was 
reared in Marion County from 1849, and there at- 
tended the common schools, and at fifteen years 
of age entered Central College, at Fayette, Howard 
County, Mo., studying there four year-; he then 
taught school two terms, after which he engaged in 
farming. In I860, lie bought a farm of three 
hundred and twenty acres near New London, 
Ralls County, and engaged in general agriculture 
for two succeeding years, and in 1865 came to 
Saline County. Grand Pass Township, and bought 
a farm of two hundred and eighty acres, and im- 
proved it. In 187'.). he started in the lumber busi- 
ness in Marshall, near the depot of the Chicago 
& Alton, and successfully continued in the lumber 
interest ten years, lie also conducted his farm 
until 1891, when he sold it. 

In 1886, Mr. Blan chard bought his present place, 
one hundred and forty acres, and has farmed it 
ever since. He also owns forty acres east of the 
city, besides various houses and lots. In 1883. he 
built a handsome and commodious residence on 
the corner of Arrow and Elm Streets, one of the 
finest and mt>st substantial improvements in the 
neighborhood. Our subject owns some of the fin- 
est thoroughbred horses raised in the State. He 
gives his especial attention to the Ilambletonian 
and Mambrino stock. He was the owner of "Don 
Pedro." a bay stallion, time •->..">(>. Hisdeath wasa 
great loss, as lie was an invaluable animal. He also 
has "Loom is," sired by "Brown Wilkes," time 2.21 , . 
a three-year-old brown stallion; and "Gambart," a 
bay stallion, two years old, sired by "Gaumalion," 
and he by "Gambetta Wilkes." "Hard Pine," five 
years old, is another of his stud. Mr. Blanchard 
raised the brotker,"G. 1!.." with a record of 2.204;, 
one of the fastest horses ever produced in the 
county, and which brought his owner a good 
price. -'Marshall .Maid," record 2.23 .',. ^'Tornado," 
and other valuable horses are housed in the capa- 
cious and well-built barns on the farm, which ad- 
joins the city and i- highly improved. Specially 
noticeable among the other horses are the filly, "Bon 
Ton." two years old, by "Wilton;" also the filly 
"Rozze," two years () | ( i, by "Patronage," two of 
the lines! bred horses in the county. There are in 



126 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



the stables from eighty to one hundred head of 
handsome horses, beside some thoroughbred cattle. 
Mr. Blanchard married in Warsaw, Ivy., May 17. 
1865, Miss Enimeline Payne, a native of that State, 
bom in Georgetown, Scott County. She was the 
daughter of the Hon. Newton Payne, an ex-mem- 
ber of the State Legislature. M r. and Mrs. Blanch- 
ard are the parents of eleven children, of whom 
ten survive: Estelle is a graduate of. the Elizabeth 
Aull Seminary, of Lexington; Frank, a graduate 
of the High School, is a stockman and represents 
a commission house; Marcus is at home and attends 
Normal College; Hiram is at home; Oliver, Sallic, 
Bowman, Emma, May, and Tom complete the list 
of the living; George, a beloved son, is lately de- 
ceased. The entire family, sons and daughters, 
occupy a prominent position in Marshall and are 
important factors in the social life of the city. 
Our subject was a Director in the County Fair 
Association, has served as Alderman, and was a 
School Director in Grand Pass, and in official duty 
has been earnest, able and efficient. He is a mem- 
ber of the Stallion Trotting Horse Association and 
a thorough business man. He is a Trustee of the 
Southern Methodist Episcopal Church, and has 
long been a valued member of the same. He is a 
Democrat and lends his influence lo the support of 
the ticket. 



*§ 



T OSEPII M.KIM BARKS, editor of the Black- 
burn Record, is a young man who is mak- 
ing a success in the editorial Held in this 
' county. He is a man of ability, the son of 
a minister who is still doing efficient work in his 
chosen line. Mr. Barks was born in Benton County, 
Mo., February 18, 186(1. His father, Joseph V. 
Barks, is a native of Delaware County, Ohio, where 
he was born September 17, 1817. His grand- 
father, Solomon Barks, was a Pennsylvanian by 
birth, while his great-grandfather was a native of 
Germany. The grandfather emigrated to Ohio, 
where he died. 



The Rev. Joseph V. Barks is a graduate of Mari- 
etta (Ohio) College, and taught school for the pur- 
pose of earning means to defray his expenses 
through college. He took up theological studies 
in Lane Seminary, completed his theological edu- 
cation in Massachusetts, and entered the ministry 
in 1818, being an Old-school Presbyterian. 

In October, 184'J, Rev. Mr. Barks married and 
came to Warsaw, Benton County, this State, where 
he began his work as a minister. He has always 
preached in Missouri, has filled many pulpits, and 
is still engaged in his chosen work. His wife was 
Miss Diana Bancroft, of Granville, Licking County, 
Ohio, and her parents were members of a colony 
which came from Granville, Mass., in the early days 
and settled in Ohio. Her father was a soldier in 
the War of 1812, and became a prominent man of 
Licking County, Ohio, being Associate Judge in 
that county for several years. He died in 1871, 
at the age of ninety-two. Mrs. Barks' mother is 
now in her seventy-third year. 

Joseph McKim was the fourth of seven chil- 
dren, four of whom are living. He received his 
preliminary education in the common district 
schools, and afterward spent about two years in 
Westminster College, Fulton, Mo. He was reared 
on the farm, where he remained until he reached 
his majority, and for several years afterward, man- 
aging the estate for his father. 

In 188'J Mr. Barks came to Blackburn and asso- 
ciated himself with L. G. King, establishing the 
Blackburn Record. Six months later, he purchased 
Mr. King's interest, and since then has conducted 
the work alone. The paper is a seven-column 
folio, and is Democratic in politics. It follows 
that Mr. Barks is a Democrat, and, as we have said, 
he is a man of ability, and gives promise of still 
greater power. He is a member of the Presby- 
terian Church, being a Ruling Elder. Beside his 
editorial work on the Record, Mr. Harks is asso- 
ciated with Dr. Thomas M. Bridges in the publica- 
tion of the Corder Gazette. 

The editorial pen is a power in the country, and 
if wielded aright may be a means of great good 
and advancement. It has given to posterity the 
beliefs of some of our strongest and clearest minds, 
and is destined in the future to shape, to a large 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



127 



extent, the character of the masses. With this in 
mind, it behooves every controller of a paper to 
see that its pages are of benefit to the readers of 
them, and Mr. Barks' friends are confident that 
such is and will always be his aim. 



■ NSON 15. DAVIS, tlic popular engineer on 
'(?/ J the Chicago & Alton, Kansas City Divis- 
ion, has been connected with the Chicago 
& Alton Railroad ever since .Tune 13, 1866, 
and there is but one man who has been longer in 
the employ of the road as an engineer than he. 
An enterprising and upright citizen, an expert in 
his line of business, and a genial and courteous 
gentleman, our subject has a host of true friends 
and well-wishers. Mr. Davis was born in Medway, 
Mass., April 13, 1847. His paternal grandfather 
was a tiller of the soil in Maine, and an honest, 
hard-working man and excellent citizen. 

The father of our subject was born in Townsend, 
Mass., February 5, 1818, his father having removed 
to the old Bay State and there settled in early 
days. A. B. Davis, Sr., was reared in his native 
place, and having attained to manhood became a 
stage-driver, and started an express and coach line 
from Medway to Boston, which he controlled and 
managed for several years. He died of typhoid 
fever in the year 1857. His estimable wife, Har- 
riet Amanda, was born in Medway, Mass., June 28, 
1820, a daughter of Ashel Barber, who was born 
in 1796, and was a cutter of sole leather. His wife, 
Harriet Haven, was born in Leicester, Mass., in 
1796. 

Mrs. A. B. Davis now resides in Foxborough, 
and of her seven children but three are living; of 
these our subject is the second. His mother reared 
the family in Medway, and there Anson attended 
the district school, and at the very early age of thir- 
teen years began life for himself by serving an 
apprenticeship to a machinist in Boston. He re- 
mained learning his trade two years, and then en- 



tered upon railroad work. Mr. Davis first began 
life on the rails as a fireman on the New York & 
New England Railroad, formerly the New York & 
Boston Air Line, lie spent eighteen months there, 
and then engaged with the Philadelphia, Wilming- 
ton & Baltimore about eighteen months as a fire- 
man; then, in 1866, came to Illinois, and found 
employment with the Chicago & Alton, with head- 
quarters at Blooinington, 111. 

Upon October L0, 1869, oursubject began his suc- 
cessful career as an engineer, and has since contin- 
ued in this employment. In running on the Phila- 
delphia. Wilmington & Baltimore Railroad, he was 
injured somewhat on the head in making a run- 
ning switch. Mr. Davis was engaged on the Chi- 
cago Division until 1879. In 1880, he was trans- 
ferred to the Kansas City Division, and then 
located in Slater. Since 187'J Mr. Davis has been 
.■i passengei engineer, and in all that time has been 
very fortunate, never having had a serious acci- 
dent. Since 1883 lie has run the same engine, No. 
224, and is much attached to the powerful machine 
that obeys the touch of his hand. Mr. Davis is a 
charter member of the Slater Building and Loan 
Association. He owns an attractive home in 
Northeast Slater, and the handsome house, with 
its well-kept grounds, is much admired. 

Mr. Davis was married in Roodhouse, in 1885, 
to Mrs. Elizabeth (Hartwick) Sinclair, who was 
bom in Jersey ville, III., and is a daughter of James 
Hartwick, who was a brickmaker there. He was a 
very earl}- settler in the State, and became an ex- 
tensive farmer and stockman. He died in Jersey- 
ville, aged seventy-four, lie was a member of the 
New-school Presbyterian Church, and was a sin- 
cere, Christian man. His wife, Eliza Skillman, was 
born in Somerset County, N. J., and was a daugh- 
ter of an Englishman. The mother of Mrs. Davis 
resides in Carrollton, 111., and is eighty-three years 
old. The wife of our subject is the third in a 
family of seven children. Her eldest brother, 
Uriah, was in the Ninth Illinois Cavalry, and re- 
mained in the service until the close of the war. 
He lives near Raymond. Mrs. Davis has been 
twice married. Her first husband was Alex Sin- 
clair, a farmer, and a native of the State of Illinois. 
He died there and left three children: Ella. Mrs. 



128 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Mclvcr, who resides in Roodhouse, 111.; Emma, 
now Mrs. Grant, of Kansas City; and Dena, who is 
Mrs. Noel, of Slater. 

Our subject has received the honor of being one 
of the Aldermen of the city, and has also been a 
delegate to different conventions, and is, in po- 
litical affiliations, a stanch Democrat. He is a 
member of the Ancient Order of United Work- 
men and the Brotherhood of Locomotive En- 
gineers, in which latter he has been Chief. He is 
likewise a Knight of Pythias, and Past Chancellor 
in that order, and is a member of the Grand 
Lodge, K. P., and has been a delegate for two 
years to St. Louis and St. Joe. Mrs. Davis is a 
member of the Pythian Sisters of Slater, of which 
she is the manager. Mr. Davis is a member of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, and, together with 
his estimable wife, is among the earnest supporters 
of the organization. Efficient in his daily and 
dangerous duties, Mr. Davis is esteemed by all his 
fellow-townsmen, and has the spotless record of an 
honorable and upright life. 



—J 



»-3fc-<fe 



--*». 



^S^EORGE OSBORN, a prominent citizen of 
III La Fayette County, Mo., located upon sec- 

V X\ tion 18, range 25, township 4'J, is the sub- 
ject of whom we write. lie is essentially a self- 
made man, one who is well and favorably known 
in the county, where he has made his home and 
has worked for the advancement of all public 
matters since 1865. The birth of our subject took 
place in Boone County, Mo., May 28, 1828. He 
was a son of John and Rachel (Lemmon) Osborn, 
who were well-known natives of Scott County, 
Ky. The family trees upon both sides tell of 
Scotch and Irish ancestors, and among the early 
forefathers in this country can be found patriots 
of the Revolutionary War. 

In 1818 the father of our subject removed into 
Boone County, Mo., and when George was sixteen 
years of age, Mr. Osborn took the family to Davis 
County, where they remained until our subject 
had grown to man's estate. Although the advan- 



tages for obtaining an education in those days 
were very limited, our subject attended the best 

sol Is, and received as much instruction as was 

given any youth of the time and place. He was a 
great reader and has so continued, being a very 
well-informed man, just in his judgments and 
wise in administering the affairs entrusted to his 
charge. 

September 20, 1855, our subject was united in 
marriage with an estimable lady, Miss Susan O. 
Rose, a native of Fleming County, Ky., who was 
born March 2, 1839, a daughter of Charles and 
Martha A. (Norman) Rose, the former a native of 
Pennsylvania, and the latter of Kentucky. She 
was reared in Buchanan County, Mo., and resided 
there at the time she became the wife of Mr. Os- 
born. To this worthy couple twelve children 
have been born, and many of them have formed 
connections of their own, showing to the world 
the virtues they learned in the home circle. 

The names of the excellent family in whom our 
subject and wife have found reason to rejoice are 
as we give below: John F.; Charles E.; Luebell, 
the wife ot L. D. Coupland; Sanford, deceased; 
Minnie R. L., the wife of Jasper Anson; Forest M., 
the wife of Richard Jennings; Ruth, the wife of 
Henry Lowrey; Ida A., the wife of Edward Jen- 
nings; Ueorge, Alvin K., Floyd and Susan. In 
1865 our subject came with his family to this part 
of the grand old State of Missouri and located in 
I.a Fayette County, settling upon the present 
farm, and at this place the family has resided ever 
since. The farm consists of two hundred and 
forty acres of land under a good state of cultiva- 
tion, witli comfortable buildings. 

Mr. Osborn is a man of prominence in his local- 
ity, having served for four years as Justice of the 
Peace, fulfilling the duties of the otlice to the satis- 
faction of all. Politically he is a Democrat, be- 
lieving that the principles of Democracy are the 
ones which will best carry the country through 
any crisis that may be in store for her. In the 
Missionary Baptist Church he is a prominent 
member and active worker. His position in the 
district is one to lie desired, as his friends and 
well-wishers are among the best in the neighbor- 
hood. 





^OsVL 




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



131 



EUBEN B. EUBANK resides on section 33, 
township 52, range 20, of Saline County. 
* \ Mr. Eubank was horn in the town of Glas- 
gow, Barren County, Ky., February 9, 1824, 
He is the son of Henry and Maria (Garnett) 
Kuhank, the former a native of Virginia, and horn 
September 1 I. L795, the latter of Barren County, 
Ky., and born May 19, 1807. Our subject's 
father had a considerable knowledge of military 
tactics and held the office of Captain and after- 
ward Major in the State Militia of Kentucky, 
lie was engaged in the merchandise and trading 
business in Glasgow, Ky., until L829, when, on ac- 
count of failing health he removed to his farm, 
giving up active business and spending his latter 
years in rural enjoyment. He was identified with 
many public interests of his county, which he . 
served as a successful and energetic business man. 

The paternal grandfather of our subject was Jo- 
seph Eubank, a Virginian, who was born May 9, 
1763. He was a fanner and dealer in merchandise, 
and besides owned and operated a tlouring-mill. 
One of the sons of Joseph Eubank was the ac- 
knowledged local genius of his day, and though he 
never patented he claimed the honor of discover- 
ing the principle of a self-feeder for a cotton gin, 
and also invented the steam governor for engines. 
He was a watch-maker by trade. Grandmother 
Eubank bore the maiden name of Elizabeth 
White, and was born in Virginia November 8, 
1771. She was married to Joseph Eubank Novem- 
ber 27, 1794, and they became the parents of ten 
children, all of whom lived to years of maturity. 
The family is of English origin, our subject's great- 
grandsire having emigrated to this country in 
1727. lie was one of four brothers and made 
settlement in Virginia, and our subject still has in 
bis possession a little account book kept by tins 
first American founder of the family, which shows 
by the accuracy with which it was kept that he 
was a man of education and business ability. His 
wife was Miss Margaret Lewis, whom he married 
in Virginia. 

Reuben Eubank is one of a family of seven chil- 
dren, all of whom are living: America, who was 
horn in Glasgow, Ky., May 11, 1^27. now lives in 
Jackson, Tenn.; Margaret D., horn September 15, 
6 



1829, was married to Robert T. Graley, and they 
reside in Saline County; James, who was born 
April 27, is:;:;, and married Martha Thomas, now 
lives in Texas, where he is a fanner and money- 
loaner; Richard, who was born October 1, 1835, 
and married Catherine Wolfskill, lives in Califor- 
nia and is engaged in farming and in grape cul- 
ture; Elizabeth, who was horn September 9, 1838, 
married J. C. frby, and now lives in Tennessee, 
where her husband is one of the faculty of a 
Baptist school; Henry, who was horn March 28, 
1844, married Miss Fishback and lives in Barren 
County, Ky. 

Our subject was educated in the common schools 
of Kentucky. He left school "at the age of eigh- 
teen years, and then engaged as clerk for David 
R. Young, a bachelor who was store-keeper at 
Glasgow. Our subject received only his board and 
clothing, as he took the position rather to learn 
the principles of conducting a business. At the 
expiration of a year he entered the employ of Jo- 
seph Glazebrook, in consideration of $100 per 
annum with hoard and washing. He remained 
with him three years and then went to Hopkins- 
ville, Ky. After a few months in that place he 
returned to his former employer. Thus he was 
variouslj' engaged until his marriage, when he 
went to farming, his wife having been presented 
by her father with a tract of two hundred acres of 
land. This was later traded for a money consid- 
eration, and he went to tobacco-raising, devoting 
live years to the improvement of the tract. Be- 
coming dissatisfied with the narrow scope of his 
life and opportunities, he sold his little farm for 
$10 per acre including improvements, and in 1855 
he moved to Saline County and rented a farm for 
two years. He then purchased a tract of partially 
improved land, which he bent his energies toward 
clearing. From time to tune he added to his origi- 
nal purchase until he owned thirty-seven hundred 
acres. Part of t his is improved and all is well fenced 

and in g I pasture condition. This beautiful and 

well-improved home farm makes him the owner of 
thirty-seven hundred acres of good land, beside 
some eight hundred acres which he has given to 
his children. 

The original of this sketch was married October 



132 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



80, 1848, to Martha Thompson, a daughter of 

Robert S. Thompson, and a member of an old and 
representative family of Hart County, Ky. Mr. 
and Mrs. Eubank became the parents of three chil- 
dren: Robert (deceased). Henry, and Reuben. The 
first-born was a native of Barren County, Ky., and 
made his advent into the world in 1849. He mar- 
ried Miss Mary Bumbarger and until the time of 
his death, which occurred December 24, 1875, lived 
near Slater. He was a farmer and left one son 
who now lives in Bourbon County, Ky. Henry, 
who was born in Hart County, Ky., in t852, mar- 
ried .lane Jenkins, Of Slater, this county; he now 
lives in Chariton County, this State, where he is a 
farmer and preacher. Reuben, who was born in 
Saline County, married a Miss Campbell. They 
live in Lexington, where be is engaged in busi- 
ness. 

Alter the death of his lirst wife, our subject was 
ii second time married, his bride being Miss Eliza- 
beth Whittaker, who was the daughter of John 
Whittaker, of Boone County, Ky. she was born 
May 18, L834, became the wife of Mr. Eubank in 
Boone County, June 22, 1861, and died February 
28, 1873. Their union was blessed by the advent 
of three children: John, Ernest, and Jerome. 
John was born On the 12th of April, 1863, in 
Saline County, married Lucy Smith, and is now 
engaged in farming in this county; Ernest was 
born on the 6th of July, 1864, in this county, where 
he married Lillie Gaines, and is now a farmer; 
Jerome, who was born October 3, 1865, married 
Zudie 1'urdom, and lives in Slater, where he 
is engaged in stock buying. In July of 1873, Mr. 
Eubank married Miss Anna, the daughter of James 
Leeper, who was born in Lewis County, Mo. They 
have been the parents of two children: Preston L. 
and Katie M. 

Mr. Eubank has been a member of the Christian 
Church since 1858. In addition to his liberality 
in church work, he is well known for his good and 
charitable deeds. Impecunious young men with 
ambition and talent have found in him a ready 
sympathizer and helper. Politically, he was orig- 
inally a Whig, but at the fall of that party he be- 
Cime a Democrat of the lirst water, and, although 
not an office-seeker, has always taken an active 



interest in party affairs. Numbered among the 
wealthiest and most honored citizens of Saline 
County, we feel that it is still a far greater encom- 
ium to pass upon our subject to say that his nature 
is as broad as his heart and impulses are true and 
kindly. 



t i i i 




I I'TI.ER MOORE, Si:. This venerable rep- 
resentative pioneer of La Fayette County 
resides upon one of the finest farms in this 
part of the State, located in township ID, 
range 26. He was born in Lexington, Ky.. Feb- 
ruary 7, 1816, a son of Butler and Courtney ( Web- 
ster) Moore, the latter a relative of Daniel Web- 
ster. The father was a native of Virginia, who 
came to Kentucky at an early day, and the mother 
also was of Virginian birth, removing with her par- 
ents to Grant County. Ky. Her father was a sol- 
dier in the War of the Revolution, and also in the 
War of 1812, where he was one of the daring pa- 
triots under Gen. Jackson at New Orleans. 

Our subject remained on his father's farm until 
the age of eighteen years; then becoming anxious 
to see the world for himself, he left the parental 
roof and engaged at any work that he could find. 
At one time he labored for a very penurious man. 
who paid only twelve and a-half cents per day with 
board, and our subject continued at very low wages 
for several years, which prevented his accumu- 
lating much money. His accumulation was prin- 
cipally experience. At a later date, he received 
the position of superintendent, overseeing hands 
in the making of twine, bagging and rope. 

In 1840, Mr. Moore came to Missouri and located 
in La Fayette County, residing at lirst in Lexing- 
ton, but later removing to a farm south of Lexing- 
ton, which place is now owned by Mrs. Eckle. 
Upon this farm he lived for four years, then came 
to his present place in 1856, and here he has re- 
sided ever since. In his youth, Mr. Moore had 
few advantages to obtain even an ordinary educa- 
tion. The subscription schools were held in rude 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



133 



log houses at irregular intervals during the year, 
with m change of teachers as suited the general 
convenience, making any well-directed effort im- 
possible. At the early age at which he wascut off 
from home, his education was very limited, but in 
this he showed the manner of man he was. 

The biography of this fine old pioneer would 
not be complete did we not emphasize the fact 
that by his own efforts he overcame the obstacles 
of every kind which appeared in his path, and 
made of himself the honest, well-informed man, 
the successful agriculturist, and the respected citi- 
zen holding a place in the esteem of all the r< ssi- 
dents of La Fayette County. When Mr. Moore 
came to this county he found that he must work 
out his way almost unassisted and alone. Those 
were the days when labor-saving processes were 
either not yet invented or not known in the unset- 
tled parts of the Western States, and only by indi- 
vidual effort could he reduce the wild land to a 
state of productiveness. 

After one year of lonely living, Mr. Moore in- 
duced a loving woman to cast m her lot with his. 
and in the long years since that time how often 
has he blessed kind fate for the happy chance. 
April 19, 1841, he was married to Mis* Mary A. 
Hall, a native of Lexington, Ky., born July 15, 
1 822, a daughter of William Hall, who was a na- 
tive of Virginia. To the home in .Missouri Mr. 
Moore took his bride, and with her came the com- 
fort of his life. To her as much as himself he de- 
sires all honor to be given, as her wise counsels 
and ready sympathy and help have enabled him 
to accomplish so much. Three children came to 
bless this union: William F.; Mary .1., wife of ]'. 
R. Kinchelol; and Butler, Jr. 

In the early days in the county. .Mr. Moon took 
great pleasure in hunting, going on long hunts for 
bear, deer and turkey, camping out at night for 
weeks at a time. Both Mr. and Mrs. Moore are 
valued members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church South, in which their interest, is active, 
making of them living Christians, examples of the 
truth of their professions. In political life. Mr. 

Moore has always voted with the Dei -i-i t i< - 

party, both from his education and belief in the 
principles Of Democracy. Much change has come 



over the county since he first came hither; life litis 
become easier and times have changed for the bet- 
ter; but we wonder if this good old pioneer and 
his wife, if questioned, would not say that those 
earlier days were among the pleasantesl in their 
lives. 



/ *=*=* 



M. CHAPPELL, whose post-office address 
is Marshall, Mo., is one of the representa- 
tive citizens of Saline County, and a man 
of sterling worth and progressive ideas. To 
go back two generations and trace the history 
in brief of the Chappell family will, we think, 
prove interesting in this connection. In the 
year 1833 Elisha Chappell came to Saline County, 
bringing with him eleven of his twelve children. 
These children were: Ambros T.; Meucinda; Dan- 
iel; Elisha W., who became a leading physician 
and surgeon in De Kalb County. Mo., and was sur- 
geon in Price's army; Chapman, Lorenzo I)., 
Henry. Thomas \\\. Sarah A., Rachael, Joshua and 
F. Caroline. All but one of the children grew to 
mature years. Mr. Chappell came from North 
Carolina, of which State he was a native. 

Thomas W., the eighth of the children men- 
tioned above, was twelve years old when he came 
to this county, and was educated in the common 
schools of the vicinity, lie was married in 1844, 
taking for his wife Miss Atra. daughter of John 
McAlister. The children of this union were five 
in number, three of whom were spared to reach 
mature years, namely: J. Madison, John E., and 
Annie, wife of William L. Johnson, who resides 
near Marshall. 

J. M. Chappell. the subject of this article, was 
born in 1-844, and was reared in this county, re- 
ceiving a liberal education in the common schools. 
In 1864, he enlisted in the Confederate army, re- 
maining with it until the surrender at Shreveport, 
La. He returned home in 1865, and engaged in 
teaching, which occupation he has followed, more 
or less, ever since. In 1867 Mr. Chappell married 



134 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Miss Cynthia Bogart, of Tennessee. This union 
was blessed with seven children: George L., who 
is one of the progressive teachers of the county; 
Leona A., Lulu M., Gertrude, Ethel V., Percy M. 
and William M. 

Mr. Chappell and family are members of the 
Baptist Church. He is a member of the Ancient 
Order of United Workmen and of the Farmers' Al- 
liance. He helps to swell the ranks of that im- 
portant and reliable class of citizens, the farmers, 
from whom have sprung so many of our worthiest 
and most, powerful citizens. Breathing in the 
pure country air, drinking in. consciously or un- 
consciously, the full, free beauties of the natural 
scenery around him, living as independent a life 
as it i- possible for dependent man to live, and re- 
moved a greater or less distance from the con- 
taminating influences Of crowded cities and towns. 
the farmer boy has a better chance to grow up 
pure-hearted and healthy in body and mind than 
the city boy; he inhales strength with every 
breath; he is early taught self-reliance and help- 
fulness; he lives nearer to God; and we have 
grown to expect, because we have so often found 
it so, and because from the nature of things we 
might reasonably depend upon its being so, that 
the farm-reared boy will be more honest (other 
things being equal) more willing to exert himself, 
more likely to make his way against great difficul- 
ties than will his brother from the city. However 
just these conclusions may be, it is true that the 
subject of this sketch is one of those who fulfill 
our expectations as to the sterling worth of the 
farmer. 



(=_ 



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UILLIAM T. DUGGINS, a prominent citi- 
zen of Saline County, resides upon his fine 
farm on section 5, township 51, range 20, 
near the town of Slater. He was born in Albe- 
marle County, Ya.. in 1838, the son of Thomas C. 
and Elizabeth W. (Jackson) Duggins, and is de- 
scended from English ancestry. His great-grand- 
father married an Irish lady from the city of Dub- 



lin, and the one child born to them was the grand- 
father of the subject of this sketch. After the 
death of her husband, the widow, with her only 
child William, emigrated to America and settled 
in Fredericksburgh, Ya. There she afterward mar- 
ried Robert Wilkinson, by whom she had three 
children, and passed her last days in thai town. 

When about twelve years of age the grandfather 
of our subject went to Louisa County and learned 
the trade of blacksmith and silversmith, and be- 
came a first-class workman. At the beginning of 
the Revolution he joined the Continental army, 
and during tin' war his handsome fortune was dis- 
sipated. He served until the end of the war, and 
then married Miss Elizabeth, a daughter of William 
Perkins, of the well-known family of that name 
in South Carolina. They reared twelve sons and 
one daughter. John, Lewisand Thomas C. settled 
in this county; Fleming P. and Franklin A. located 
in Texas; Pouncy made his home in Perry County; 
Robert, Jefferson and James remained in Louisa 
County, Ya., where all the children were born; 
William removed to Hanover County. Ya.; and 
John to Goochland County, of the same State; 
and Jane married Joseph Cross, and remained in 
her native count} - . 

On the maternal side, the great-grandfather of 
our subject was Thomas Jackson, a native of Vir- 
ginia. The grandmother was Margaret, a daugh- 
ter ot Daniel White, who was a captain in the 
Revolutionary War, and was present at the sur- 
render of the English troops at Yorktown. He 
married Miss Elizabeth McGee, and they reared a 
family of four sons and six daughters. He was of 
Welsh and his wife of Scotch ancestry. Grand- 
father Jackson was of Irish nationality, and was a 
cousin of President Andrew Jackson. 

The distinguished father of our subject, Thomas 
C. Duggins, was one of the early settlers of the 
West, and was a man of energy, with small capital, 
who left the more densely populated sections of 
country that he might obtain the ad vantages to be 
found in the comparatively sparsely-settled regions 
of the new States, lie was born in Louisa County, 
Va., March 10, 1810, and was reared to manhood 
within his native county. He received a liberal 
education, embracing a thorough course in mathe- 




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RESIDENCE OF J. M . WILHITE, SEC.ir.TR 51. R. 20. SALINE CO. MO. 



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RESIDENCE OF W. T. DUC3GI MS . SEX.5.TP 51 . R. 20. SAL! N E CO. MO. 



PORTRAIT ANT) BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



137 



matics, astronomy, philosophy, etc., and a partial 
course in Latin. He made a specialty of survey- 
ing, in which lie figured prominently after becom- 
ing a citizen of Missouri. Early in life lie studied 
all of the details of the profession, the thorough 
knowledge of which afterward gave him the rep- 
utation of being the best surveyor who has as yet 
laid out lands in this county. From 1829 to 1838 
he taught school in Virginia. He was married in 
1833 to Miss Elizabeth W., daughter of Thomas 
and Margaret (White) Jackson. A man's wife is al- 
ways his safest counselor, and such it proved to be 
in this case, as it was in accordance with his young 
wife's advice that Mr. Duggins left the endeared 
scenes of home and friends, and set his face toward 
the setting sun. They bade farewell to old Virginia, 
September 19, 1838, and arrived in Boone County, 
this State, November 4, traveling the entire dis- 
tance by wagon. 

Mr. Duggins and his wife remained nearly two 
years in thatcounty, where he was chiefly employed 
in surveying, having received an interest in a con- 
tract obtained from the Government for surveying 
the Piatt Purchase. His partner so managed affairs 
as to allow Mr. Duggins to have all of the honor, 
while he took all of the profits to himself. After 
bearingall of the expenses, he never received more 
than $2, thus incurring a loss of about $10,000. 
This was a rather severe introduction to Western 
life, but the lesson proved a salutary one. 

In August, 1840, Mr. Duggins removed to Sa- 
line County, and made location in the neighbor- 
hood where he ever afterward resided. From 1 8 1 3 
to 1845 he entered and located the lands compos- 
ing portions of the present farm. After coming 
here he spent some years in teaching, until his 
election to the office of County Surveyor in 1843, 
which position he held until 1859. In 1864 he 
was re-appointed by the County Court, and served 
until 1868. He passed through many vicissitudes, 
experienced some heavy hisses, but as a final result 
owned about twelve hundred acres of land, most 
of which is under cultivation, and upon which 
there are good improvements. This farm contains 
large quantities of fine building sandstone, is un- 
derlaid with an abundance of coal, has an inex- 
haustible supply of water, and is in every respect 



well adapted to stock-raising, for which it has been 
successfully used for a number of years. 

Altogether, Mr. Duggins was very successful in 
life, and though he may not have realized in full 
the extentof his youthful ambition, still he amassed 
a sufficiency - of this world's goods. With his wife, 
the companion of his youth, the sharer of his toils 
and comforts, he passed his later years in peace and 
plenty. In his domestic relations he was highly 
blessed, and gave each of his children a good edu- 
cation. He was a man to be remembered for many 
noble traits of character, and was a devout Chris- 
tian, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church South. A strong-minded, active business 
man, he accumulated property rapidly, and was 
generous in his support of worthy enterprises. 

William T. Duggins was educated in the com- 
mon schools of Saline County, where he carried 
on his studies until the age of eighteen. After- 
ward he became interested in a store at Cambridge. 
At the age of twenty-three he enlisted under ('apt. 
Brown in the Rangers' Division, with which he 
served until it disbanded. Later he entered Shelby's 
Division. Company E, Williams' Regiment, and re- 
mained there until the close of the war in 1865. 
Among the severe engagements in which he partici- 
pated were those of Lexington and Dry Wood. 
lie was taken prisoner at Glasgow and was held 
for six months in Boonville,in Southwest Missouri. 

After the close of the war, our subject returned 
home and began farming upon sections 1 and j, 
where lie remained for a period of seven years. At 
the expiration of that time he purchased the old 
homestead for $3,500, and now has a well-improved 
farm of two hundred and forty acres of land, 
which is valued at $60 per acre. Here he grows 
grain and hay, principally, and the gross receipts 
amount annually to $2,500. Mr. Duggins and his 
wife are consistent members of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church South, and he is a liberal supporter 
of the same. His family has been reared to re- 
spect the church, and several, with their parents, 
have become members of it. 

The marriage of our subject took place in 1866, 
to Miss Anna Pulliam, who was born in Saline 
County, Mo., and they became the parents of four 
children. Katie, born in 1807; Mary, in 1871; 



138 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



and Micajah, in 1874, are still under the home roof. 
Dera D., who was born in 1869, died in 1884. The 
mother of these children died February 9,1875. 

Politically, our subject is a De crat, and has taken 

a deep interest in political affairs, but has never 
desired nor aspired to official honors. 



Is^'H^I*^ 



ffi AMES M. WILHITE, an able and energetic 
agriculturist and successful stock-raiser, lo- 
cated in township 51, range 20, Saline 
County, near the town of Norton, is one of 
the leading citizens of his neighborhood, and re- 
ceives the respect of the people among whom he 
dwells. His great-grandfather Wilhite emigrated, 
from Germany in a very early day. and settled in 
Tennessee. He fought in the Revolutionary War, 
and lived to the remarkably advanced age of one 
hundred and twelve years. Grandfather James 
Wilhite was born in Tennessee, and removed to 
Missouri in 1815. lie became one of the early 
settlers of Saline County and located on the Mis- 
souri River long before the Territory became a 
State. 

The paternal grand mot her was Charity Hayes, a 
native of Tennessee, and a woman of strong char- 
acter, and of Scotch-Irish descent. The sons and 
daughters of this pioneer household were: Elias, 
the father of our subject; Mary, Sarah, Martha, 
Elizabeth, Naomi, .lames Franklin and William 
Marion. James Wilhite fought bravely in the 
War of 1812. The grandfather died December 12, 
1872, aged eighty-six, and his wife died in January, 
185',). When Grandfather Wilhite journeyed from 
Tennessee to Missouri, he traveled hither by wagon 
with his wife and her father's family, and it took 
weeks to accomplish the long journey, (iame was 
in abundance close by the wayside, and they killed 
as much as they desired. Numberless Indians 
were passed on their route, and the deeper they 
penetrated into the wilderness, the wilder became 
the scene. 

Elias Wilhite, the father of our subject, was 
born in Saline County in 181G, and passed the 



days of his boyhood upon his father's farm. In 
1835, he married Nancy Baker, of North Carolina, 
whose father had emigrated to Missouri when she 
was a little child. After his marriage, Elias 
Wilhite remained upon his father's farm for two 
or three years, and then bought land near Slater, 
where he resided until his death in 18G8. His wife 
died in 1858 and he married again in 1859, this 
wife being M. C. Cott. The children by the first 
marriage were: Mary Jane; James M., our subject; 
Charity F.. William A., Daniel C, Finis R.; Nancy 
F.. deceased; Laura B.; and Reuben K., deceased. 
The second family consisted of Sarah A., Amos, 
Luella, and Elias, deceased. Mary Jane marrisd W. 
J. Colt, of Saline County; Charity married Amos 
Cott; Laura B. is the widow of Jasper Morgan, 
of Saline County ; Sarah A. became .Mrs. Richard 
Elder, of Saline County. The father of our sub- 
ject was always a farmer. He was a consistent 
member of the Baptist Church, in which denomina- 
tion he held the office of Deacon. He and his wife 
were charter members of the Fish Creek Baptist 
Church. 

Our subject, James Montgomery Wilhite, was 
bom in Saline County. Mo., in 1838, and remained 
at home with his parents until he was about twen- 
ty-three years old. His wife was Miss Elizabeth, a 
daughter of David and Deborah (Compton) Ford. 
David Ford, a Virginian of Berkeley County, came 
to Missouri in 1841 with his wife and four chil- 
dren, the wife of Mr. Wilhite being the eldest of 
the family, which was afterward increased by the 
birth of four other children. They were as 
follows: Elizabeth, the wife of our subject; Mary 
C; James 1!., who lives in Texas; Nancy E., Maria 
L. and Amelia A. (all three deceased); Susan M., 
who is married to 0. S. Ford, of California, and 
William E., of Slater. The Ford family is of Eng- 
lish descent. David Ford is still living and resides 
with our subject. Mr. and Mrs. Wilhite have been 
the parents of eight children, namely: Minnie D., 
who married W. P. Willis and died July 29, 1891; 
Dora, the wife of K. I. Flippen, of Hill County, 
Tex.; James A., deceased; William Elmer; David 
E., deceased; Amelia A. married to C. B. Bening- 
ton, of Saline County: Samuel and Mertie E., de- 
ceased. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



139 



After the war, our subject established a perma- 
nent home and settled upon a farm in September, 
18G5. He now cultivates eighty acres, ami raises 
excellent stuck. In political affiliations, lie is in- 
dependent, and during the war was a Union man, 
belonging to the Home Guards, lie and his good 
wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian 
Church, and the latter was a charter member of 
what is now the Mt. Horeb Church. The daugh- 
ter. Mrs. Willis, at her death left two children: 
Le Roy ('., aged eleven, and Ota, aged eight, at the 
time of their mother's death. James A., who died 
September 19, 1891, left two daughters: Mabel, 
aged three and a-half years, and Marietta, then 
two. Their mother, who still survives, is Eliza- 
beth (Trimble) AVilhite, daughter of .1. W. Trimble, 
of Saline County, Mo. Our subject has numerous 
descendants, all of whom occupy positions of 
honor and usefulness. In the evening of his days, 
he has the consciousness of having passed a well- 
spent life and deservedly won the competence 
which he now enjoys. 



ROBERT S. DINWIDDIE, an honored and 
upright citizen, and for more than a half- 
century a successful general agriculturist of 
Dover Township. La Fayette County, passed 
away April 10, 1891, deeply mourned by his sor- 
rowing family and a large circle of friends who 
had known him for many years. Mr. Dinwiddie 
was born in Madison County, Ivy., March 4, 1812. 
The year of his birth was one of the most exciting 
in the history of his native State, Kentucky — whose 
sons have ever been noted for bravery and courage 
— they taking an active part in the War of 1812. 
I pwards of live thousand volunteers were called 
into service, and more than seven thousand Iven- 
tuckians are said to have been in the field at onGe. 
The parents of oursubject well remembered those 
dark days, when at the battle of Frenchtown and 
the barbarous massacre that followed it, many of 



the best citizens of Kentucky were killed and the 
entire State became a land of mourning and 
desolation. Our subject was named in honor of 
his father, Robert Dinwiddie, a native of old Vir- 
ginia, but for a long time a resident of Kentucky . 
His wife was Miss Anna Harnett, a lady of worth 
and intelligence. The early years of our subject 
were spent upon the family homestead, where he 
industriously assisted in the work of the farm, and 
was trained into habits of self-reliance which were 
a capital to him in after years. The schools of 
those primitive times were mostly supported by 
private subscription, and each family did all they 
could to enable their children to gain at least a 
rudimentary education. 

At the age of twenty-one years, Mr. Dinwiddie 
began to make his own way in life. For some 
time he remained in his native State, variously 
employed, but finally determined to try his chances 
in a new location and came to Missouri. The home 
of his entire future life was selected by him with 
much thought and care, and at last he decided in 
favor of La Fayette County, which seemed to him 
a specially advantageous portion of the State. 
From the period of his settlement here up to the 
day of his death, he gave his attention to the pur- 
suit of general agriculture, but was also successful 
in raising stock, and thoroughly understood the 
details of a farmer's life. 

In 1859, nineteen years after he located in Mis- 
souri, Mr. Dinwiddie was joined in the bonds of 
matrimony with Miss Elizabeth T., daughter of 
RobertC. Tevis, a native of Kentucky. The Tevis 
family is of Irish descent, but their ancestors early 
emigrated to America, anil have ever been among 
the highly esteemed and progressive citizens of the 
United States. The mother of Mrs. Dinwiddie was 
Elizabeth (Stone) Tevis, a native of Virginia. Mr. 
and Mrs. Dinwiddie became the parents of five 
children, two of whom died in infancy, and Mary E. 
passed away October I. 1876. The surviving chil- 
dren, .lames and Elizabeth, were born and reared 
in La Fayette County. 

Mr. Dinwiddie had long been connected with the 
Presbyterian Church, and for many years was 
among the most active members of that religious 
organization, always ready to aid in the advam i 



140 



POxiTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ment of its social and benevolent work. Though 
not a politician or office-seeker, he took an active in- 
terest in polities, and was an ardent Democrat. His 
pleasant home was located upon section 30, town- 
ship 51, range 2(i, and there, where he spent so many 
years of his useful life, and made of his land one 
of the best farms in this pari, of the count3', his 
bereaved widow still resides. She is widely known 
among a large circle of lifetime friends, who esteem 
her for her excellence of character, kindly heart, and 
consistent Christian life. Mr. Dinwiddie, a strict- 
ly temperate man, throughout his life did unto 
others as he would that they should do unto him. 
An earnest, faithful and public-spirited citizen, he 
greatly aided in promoting the best interests of the 
community, and his fellow-citizens united in mourn- 
ing the loss of this sincere and upright Christian 
husband, father and friend. 






i *-t"!"frr 



"•fr-5-i-frF 



yADE IIICKLIN, an enterprising and pros- 
perous farmer of La Fayette County, re- 
siding upon section 32, township 51, 
range 27, where he cultivates and owns a valuable 
property containing four hundred and thirty-five 
acres, all under fine cultivation, is numbered 
among the substantial and progressive citizens of 
the county. His entire life and history are closely 
identified with the upward growth and develop- 
ment of La Fayette County, within whose borders 
he was born August 22, 1848. His parents, James 
and Nancy (Patterson) Hicklin, were among the 
very early pioneers of the State of Missouri, and 
have ever commanded the respect and esteem of 
the entire community. 

James Hicklin, the father of our subject, was a 
man well titled to overcome the difficulties of 
pioneer life. Energetic, ambitious, and a man of 
strong character and powerful will, his industrious 
habits and excellent judgment enabled him to 
successfully win his upward way unaided by 
capital or influential friends. Moving from 
Tennessee, the State of his nativity, to the Terri- 



tory of Missouri in 1818, three years previous to 
its admission as a State into the Union, he entered 
into the details of the life of a settler upon the 
frontier, and in making the improvements in the 
wilderness, split the first rail ever used in La Fay- 
ette County. His wife, a true helpmate, was a 
native of Kentucky, and was educated in the sub- 
scription schools of her birthplace, and readily 
adapted herself to the duties of her new home. 

Our subject was reared upon his father's farm, 
and, aiding in the necessary duties of the home- 
stead, passed his boyhood, attending dining a 
portion of each year the little rude log school- 
house, and continuing his studies until he had 
reached his fourteenth year. Afterward he de- 
voted himself to the work of tilling the soil, and 
claimed his place among the self-supporting and 
self-reliant farmer boys who are the nation's pride 
and strength. In 1868, he resolved to try a new 
field of action, and began life for himself upon a 
farm in Saline County, Mo., where he remained for 
eleven years constantly engaged in agricultural 
duties, and successfully adding to li is store of 
worldly goods. In 1877, circumstances induced 
him to return to La Fayette County, where he lo- 
cated upon 1 lis present farm, and has since re- 
mained here. 

Aside from the pursuit of general agriculture, 
and the annual round of sowing, planting and reap- 
ing, Mr. Hicklin has profitably engaged in raising 
Polled-Angus cattle, and has long been known as 
an extensive producer of this celebrated variety of 
cattle, regarded by many experienced farmers as 
one of the safest and best-paying investments for 
all who handle stock. The fine farm is pleasantly 
located, and is the happy home of a large family. 
Our subject was married in 1873 to Miss Nannie 
George, of Howard County, Mo. the daughter of 
Calvin A. George, a native of Kentucky. Mrs. 
Hicklin is widely known and highly respected, 
and is the mother of six children, the light of the 
household. 

The bright and intelligent, sons and daughters 
of the Hicklin home are: Mamie AV., James C, 
Lulu, Loekev, Sallie C. and Thurman M. Attain- 
ing manhood and womanhood amid the increasing 
advantages of the neighborhood, the brothers and 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



I 1 3 



sisters may .-ill enjoy the benefit of excellent edu- 
cations, and are already taking high places among 
the youthful society and growing interests of their 
childhood home. United and earnest in purpose, 
the coming years will find them worthily tilling 
positions of trust and influence. Mr. and Mrs. 
Hicklin arc ever ready to assist in all good work 
of their locality, and engage in social, benevolent 
and business enterprises with the characteristic 
energy of all public-spirited citizens. Our subject 
is an earnest and sturdy Democrat, defending 
with zeal the principles of his party, and desires 
in national and local issues the appointment of 
men well fitted to satisfactorily discharge the 
duties intrusted to their care and guidance. 



H3p 



(tffH ANDF0ED T - LYNE. The pretty town of 
^^# Slater is an enterprising business place, 
Ill/Ji) where a good deal of capital is in circula- 
tion. Naturally the guardians of finance 
take a prominent position in the affairs of the 
town, and among the chief of these is our subject, 
who is Cashier of the Slater Savings Bank. He 
was born in this county December It!, 1861, and 
is a son of the late Thomas Lyne, one of the early 
settlers in the county, who came from Woodford 
County, Ky., where he was born April 14, 1821. 

Thomas Lyne was married in Boone County, 
Ky., to Eliza G. Garnett, who was a native of the 
same locality as himself and born December 16, 
1828. They settled in Cambridge Township, Sa- 
line County, Mo., in March, 1853, and continued 
to make that their home until the time of the 
death of Mr. Lyne, which occurred May 26, 1889, 
in St. Louis, where he had gone for medical treat- 
ment. He had given his attention exclusively 
throughout his career to farming, and was a prom- 
inent and enterprising citizen, to whom all local 
interests assumed a personal aspect. At the time 
of his decease his estate was considerable. He was 
a stockholder in both the banks of Slater and had 
numerous other large interests. 



The Lyne family included twelve children, eight 
of whom are still living. Of these, Sandford T. was 
the eighth in order of birth. life was reared on his 
father's farm and received the advantages common 
to the district schools of the home locality, lb 
remained with his father until nineteen years of 
age, and then entered the Bank of Slater as book- 
keeper and Teller. After a connection of about 
a year in this capacity he went to Kansas-City, and 
was there employed for nearly a year as book- 
keeper in the Bank of Missouri. 

On returning from Kansas City, Mr. Lyne at 
once became a prominent factor in the organi- 
zation of the Citizens' Stock Bank. He was ap- 
pointed Assistant Cashier and retained that posi- 
tion for about three years. He then resigned it 
and spent the succeeding year in Kansas, during 
which time he was engaged in the loan business. 
On his return to Slater he organized the Slater Sav- 
ings Bank in 1886, and has ever since been its 
Cashier. Besides the duties incident to this posi- 
tion, he has the entire management of his father's 
estate, which comprises some eight hundred and 
sixty acres of land. In the intervals of attendance 
upon these business duties, he has found time to 
be an active participant in and supporter of such 
local enterprises as promise advancement to the 
interests of the town and locality. 

Mr. Lyne was married in Macon, this State. ( )<•- 
tober 28, 1885, his bride being Miss Franky A. 
Purdom, a daughter of Ilez Purdom. She was 
born on the 17th of April, 1865. They have one 
daughter, named Felicie, who was born in Slater, 
March' 28, 1887. Mr. Lyne belongs to the Masonic 
fraternity, is Past Master of Cambridge Lodge No. 
63; Past High Priest of Slater Chapter No. 112; 
Eminent Commander of Missouri Commandcrv 
No. 36, of Marshall; Deputy Grand Master and 
District Lecturer of the Twenty-fourth District, 
and belongs to the Ararat Temple Oasis of Kansas 
City. He. is also a member of the Ancient Order 
of United Workmen. 

Mr. Lyne does not immolate his whole talent 
upon the altar of business, but keeps the best of it 
for social life and religious obligations. He is an 
active member of the Baptist Church, and has been 
Superintendent of the Sunday-school. He is a 



144 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Director and the Treasurer of the Slater Young 
Men's Christian Association, Director of the Slater 
Loan Association, and the Slater Milling Company. 
He belongs to one of the representative families 
of this locality, and maintains well the family 
dignity and honors in his own high position. 




i|^ OX. HENRY s. VAN ANGLEN, a retired 
merchant of Waverly, La Fayette County, 
was born in the city of New Brunswick, 
N. J., October 16, 1819, and is a son of Cor- 
nelius and Sychc (Suydam) Van Anglen. He is 
of Dutch descent, and his forefathers, two hun- 
dred years ago, were among the early settlers of 
New York and New Jersey. His father, who lo- 
cated as a merchant in New Brunswick in 1799, 
departed this life when our subject was about 
three years old, and the remaining members of the 
household removed to Kentucky in 1826. 

The mother of our subject, upon removing to 
Kentucky, purchased a farm north of Danville, 
Mercer (now Boyle) County, near Ilarrod's Run, 
and adjacent to the lands and home of Capt. James 
llarrod. of pioneer fame. Upon this farm the fam- 
ily settled, and there the subject of this sketch 
grew to manhood, meanwhile receiving his educa- 
tion in the common schools of the county. In 
1836 he entered a store as clerk, and four years 
later removed with his mother and brother Charles 
and family to Missouri, where they purchased a 
farm near Dover, La Fayette County, and settled 
thereon. 

For several years after coming to this county, 
Mr. Van Anglen engaged in teaching school and 
clerking, and in 1849 he entered the mercantile 
business at Dover and at Waverly, being associated 
with the late Col. George B. Warren and Dr. Isaac 
S. Warren, from near Danville, Ky., as equal part- 
ner-, in both houses. This venture proved very 
successful and was timely closed out and settled 
up before the war. Mr. Van Anglen did not en- 
ter the army on either side. Since the war he has 



resided upon his farm, west of Waverly, and has 
been continuously engaged in general farming, 
fruit-growing, bee-keeping, etc.. with satisfactory 
results. He owns five hundred acres of unincum- 
bered land near Waverly, of which more than 
three hundred aires are well improved and in a 
good state of cultivation, the balance being wood- 
land. The land is underlaid with coal, being a 
continuation of the Waverly bed, which shows 
from forty to fifty inches in thickness where 
mined. 

In public affairs Mr. Van Anglen has for many 
years been prominent and influential. In 1877-7)-!. 
he represented lu> county in the State Legislature. 
Being a thoughtful reader, he keeps posted upon 
the current events of the period, and is a close ob- 
server of men and things. He is fond of general 
literature, and is the author of poems and prose 
articles evincing much literary taste and ability. 
Though by no means partisan, he is a lirm adher- 
ent of the principles of Jeffersonian Democracy, 
and cast his ballot for Grover Cleveland for Presi- 
dent in November, 1892. Socially, he is a mem- 
ber of Waverly Lodge No. ill. F. & A.M. He 
has never married. 



'ill 01 IN C. YOUNG. The gentleman whose 
name is given above, is engaged in the 
livery and transfer business in the city of 
*$^-il) Lexington, La Fayette County, Mo., where 
lie has been very successful. Mr. Young is a na- 
tive of Madison County, Ky.. and was born Au- 
gust 21. 1838. He is the youngest son of the 
family that »as born to John C. and Margaret 
(Mullens) Young, both of whom are natives of 
Kentucky, and have been devoted throughout life 
to the calling of agriculture. Our subject's ma- 
ternal grandsire was John Mullens, and the family 
is of Scotch extraction. 

The original of this sketch was reared on a farm 
in his native place and attended the public schools. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



145 



He remained under the parental roof until reach- 
ing his majority, and then embarked in the livery 
business, having come to tin- city. Mr. Young 
has been so engaged since 1864. When first here, 
he "as in the undertaking business in addition to 
tlif livery and 'bus business, and carried this on 
until 1874. For the past three years he lias con- 
lined his attention to the livery and transfer busi- 
ness. 

Mr. Young owns fifty-seven horses, and keeps 
fourteen men constantly employed about the sta- 
ble. He has four 'buses and live matched teams. 
He also has a number of good carriages, and can 
turn out as fine a display as any in his line in the 
city; indeed, he has the monopoly of the livery 
business in Lexington, and, being personally a 
genial and whole-souled man. is popular with all 
classes. 

In October, 1862, our subject married Miss 
Ellen, a daughter of Washington Johnson, of La 
Fayette County. They have been the parents of 
two children, a son and a daughter. The former. 
who is known as John C, runs his father's Frank- 
lin Street stable. Mamie E. is the wife of .1. R. 
Moreland, of Lexington, Mo. In our subject's po- 
litical views, he is a decided Democrat, and has 
opinions of his own as to the men who vote the 
opposition ticket. 



!>-*<-§ 




IQ?^ "" 



,EV. ALBERT A. MOORE. The declining 
years of one who has devoted his life to 
making brighter and better the lot of his 
^) fellow-men should be filled with pleasant 
recollections and a glad promise of reward. Such 
an one has gathered to himself legions of dear 
friends whose best wishes and prayers are in 
his behalf. The life of our subject has been spent 
in doing good. He comes of excellent stock. 
his father, Peter Moore, a native of Maryland, 
born in 1780, and his grandfather, Abram Moore, 
a Revolutionary soldier, being both excellent men. 
Abram Moore settled upon the eastern shore of 



Maryland in the latter part of the eighteenth cen- 
tury, where he died at the age of eighty-eight 
years. 

The mother of our subject was Sallie (McKnight) 
.Moore, a native of North Carolina, born in 1780, 
a daughter of William McKnight, whose ancestors 
first settled in Virginia and, later, in North Caro- 
lina. Both families are of Scotch-Irish descent. 
The parents of our subject married in Ruther- 
ford County, Tenn., in 1803, and the father fol- 
lowed the occupation of a fanner until his death 
in 1832. His widow, who survived him thirty 
years, dying in 1862, was the mother of nine 
children. The parents were members of the Cum- 
berland Presbyterian Church, the father being an 
Elder. 

Our subject was born March 31, 1811, in Ruther- 
ford County, Tenn., where he grew to manhood, 
remaining on the farm until he was twenty-one. 
He finished his education in Central Academy, at 
Milton, and was there trained for the ministry, 
which he entered in the Cumberland Presbyterian 
Church in 1834. His first work was done in a 
mountain district as a supply, embracing Warren 
and White Counties, Tenn.. where he remained 
until he removed to Missouri, in 1837. He settled 
in La Fayette County, near the site of Pleasant 
Prairie Church, where he entered a piece of land 
and resided for twelve years, the country being but 
very sparsely settled at that time. He was pastor 
of the Ilarrisonville Church from 1850 to 1854, 
also had the pastorate of the Westport Church for 
four years; later, returning to Ilarrisonville, he was 
pastor thereuntil the war. Then he came to Well- 
ington and has made that place his home ever since. 
In 1857, he went to the Territory of Kansas, where 
he remained as a missionary for three years. Dur- 
ing the war he visited the camps, preaching to the 
soldiers, and in other ways sought to benefit those 
who were fighting to defend the principles they 
espoused. 

February 28, 1839, the Rev. Mr. Moore married 
Miss Melissa E., daughter of Col. John Stapp, who 
was one of the first judges of this county and held 
the office as long a- he lived, being a very popular 
and widely-known man. Mrs. Moore was born 
March 5, 1817, in Kentucky, and died July 19, 



140 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



1880. She was the mother of four children, three 
living, namely: Mary Harriet; Milton, and John 
A., both of Kansas City, the last-named a real- 
estate agent. 

Rev. Mr.'Moore resigned his active work in the 
ministry in 188fi, after fifty-five years of earnest 
work. However, he still preaches occasionally, to 
the satisfaction and instruction of his hearers. 
He is a Democrat, cast his first vote for Andrew 
Jackson in 1832, and has voted that ticket ever 
since. When he came to Missouri he brought his 
mother and two younger brothers with him, and 
cared for them afterward. He represented his 
Presbytery at the General Assembly of the church. 
From the date of his first evangelistic work in 
the mountains of Tennessee until his retirement, 
he was a great worker and accomplished much 
good. Now, living retired, his daughter keeping 
house for him, his hours pass tranquilly and he is 
happy in the love and respect of his neighbors. 



/ I ' I ' I ( n 



\|'<)HN HENRY BOLLMAN, for many years 
a successful farmer and upright, energetic 
citizen of Saline County, resided for a half- 
score of years upon section 34, township 
52, range 20, near Slater. Known to all the com- 
munity as a man of undoubted integrity and real 
worth of character, his death, January 7, 1891, 
was deeply lamented by the general public as well 
as by His family and large circle of friends. Born 
in Hanover, Germany, in 1831, he was educated 
in his native land, and there was early taught 
those habits of thrift and industry which so ma- 
terially aided him in his upward progress in life. 
< )ur subject was the son of August Bollman. 
and one of a family of live sons and three daugh- 
ters. One sister and two brothers are at present 
living. John Henry came to America in 1852, 
and settled in St. Louis, where he worked as a day 
laborer. He married in this Southern city Miss 
Caroline Prasse, a native of Germany, a most ex- 
cellent and worthy helpmate. Mr. and Mrs. Boll- 



man resided in St. Louis for three years after their 
marriage, when they removed to St. Clair County, 
111., and there rented land, working upon this 
farm for six years. At the expiration of that 
time, Mr. Bollman returned to St. Louis with his 
family and engaged in business as a teamster. 

Finally, our subject located upon one hundred 
and sixty acres of land in Saline County, and 
paid for this homestead $55 an acre. For the 
next nine years he devoted his time to the pur- 
suit of general agricultural duties, and remained 
upon the farm until his death. His marriage was 
blessed with ten children. Six of the sons and 
(laughters yet survive, and are widely known 
and highly respected. Lizzie, who was born in 
St. Louis, was married to Mr. Fishbeek, of that 
city, and passed away in April, 1891. Henry was 
a native of St. Clair County, 111., and married 
and afterward engaged in farming; Charles, born 
in St. Clair County, 111., is unmarried and resides 
at home, working as a carpenter; Johanna is a 
native of St. Louis, was united in marriage with 
Fred Cline, and lives in Slater, where Mr. Cline 
follows the occupation of a railroad fireman; John 
was also born in St. Louis, is still single, and 
makes his home in Slater, where he is engaged in 
the railroad employ; Otto, a native of St. Louis 
and the youngest son, remains at home with his 
widowed mother, and is actively- engaged in farm- 
ing duties; Elenora, born in St. Louis, is unmar- 
ried and resides at home. 

Our subject began life a poor boy and owed all 
the wealth he accumulated to his industry, excel- 
lent judgment, thrift, and good habits. He was 
implicitly an honest man, paying full value for all 
goods and benefits received. He was a most 
worthy and valued member of the German Luth- 
eran Church, and was numbered among the gen- 
erous supporters of that religious organization. 
In his political affiliations he was an ardent Re- 
publican, but had no political aspirations, and was 
far from a politician, simply taking an interest in 
the national and local affairs, which interest is 
shared by all good citizens. 

The home of our subject, a modest but sub- 
stantial house of six rooms, erected at a cost 
of about $700, was soon filled with mourning 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



1 17 



friends and relatives when it. was known that 
tliis good man bad passed to his rest. At the 
funeral services conducted at the family residence 
grief was written upon the countenances of the 
many citizens who had gathered, to pay the last 
respects to the departed. Honored and esteemed, 
his memory is preserved in the hearts of all who 
knew him. and as a loving husband and father he 
will ever be remembered by those of his house- 
hold who shared his loving care and miss his daily 
presence. 



*=*=* 



y" ILLIAM II. LAND, a leading and prosper- 
ous merchant, and enterprising and up- 
right citizen of Gilliam, Saline County, 
Mo., is widely interested in all social and benevo- 
lent organizations of his home, and has for over 
forty years been a valued member and promi- 
nently connected with the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, a faithful and most important factor in 
the extension of its good work and religious influ- 
ence. Our subject is a native of the Sunny South 
and was born in the year 1827, in Buckingham 
County, in the good old State of Virginia, famed 
in history as the home of our bravest ancestors 
and the most patriotic defenders of our nation's 
liberty. 

The paternal grandfather of William II. Land 
was one of the heroes of 1776, and fought bravely 
in the War of the Revolution. The father and 
mother of our subject were Robert and America 
Land, both native Virginians. The father came 
to Saline County in 1836, and served the people 
of his county for many years as an able and \\ ise 
magistrate. Mrs. America Land was blessed by 
the birth of six intelligent and energetic children; 
of the family of five brothers and one sister, four 
survive. Stephen Land was born in Virginia, in 
1829, and died in California in 1850. Ilarriette 
Land, also a native of the Old Dominion, was 
born in 1831. She married J. B. Smith, and at 



present they are residents of Saline County, where 
Mr. Smith prosperously engages in farming. Pe- 
ter Land was also born in Virginia, married .Miss 
Virginia Avers, and with his wife makes his home 
in Gilliam. Robert Land, a native of the same 
State, was united in marriage with Miss Josephine 
Avers, and is located with his family in Cam- 
bridge Township, Saline County, Mo, John Land, 
born in the Virginia home, died in Texas, after 
he had been an active participant in the late Civil 
War. 

Our subject was educated in the common schools 
of his home neighborhood, but as he was early 
obliged to aid his father in the support of the fam- 
ily, his opportunities for an education were ex- 
tremely limited. His parents assisted him in 
keeping up with his clas* at school, and he im- 
proved every leisure moment in study. At the 
age of twenty-one years Mr. Land engaged in ag- 
ricultural pursuits, but after three years of farm- 
ing, accepted employment as a clerk with J. H. 
Grove, and, giving faithful and efficient service, 
was retained by the linn for eight years. At the 
expiration of this length of time. Mr. Land, hav- 
ing acquired a thorough knowledge of the busi- 
ness, opened a mercantile establishment in Cam- 
bridge, where he conducted a well-stocked store. 

Mr. Land remained in Cambridge until the break- 
ing out of the war, when he removed to the coun- 
try, and once again resumed agricultural work. Af- 
ter four years of busy industry and hard work upon 
the farm, our subject honorably paid all debts con- 
tracted in former financial difficulties by the firm, 
and then went back to Cambridge, and there con- 
tinued his former mercantile life for several years. 
In 1883 he established his present store in Gilliam, 
moving bis stock from Cambridge, and carries an 
excellent stock of goods, valued at $12,000. 

Our subject was married, in 1853, to Miss Mary, 
a daughter of A. W. Gilliam, and a native of Vir- 
ginia. This estimable lady was the mother of six 
children, all of whom survive to bless the later 
years of their father, who, after the death of his 
first wife, married, in 1878, Miss Georgia Hagey. 
Robert Land, the eldesl son of our subject, was 
born in Saline County, Mo., in 1855, married Miss 
Ida Richardson, and is engaged with his father 



148 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



in business. Woodson G. married Miss Fannie 
Bourner, and is a farmer in Nebraska. Mary P., 
also a native of Saline County, was united in mar- 
riage with Ed Davison, and with her husband en- 
joys a pleasant home in Gilliam. John B., born 
in Saline County, Mo., married Miss Chloris Spen- 
cer, and is a druggist in the flourishing city of 
Slater. America, the youngest daughter, married 
E. J. Dunlap, a druggist of Gilliam. Charles W. 
Land, a native of Saline County, is at present en- 
gaged in business with lus father. 

The sons and daughters were mainly educated 
in the excellent public schools of their early 
home, but two of their number received a thor- 
ough course of instruction in the State College at 
Booneville, while John attended Columbia College, 
and later the School of Pharmacy, in Philadelphia. 
Residing in various portions of our country, but 
mostly adjacent to the home of their father, all the 
sons and daughters take a high position in their 
homes, and are numbered among the progressive 
and enterprising citizens. Mr. Land, who has al- 
ways been active in religious work, was Steward 
in the Church, and was the valued Superintendent 
of the Sunday-school, until his health forbade his 
continuing in the discharge of the many duties 
involved. He is a member of the Slater lodge 
of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and has 
long been connected with this ancient and hon- 
ored order. Our subject is a Democrat, and while 
never aspiring to (ill a political office, is greatly 
interested in the management of public affairs, and 
believes firmly in the principles and platform of 
the party with which he has affiliated all his life. 



£+# 



cs. 



fca 



a ' ■ — - ■- 



J. VANMETER, one of the wealthiest and 

C*7 J most popular farmers of Saline County, is 

the subject of this sketch. He was born 

|^ in Virginia in 1834, and was the son of 

Abraham and Elizabeth (Parsons) Vannieter. 

The mother was born in Hampshire County, Va., 

and died at her home in the year 1863. The 



father of our subject was born in Hardy County, 
Va., in 1785. Grandfather Joseph Van Meter was 
a soldier under Washington, and with his son, the 
father of our subject, served through the War of 
1812. The name of the grandmother was Hannah 
Inskip. 

The father of our subject came to Saline County 
in 183;"), and located in the southern part, where he 
rented a small tract of land. He remained on this 
but a short time, and then removed to Miami 
Township, where he remained up to the time of his 
death. After coming to this State, he was obliged 
to make a home in a dugout until he could build 
a log cabin. lie was a successful farmer and ac- 
cumulated a large amount of land. In religious 
belief, he was a devoted member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church South, which he joined in Vir- 
ginia. In lii> political faith, he was a strong sup- 
porter of Democracy. His death occurred in 1866. 

Our subject is one of a family of five children, 
but only two of these are now living. David P. 
was born in Hardy County, Va., married Miss M. F. 
Nye. and resided in Saline County until the time 
Of Ids death, which occurred in 1884; he had 
been a successful farmer. MaryC.who was born in 
Hampshire County, Ya., married J. P. Henning, and 
resided in Missouri until 1850, when she and her 
husband removed to California, where he engaged 
in the fruit business. Rebecca A., a native of the 
Old Dominion, married Joseph D. Proper, and they 
resided in Saline County until the time of his 
death in 1865. 

At Lexington University, our subject carried 
on his literary studies for a time, and since leaving 
school has by close observation and reading at- 
tained an extended knowledge and broad culture. 
At the end of sixteen years, he commenced farm 
ing, his first efforts being upon eighty acres of 
land obtained from the Government. This was 
located in Miami Township, which was at that 
time in a wild condition. In 1874. Mr. Vanmeter 
married Miss Christina A. Nye, a native of Ohio 
and a daughter of George Nye. She died in 1883, 
and in 1886 our subject married Miss Anna M.. 
daughter of Charles Pitt man. 

Working hard, our subject soon saw the results 
in his cultivated land, fenced and planted with 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



I 19 



trees, and in the neat buildings which soon arose 
on the prairie. Before long lie was able to add to 
his farm One hundred and sixty acres on Section 33, 
for which he paid $18 per acre, and lie has contin- 
ued to add to this until he has now a fine farm of 
twenty-six hundred acres, which is valued at about 
$20 per acre. The home of Mr. Vanmeter is a 
modern two-story house of eleven rooms, which 
cost him $1,600, and his fine outbuildings, almost 
all built by himself, cost $5,000. The gross re- 
ceipts from his farm amount to $6,000 per year. 
The crops which he finds most profitable are wheat 
and corn. 

Mr. Vanmeter has made a success of breeding 
fine cattle, particularly Durhams. lie also has 
some fine horses, among them an"Almont" stallion 
worth $500, and also a sorrel five-year-old, which 
he values at $500. "Politically. Mr. Vanmeter is a 
Democrat and has always been very actively inter- 
ested in the affairs of his party, although lie has 
never aspired to any official position. He is one 
of the wealthiest men in Saline County, has hosts 
of friends and is universally esteemed. 



*M! 



\b®b\ 



!IM^ 



ffiAMES A. EMISON. It is a slander upon 
the American people to say that this is a na- 
tion of office-seekers. There are thousands 
and hundreds of thousands of wort by men in 
this land of ours who could not be induced to take 
a public position. Such an one is our subject, a 
worthy farmer living on section 3, township lit, 
range 28, La Fayette County, the son of Benja- 
min Emison. a native of Scott County, Ky. The 
latter, who was born November 18, 1800, was a 
son of Ash Emison, a native of Ireland, whose 
wife was Mary (Mitchell) Emison, a Scotch-bred 
woman. Ash Emison was a soldier in the War 
of 1812, and left for his children the record of a 
worthy and brave man. 

The mother of our subject was Catharine ( Bris- 
coe) Em ison, a daughter of James M. and Marj 
(Brunaugh)Briscoe,and a native of Maryland, bora 



in 1802. She was married in Kentucky in 1818, 
and died May 6, 1846. After her death the hus- 
band again married, in 181K, taking as bis second 
wife Mrs. Bethany Elgin. In the year 1850 Ben- 
jamin Emison removed to Missouri, and settled 
in La Fayette County, at Wellington, where he 
resided for thirty-five years, when his wife died. 
He then made his home with our subject until his 
death, which occurred November 18, 1886, the an- 
niversary of his birth. By his first marriage he 
was the father of eleven children, three of whom 
are living, namely: our subject, Martha A. Mc- 
Hatton and .Joseph W.; his second wife bore him 
no children. 

The parents of our subject were both members 
of the Christian Church, the father having been a 
most efficient Elder in that body for sixty years, 
being known as one of the earliest proselytes to 
Alexander Campbell's doctrines in Kentucky. The 
confidence of his neighbors led them to make him 
a Justice of the Peace, which office he filled for 
eighteen years. Possessed of a good common- 
school education, he applied it to the study of the 
Bible, of which book he was very fond. 

Our subject was born January 15, 1821, in 
Scott County, Ivy., where he received a good com- 
mon-school education and grew up to manhood 
on a farm, remaining at home until he took to 
himself a wife. This latter event transpired Oc- 
tober 2, 1851, his choice falling upon Rheubena 
S., daughter of Lawrence and Mary Triplet), na- 
tives of Kentucky, her father being a farmer. 
She was born September 2, 1831, in Fleming 
County. Ky., and was the mother of three children, 
two of whom are living, namely: Mary Cathar- 
ine, wife of Charles Ragland, having two children; 
and Fannie R., wife of James Bumgarner, having 
six children. This good woman died January :!. 

1860, and our subject married again. April 11. 

1861, the bride being MissAnna Mary, daughter of 
Dr. O. II.. P. and Mary (Van Camp) Stone, both 
natives of Kentucky. Dr. Stone was born June 
12, 1817, and his wife June 20, 1820. The Doctor 
was a man of superior education and a graduate 
of Transylvania Medical College. Dr. and Mrs. 
Stone were married at Lexington. Mo., whither 
they had come in 1832, and spent the remainder 



1 50 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



of their days there, her death having occurred in 
1868, and his two years later. They were charter 
members of the Christian Church at Lexington, 
and the Doctor was Superintendent of the Sun- 
day-school. Of their six children, three are living, 
namely: Mrs. Emison, William D. and Iva Mas- 
ters! >n. 

Our subject's wife was born October 19, 1842, 
at Lexington, and was educated there, first in the 
common schools and then in the Baptist College. 
She is the mother of one child, William 11. Mr. 
Emison came to Missouri in 1850, and settled upon 
his present farm, which he bought of Judge Na- 
thaniel Price, and upon which he has lived for 
forty-two years. It contains two hundred and fifty 
acres, well improved and all under cultivation. 
He has suffered nothing to interfere with his 
chosen avocation, farming. Highly esteemed by 
his brethren of the Christian Church, they have 
retained him in office as Elder at Wellington and 
Odessa for fifty years. An earnest advocate of 
education, he has filled the office of School Trus- 
tee and has carefully watched the instruction of 
his children. William has been a student at the 
Warrensburgh Normal School, and his daughters 
have also been students at college. Our subject be- 
longs to the Masonic fraternity, and evidently tries 
to follow the precepts and teachings of that ancient 
organization, lie takes an interest in politics and 
supports the Democratic ticket, but has always 
resisted the repeated attempts of his friends to in- 
duce him to hold office. Two of his brothers 
served in the Civil War, and one of them, John 
B., was killed at Westport, leaving a widow and 
two children. 

James A. McIIatton, the husband of our sub- 
ject's sister, was a minister of the Christian Church 
for fifty-seven years. A native of Bourbon County, 
Ky., he came to Missouri in 1848, and settled in 
Greenton Valley, but preached as an evangelist all 
over the State. Born May 7. 1804, he died June 30, 
1887, having lived a useful and spotless life. By 
the sister of Mr. Emison he had no children, but 
a former wife gave him five, four of whom are 
living, namely: William D., James II., Sarah A. 
Chinn and Mary Lamkin. Mr. McIIatton 's re- 
mains lie buried in Greenton Cemetery. The 



grandparents of Mrs. Emison, Levi and Phoebe 
(Shotwell) Ann Camp, were the first settlers of 
Lexington, and the first-mentioned assisted in the 
organization of the first Christian Church in that 
place. 



L. CARTER, M. D. Our subject is one of 
the grand army of men who have conse- 
crated their lives and abilities to alleviate 
V\gi/ the sufferings of their fellow-creatures. He 
is a native of La Fayette County, and at present 
is practicing in the city of Dover. lie was born 
October 19, 1856, and is a son of Joseph and Anna 
F. (Spears) Carter, the former a native of Vir- 
ginia, who came to Missouri in 1846, and the latter 
a native of Kentucky, who came with her father, 
Jacob Spears, to this State. 

Our subject's paternal gr.-yidsire, Curtis Carter, 
was a native of Virginia, but the family originally 
came from England. Dr. Carter spent his boy- 
hood in this county, and here attended the com- 
mon schools. He early conceived an ambition to 
distinguish himself in the medical profession, and, 
with this end in view, entered the medical college 
at St. Louis, Mo., in 1877. lie pursued his studies 
there for two years, and in the fall of 1879 en- 
tered the Ohio School of Medicine, located at Cin- 
cinnati, from which he was graduated in 1880. 
That same spring he hung out his shingle in Hig- 
ginsville, this State, remaining there for two years, 
with as much success as such a young physician 
usually enjoys. 

In 1882 the original of this sketch moved to 
Dover, where he has conducted a general practice 
up to the present time. He has met with gratify- 
ing success in his professional career, and has a 
large clientage with a wide country practice. He 
is a member of the State Medical Association. In 
politics he votes with the Democratic party. 

In 1882 our subject was married to Miss Mary, 
a daughter of E. C. Vivian, of this place, but a 
native of Kentucky, having moved to Missouri in 




Y^yiy Cr f J^A/U^Z/ 







K/fi^i^tG^ C 




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



155 



1830. Mr. and Mrs. Cartel- are the parents of two 
daughters, hose names are Mary L. and Vivian. 
Mrs. Carte, is a member of the Christian Church, 
and is a refined and lovely woman. The family 

residen ■ is a favorite resort for the best people of 
the town. 



_q-5"S"{"5- 



i*5**& •?-•»•£ 



*++*'*gS8Er **•!••}•? 



!(» ENRY C. TERRELL is a representative 

i citizen of Saline County. He is prominent 

and influential among the farmers in the 

tm State, and is deeply interested in local mat- 
ters of import to the community, as well as those 
of more extended scope: altogether he is a man 
tli.it the county does not wish to part with. He 
owns two hundred and eighty acres of well-tilled 
land, which is embellished by a large, substantial 
residence, equipped with all modern improvements 
and with outhouses exceptionally convenient and 
far superior in arrangement to those usually found 
on farms, together with a most complete water 
system, and, m fact, everything necessary to the 
thorough enjoyment of rural life. He is engaged 
in general farming and stock-raising, making of 
both a decided success. His home is situated near 
Elrawood in the township of that name. 

Mr. Terrell's birth occurred near Belleville, St. 
Clair County, [II., November 18, L844. His father, 
Isaac L. Terrell, was horn in Bourbon County. Ky., 
October 11. 1820, and his grandfather. Jeremiah 
Terrell, of Cumberland County, N. J., was horn in 
1773. The latter was a weaver by trade and 
emigrated to Kentucky at an early date, there 
marrying a Mrs. Davis. To them were horn three 
sons, two of whom are living. From Kentucky 
the grandfather came to St. Clair County, 111., in 
1829, engaged in farming, and died there in his 
eighty-third year. 

Isaac L. Terrell became a farmer and owned a line 
piece of land in St. Clair County, 111. During the 
war, hi' was SO patriotic that, although beyond the 
stipulated age, he enlisted in the one hundred 
days' service and remained with the famous Gray- 



beards for six months, or until the close of the 
war. lie sold his old farm ami moved to where 
he now lives in Saline County in the fall of 1883. 
The mother of our subject was. before her marriage, 
Nancy ,1. Woods, of St. Clair County, 111., where 
she was born in 1825. Her father was John 
Woods, of Pennsylvania. There is an interesting 
tradition in the family, which has the additional 
merit of being believed to he true. The tradition 
is this: A paternal ancestor of the lady of whom 
we have been speaking, whose name was Patrick 
Walker, came over with the British in Revolu- 
tionary times, but after a while chose to leave 
them. lie was halted .by a British lieutenant 
while attempting to pass through the lines, and 
his passport was demanded. Patrick promptly 
knocked the officer down, took his passport and 
also adopted his name (Woods), which has been 
the family name ever since. 

Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Isaac 
Terrell, eight of whom lived to maturity. All are 
in this county except one. The mother died 
July 5, 1889. Henry C. is the eldest of the chil- 
dren and until eighteen years of age attended the 
common district schools. At that age he entered 
the Commercial College at St. Louis, from which 
institution he was graduated. He remained at 
home until twenty-four years old, after which he 
engaged in fanning on the old homestead for 
twelve years. In 1874 he bought eighty acres in 
St. Clair County. In 1883 he sold his property 
in Illinois at. an advance upon what he paid for it 
and came to Saline County. Mo., purchasing the 
valuable tract of land near Elmwood where he 
now resides, and which he has brought to the high 
State of improvement mentioned above. 

In 1869, Mr. Terrell married Miss Nancy Carr, 
of St. Clair County, 111., daughter of Jacob Carr. 
The lady lost her parents when a small child and 
was reared by a grandmother. Mr. and Mrs Ter- 
rell have been the parents of nine children, as fol- 
lows: Marian I... Sarah .1., George T.; Edith, John 
A., Henry C. and an infant, deceased; Grant C, 
and Mary V. Mr. Terrell is giving his children 
good educational advantages. Our subject is a 
candidate for the position of Judge of the Second 
District, brought forward by the Alliance party. 



156 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



The office is not of his own seeking, nor has he 
ever been a seeker for office in any place. He is 
in tore^tf*] in the well-being of the community as 
well as the Mate and country, and is ready to do 
his pari toward advancing their interests, but he 
does nol covel the high positions in the gift of the 
people, understanding well that they are places of 
trust to be entered upon with thoughts of self put 
aside. He is earnest and reliable, keeping step 
with the advancing thought of the day and hold- 
ing his convictions honestly and sincerely, yet 
with the broad charity that marks the most cul- 
tured minds. 






& 



FERRY NORDYKE, a popular and repre- 
sentative citizen of Marshall, and the well- 
known dealer in harness and saddlery, is 
one of the leading young business men of 
Saline County. Earnest, energetic and ambitions, 
and withal courteous in his dealings, he has made 
rapid upward progress, and now controls a large 
and increasing trade. Although devoting his 
time closely to business, he is prominent in social 
circles, and affiliates with various benevolent and 
political organizations, and is ever ready to ex- 
tend a helping hand to any worthy enterprise 
connected with the interests of his locality. 

The father of our subject was born in Mercer 
County, Mo., where the paternal grandfather came 
in an early day from Virginia and located on a 
farm. Grandfather Nordyke engaged in the gen- 
eral mercantile Inisincss in Mercer County for a 
time, and in October, 186G, came . to Marshall, 
where he continued m , general merchandising in 
partnership with his son, John W, Finally the 
elder partner. 1. S. Nordyke. retired from active 
business duties, and is now a local preacher of the 
Baptist Church, and one of the most highly re- 
spected residents of Marshall. John W. continued 
handling merchandise until some time later, when 
he engaged in the drug business, hut afterward 
disposed of his interest in the same, and accepted 



a position as book-keeper in the Wood A- Huston 
Hank. Having occupied a similar position in the 
Saline County Bank in 1877, he was well adapted 
for the efficient discharge of the duties entrusted to 

his care. He is now book-keeper for the Metropol- 
itan National Bank of Kansas City. 

The mother of our subject was Miss Belle Rock- 
well, a native of Rochester, Mo., and daughter of 
Ferry Rockwell, an old settler of Missouri, born in 
Maryland. He engaged in the mercantile business 
in various parts of the State, and died in Calhoun, 
Mo. Our subject, the eldest of three sons, was 
horn in Marshall. November 28. 1*72. and was 
reared to manhood in this city. Here he attended 
the public and High Schools, and in 188'J became 
an apprentice of T. P. Vawter A- Co., and was 
rapidly initiated into the mysteries of his present 
business. In January, 18!M>, he bought out 11. A. 
Hardweli. and continued the business on La Fay- 
ette Street until he was burned out, in February, 
1891. He soon located again on La Fayette 
Street, and has a finer store and larger accommoda- 
tions than before. In his commodious quarters 
he carries a full line of saddlery and a complete 
assortment of all goods pertaining to his busi- 
ness. 

May 17, 1892, our subject married Miss Willie 
J. Colder, born m Alma, and the daughter of J. 
P. Corder, formerly an extensive farmer in La 
Fayette County, until he retired from the active 
duties of agriculture and came to Marshall. He 
served in the Confederate army of Virginia, and 
is a gentleman of courage and undoubted integ- 
rity of character. Socially, Mr. Nordyke is iden- 
tified with the K. of M. He is a member of the 
Baptist Church, and with his estimable and at- 
tractive wife is an important factor in the religi- 
ous and social enterprises of that organization. 
Mr. and Mrs. Nordyke are widely known through- 
out the county, and all their early associations 
bind them to the State of their birth. Their circle 
of friends is large, and as yet no cloud dims the 
horizon of their future. Our subject is the young- 
est man in Marshall carrying on a business of his 
own, hut naturally self-reliant and enterprising, 
he is steadily winning his way upward and to-day 
controls an excellent and profitable business, sec- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



157 



ond to none in it* line, considering the brief 
length of time since it was established. He is a 
Democrat in sentiment, and, in common with all 
true American citizens, is deeply interested in the 
management of public affairs and is ever ready to 
assist in local improvements and reform. 




RANK L. BLACKMAN. No more practi- 
D cal and enterprising man is numbered 
among the Chicago & Alton engineers 
than he of whom we write. The heroic strain 
which should be in the character of every engineer 
is predominant in that of Mr. Blackmail, and he 
would not hesitate to stay by his engine, if there- 
by, in a moment of peril to himself, he could save 
the lives and property of others. 

Mr. Blackman was born in Scott County, Iowa. 
five miles west of Davenport, his natal day being 
February 8, 1851. He is a son of L. S. and Susan 
(Parker) Blackman, both parents being natives of 
Canada, where thev married. They made the 
journey Westward in an early day and located a 
farm in Scott County, Iowa. The decease of the 
father took place in 1883, and that of the mother 
in 1851. 

Of the eight children in the Blackman family 
our subject was next to the youngest. lie had 
three brothers who served in the Federal army. 
Reared on a farm, he received ordinary educational 
advantages, but longed to know more of the out- 
side world, and with this end in view he took a 
position in 1871 as a fireman on the Chicago it- 
Alton Road between Louisiana and .Mexico. Mo. 
Five years later, he became an engineer on the 
same division. He was employed in the building 
of the track until it was completed to Kansas City, 
and after that was employed in pulling freight 
trains until 1882, when, on account of ill health, 
he laid off for two years. 

Returning to Scott County, Iowa, our subject 
was engaged in farming, but it is n fact that it is 
dillicult to content one's self with other business, 



once having been on the road, and in 1885 Frank 
Blackman returned to the Chicago A- Alton and loca- 
ted at Slater. Since then he has been steadily employ- 
ed and has a run between Slater and Roodhouse. 
lie has never had an accident, although some close 
calls, lie takes as much pride in his engine, which 
is No. 169, as a model housewife does in her domes- 
tic domain. Mr. Blackman has secured a pleasant 
home for his family in the town of Slater, and this 
is presided over with great capability by his wife, 
who was Miss Julia M. Hughes. They were mar- 
ried in Cedar City, Callaway County, Mo., Feb- 
ruary 20, 1874. Mrs. Blackman is a native of the 
place in which she was married and is a daughter 
of Absolom Hughes, a native of Virginia and an 
early settler in Missouri. He was a soldier in the 
Mexican War, and at the age of eighty-two years 
is still a vigorous and hale citizen of Sioux City. 
The maiden name of Mrs. Blackmail's mother was 
Parthenia Boles, and she was also a native of Vir- 
ginia. She died in Missouri in 1891. Mrs. Black- 
man was next to the youngest of a family of 
eleven children. She is herself the mother of two. 
whose names are Edna and Fverette. 

The original of this sketch is a member of the 
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, and also 
belongs to the Knights of Pythias and to the Iron 
Hall. Mrs. Blackman is a member of the Cumber- 
land Presbyterian Church. In politics, our sub- 
ject is an ardent Independent. His liking for rail- 
roading seems to be his natural bent, for he has 
had a longing from childhood to distinguish him- 
self in railroad work. 



■ ■■.■■#•■:■•*■■■■ • 



TPVjUFI'S VOlNt;. a prominent agriculturist 
and stock-raiser of La Fayette County, 
owns a valuable farm of three hundred 
§ and thirty acres in township 50, range 26. 
Born in Hawkins County. Tenn.. July 2, 1825, our 
subject was but five years old when his parents re- 
moved to Missouri, and in 1833 he came to La 



158 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Fayette County, which has ever since been his 
home. For over three-score years a well-known 

resilient of this portion of the State, his life's his- 
tory has been intimately associated with the prog- 
ress and advancement of his immediate neighbor- 
hood. Energetic and industrious, he has steadily 
won his upward way, and, ever honorable and up- 
right in his business dealings, possesses the confi- 
dence of all who know him. 

The paternal ancestors of Rufus Young were 
remotely of Scotch and British birth. His grand- 
father, John Young, made a home for himself and 
family in Tennessee, and there the father of our 
subject, Maj. A. G. Young, was born and educated. 
Maj. Young served bravely in the War of 1812. 
and was a man of courage and resolution. He was 
an important addition to the business community 
Of I.a Fayette County, when, in the early days of 
1833, he was warmly welcomed among the pioneer 
residents of the then sparsely settled district of 
Missouri. His wife, Mrs. Elizabeth (McChesney) 
Young, was a native of Washington County, Va., 
and the daughter of Thomas McChesney, a promi- 
nent and honored citizen of the Old Dominion. 

In common with other farmer boys, our subject 
in his youth assisted his father in the daily duties 
of the farm, and soon became an adept in the 
work of planting, sowing and reaping the abun- 
dant crops. His habits of industry and thrift 
early gave him self-reliance, and well fitted him to 
cope with the labor of the coming years. At the 
age of twenty-one years he began to make his own 
way in the world, still continuing in the pur- 
suit of agriculture, whose various demands fully 
absorbed his time. His large farm is under a high 
state of improvement, and produces excellent 
crops, yielding a substantial income year by year. 
This farm has long been noted for its excellent 
stock, always in line condition and superior in 
quality, the best of their kind to be found in the 
limits of the county. Mr. Young makes a specialty 
of raising Shorthorn cattle, and has also a choice 
variety of blooded hogs. 

February 12, 1846, Mr. Young was united in 
marriage with Miss Pamelia A., daughter of Daniel 
and Hulda C. Lankford, both natives of Tennessee, 
who settled in La Fayette County in a very early 



day. Six children blessed the home of Mr. and 
Mis. Young. Sarah, the eldest-born, is the wife 
of Jackson Bradley, a resident of La Fayette 
County; James B. is a successful farmer; Martha 
C. is the wife of David Rolston, and lives in La 
Fayette County; Arthur P., George R. and Henry 
A. complete the list of sous and daughters, who, 
with their father and mother, have all worthily 
tilled positions of influence in La Fayette County, 
and who arc all well known as enterprising and 
progressive citizens. Mr. and Mrs. Young are 
among the valued members of the Presbyterian 
Church, and have always been foremost in the pro- 
motion and extension of the good work of that 
religious organization. Our subject has never re- 
fused a helping hand in any worthy cause, and is 
earnest in his efforts for the improvement and lo- 
cal advancement of educational interests. In po- 
litical belief and affiliation, he is first and last a 
pronounced Democrat, and votes with his party, 
having cast his first ballot for President Pierce. 



#^!N=€~^ 



S^pIELDING T. NORRIS is one of the repre- 

|J-Wg) sentative business men of Slater, Saline 
/Ii> County, commanding the trade of the sur- 

rounding country as well as of the town in his 
business, which is that of a dealer in harness and 
saddlery. He has taken a front- rank among the 
commercial men of this Locality, and his name is 
to be found foremost in all enterprises that prom- 
ise the advancement of local interests. 

Mr. Norris was horn in Boone County, this State, 
March 20, 1850. He was reared on a farm until 
six years of age. when his parents removed to 
Rocheport. of the same county, where he grew to 
manhood. His boyhood days were occupied in ac- 
quiring an education, which he secured in the pub- 
lic schools of that place. He was seventeen years 
of a<je on completing his school days, and then 
served an apprenticeship of two years in learning 
the harness-maker's and saddler's trade, serving 
his apprenticeship in the village of Rocheport. 



PORTRAIT ANT) BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



159 



After completing his time of probation, he spent 
one .year in working at the trade as journeyman, 
Locating in Columbia and Baxter Springs, Kan. 
He was in the latter place for nine months and 
thence came to Arrow Rock, Saline County, in 
1872. During the six months that he was there 
he was employed in the milling business, and the 
following live years he was in the same business 
at Frankfort, Saline County, carrying on liis in- 
terests in company with A. W. Gilliam. 

Our subject came to Slater in 1878 and at once 
entered the harness and saddlery business. After 
carrying this on for two years he sold out his in- 
terest, and the following three years he engaged 
in the hardware and furniture business. He dis- 
posed of that and passed one year in rest from ac- 
tive participation in business, and then entered 
the employ of Striker & Stearn, holdings position 
as clerk three and a-lialf years. 

In July of L891, our subject again opened his 
present extensive house, and this has occupied 
his attention exclusively ever since. He carries a. 
first-class stuck of goods. His warerooms con- 
tain all goods pertaining in the least to his line of 
business. He enjoys the confidence and esteem of 
those with whom he has dealings, and consequent- 
ly commands their patronage. 

In lisT'J Mr. Norris was elected to the otiice of 
Mayor of the city. This position he lilled accept- 
ably for one year, and since then has served as 
Alderman for seven successive years. He has never 
spared himself when the question of advantage to 
the town was concerned, but has thrown himself 
readily into whatever breech needed a personal 
sacrifice. He has ever been an ardent advocate 
of all measures which tend to the growth and 
prosperity of the city. Fraternally he is a Mason 
and belongs to Cambridge Lodge No. il:!. and to 
Slater Chapter No. 112. He is also a member of 
the Ancient Order of United Workmen. 

The original of this sketch was joined in mar- 
riage, on the LOth of December, 187 1. in this 
county, with Miss E. C. Gilliam, a daughter of A. 
YV. Gilliam, who lives near Frankfort. The lady 
is a native of Virginia. She has brightened his 
home with the most admirable feminine qualities. 
She and her husband are ardent workers in the 



Baptist Church. Their two children are named 
Vera B. and Fielding T., Jr. Mr. Norris has erected 
a beautiful residence in Slater, which is one of 
the finest in the city. It is modern and attractive 
in its style of architecture and its interior finish is 
chaste and beautiful. 



*^€ 



E!*^ 



y->> 1". BUCK, the 1 

J' of the fine fa 
1 L. township 51. ra 



P. BUCK, the hospitable and genial owner 
farm located on section 22, 
. range 24, La Fayette County, 
is the subject of this sketch. His birth occurred 
in the city of Lexington in this State, March 23, 
1832. His father. Dr. Perry G. Buck, a native of 
New York, was one of the pioneers of Fa Fayette 
County, and to him belongs the distinction of hav- 
ing built the first house in the city of Lexington. 
That was in the year 1819, and little did he think 
lie was making a beginning that would prove SO 
satisfactory years afterward. The mother of our 
subject was, in her maiden days. Miss Rebecca, the 
daughter of Anthony Thomas, a native of Mary- 
land, of Scotch ancestry, who became one of the 
pioneers of I. a Fayette County. 

Our subject passed his boyhood days in Lexing- 
ton, attending the common schools, and at the age 
of eighteen he entered the Masonic College at Lex- 
ington, where he pursued his studies for one year. 
His studies ended, he learned the trade of carpen- 
ter, at which he worked for several years, hut in 
18G2 he began farming in La Fayette County, 
where he has continued until the present time. 
Mr. Buck feeds stock extensively in connection 
with general farming, and has a line farm of eigh- 
teen hundred and thirty acres, mOSl of which is 
cultivated to a high degree, and all is under fenc- 
ing. He may properly be termed one of the landed 
men of (he State. 

Mr. Buck i> a member of Waverly Lodge No. 
CI. F. & A. M.. and is also identified with Mid- 
dleton Lodge No. 186, A. o. I. YV. In 1869 he 
married Miss Margaret E., daughter of F. R. 
Pritehard, a native of Kentucky. Seven children, 



160 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 




four sons and three daughters, have blessed this 
union, as follows: E. (>., Nellie P., Mary E., Lucy 
G., Dennis T., Grovcr C. and David F. Our sub- 
ject is a member of the Presbyterian Church; Mrs. 
Buck was reared in the faith of the Christian 
Church, to which she adheres. The family is one 
of the most highly regarded in this neighborhood. 



-^ + 



iperintendent of the Kan- 
of the Chicago & Alton 
his headquarters at Slater, 
Saline County. Mr. Sanford was born in the vil- 
lage of Canton, St. Lawrence County, N. Y., .lime 
5, 1848. There the first ten years of his life were 
passed, and then his parents moved West and set- 
tled in Grundy County, III.', which was their home 
for one and a-half years. They then went to Liv- 
ingston County, and settled in the vicinity of 
D wight. 

Our subject remained at home until 1861, when 
he first entered the service of the Chicago & Alton 
Railroad Company as baggage-master at 1) wight. 
He was employed in this way only six months. 
The country was then in the fever of war, and in 
April of 1862, although but fourteen years of age, 
he enlisted !n Company B, of the One Hundred 
and Twenty-ninth Illinois Infantry. It is claimed 
that he was the youngest enlisted soldier in the 
army of the Cumberland, lie served continuously 
about three years. On account of his youth he was 
detached from his regiment and acted as Aide-de- 
Camp to Gen. Smith, of the One Hundred and 
Twenty-ninth Illinois Infantry, and to Col. Case, of 
the First Brigade, Third Division, Twentieth Army 
Corps, and also to Gens. Ward and Hooker. For 
one hundred and live days he was undei fire, and 
took part in the following engagements: Perrys- 
ville, Ky., Resaca, Snake Creek Gap, Buzzard's 
Roost, Estell Farms, Kenesaw Mountains, Lost 
Mountain, Big Shanty, Marietta, Chattanooga 
River, Peach Tree (reek, and in the siege of At- 
lanta. 



At Dallas, Ga., the young soldier received a slight 
wound. In the engagements enumerated above he 
acted a- Orderly, lie enlisted in the service with 
the consent of his parents, weighing eighty-seven 
pounds on entering the army. On his return home 
his weight was one hundred and fifteen pounds. 
His father, Lewis W. Sanford, was a regularly en- 
listed soldier, although he had but one arm, and in 
consequence of that was on detached duty. He 
was placed in charge of a hospital train, and while 
in the discharge of his duty was attacked with 
pneumonia, and died at Gallatin, Tenn. Father 
and son were together at that trying time, and our 
subject was called upon to pass through this ter- 
rible ordeal. 

After his father's death Mr. Sanford was offered 
a furlough by the late Gen. Case, in order that he 
might visit his mother. The General showed his 
sympathy for the fatherless soldier boy by offering 
him the necessary funds for the journey. The lad, 
however, declined to accept the favor, and stuck 
to his post. When the general order was given for 
all enlisted soldiers to report to their regiments, 
Mr. Sanford was specially detailed by Gen. Thomas 
to remain at Nashville. Tenn.. and take charge of 
the descriptive lists of the general field-hospital at 
that point. 

On receiving his honorable discharge from mil- 
itary service, our subject returned to his widowed 
mother, and soon afterward entered the employ of 
the Chicago & Alton Railroad Company. He was 
employed as brakeman for two years, then as train 
baggage-master, and later as extra passenger con- 
ductor. In the latter capacity he served for four 
years. He was then engaged as regular conductor 
until 1882, when he received the appointment of 
trainmaster at Kansas City. He held this position 
until 1887. when he was appointed Assistant Su- 
perintendent in charge of the Kansas City Division 
of the Chicago A- Alton Railroad, with headquarters 
at Slater. 

Mr. Sanford has the honor of being the Secre- 
tary of the Association of Superintendents on the 
Kansas City Railroads. His military associations 
are kept fresh in memory by his membership 
with the George II. Thomas Post, G. A. R., at Kan- 
sas City. He also belongs to the Conductors' Mu- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



161 



tual Aid and Benefil Association. In church rela- 
tions he is a Methodist. He has been President of 
the Railroad iToung Men's Christian Association 
of Kansas City for four years, and during that 
time established a library in the Railroad Men's 
Reading ami Social Rooms in the Union Depot at 
that place. lie has been one of the members of 
the State Executive Hoard of the Young Men's 
Christian Association of Missouri. 

As Mr. Sanford has been so intimately connected 
with religious work among railroad men, it will 
not lie out of place to speak of it more fully. The 
reading and social rooms for the railroad men at 
Slater are supplied with a good library. They also 
have an organ, and the walls are adorned with 
some fine engravings and other pictures, many of 
which have been placed there by our subject. It 
is bright with electric lights, and has the addition 
of excellent bath-rooms. 

Mr. Sanford was married in Mason City, III., 
June 26, 1871, to .Miss Genevra, daughter of S. D. 
Swing, of Mason City, who is a relative of the 
noted divine of the same name in Chicago. Mrs. 
Sanford was born in Mason City. They have one 
daughter who is named Lulu M. Mr. Sanford is 
a man of recognized executive ability, highly re- 
spected and esteemed, and thoroughly liked be- 
cause of his genial and sunny temperament, and is 
the right man in the right place. 



mt 



M. ALEXANDER, M. I)., the successful and 
able physician and surgeon, whose extended 
^ practice of many years gives him a pre- 
eminent position as the pioneer among the medi- 
cal practitioners of Saline County, Mo., has also 
experienced the advantages arising from his pro- 
fessional duties as an army surgeon. Col. Alexan- 
der enjoyed in early youth the benefit of an 
excellent education, and being a cultured gentleman 
of literary attainments, has been an active and im- 
portant factor in the professional and social world 
of Marshall and the surrounding country. 



In ancient times, a Scottish chief. McDonald, 
received from the Earl of Stirling the name of 
Alexander, which name he bequeathed to his de- 
scendants, of whom our subject isone. The Alex- 
anders came from Scotland in Colonial times, and 
received from the Government a large grant of land 
on the Potomac. Alexandria was named in honor 
of the paternal great-grandfather of our subject, 
John Alexander, who, together with his brother, 
erected a Christian Church there. Charles Alex- 
ander, the paternal grandfather, was educated in 
the practice of the law, and was a native of Vir- 
ginia. The father of Col. Alexander was William 
15. Alexander, who was born in Alexandria, Va., and 
completed an excellent education by a course in the 
University of Pennsylvania, from which he was 
graduated. He never practiced his profession, how- 
ever, but attended solely to agricultural duties. 
In 1842 he brought his family to Saline County, 
north of Slater, in Cambridge Township, where he 
had fifteen hundred acres of land, which he im- 
proved and remained upon until his death, which 
occurred when he was fifty-seven years of age. lie 
had started to Virginia, but was taken ill and had 
to return, and died soon afterward from exposure. 

The mother of our subject, Susan P. Browne, was 
born in Virginia in the vicinity of her husband's 
birthplace. She was a daughter of John Browne, a 
Virginia farmer, who went to Kentucky in the 
early days, and died in Breckenridge County. 

The Browne family was of Scotch- descent, and 
the mother died in Virginia. The father of our 
subject was an Episcopalian, and all the family 
were religiously inclined, and attendants at var- 
ious church organizations. Col. Alexander is a 
native of Alexandria. Va., and was born April 23. 
1832. Of the original property owned by the 
Alexanders in Virginia, he still retains some lots. 
Of the eleven children born unto his father and 
mother, he was the eighth in order of birth. 
Ten of the brothers and sisters who clustered about 
the family hearth lived to adult age, and six of 
them yet survive. During the Civil War two of 
the brothers enlisted, and were both surgeons in the 
Confederate army. 

Our subject came to Missouri when only ten 
years old, traveling by way of Louisville to what 



162 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



was then Old Jefferson, the county seat of Saline 
County, now Cambridge. Soon after his arrival 
in the new home, he was senl to Mt. Marina, a Cath- 
olic school, which he attended for snme years, af- 
terward finishing Ids course of study at Lex- 
ington, Mo., in the Masonic College, in the senior 
class. In 1849 he started overland to California, 
but only went as far as Kansas and then returned 
home. Col. Alexander at once began teaching 
school, and busied himself in this avocation for 
some time. He next studied medicine under the 
supervision, of Dr. .1 X. Dunlap, of Miami, and then 
read and studied with his brother. Dr. .1. 11. Alexan- 
der. of Lexington. Mo. Finally our subject entered 
the University of Virginia, at Charlottesville, and 
spent one year in the medical department. 

In 1859 he graduated with honor from the Nat- 
ional Medical College, Washington. 1). ('.. and re- 
ceived the degree of M. D. He immediately en- 
tered into the active practice of his profession at 
Cambridge, where he remained a full score of years, 
and enjoyed a large and lucrative practice. At 
first he had to take long horse-back rides through- 
out the surrounding country, but as time passed 
his practice improved, and at one time he ran a 
drug-store. He was at various times associated 
with Dr. Reed and Dr. Wilson in business relations. 
In 1879, Col. Alexander located in Marshall, and 
continued in successful practice by himself until 
1890, when he entered into partnership upon No- 
vember 1 of that year with J. E. Harris. The 
handsome home of our subject is on Odell Avenue, 
while his office is in the Rainey Block. In 1861, 
our subject entered the Confederate army as sur- 
geon, with the rank of Major, and served under 
Col. Edwin Price's command. As Division Sur- 
geon, he afterward received the rank of Lieutenant- 
Colonel, and really served as Brigade Surgeon of 
the corps. Although left ill after the battle of 
Lexington, he did faithful and distinguished ser- 
vice upon the Held of war for four years, and as 
surgeon earned the gratitude of the wounded by 
his skillful handling of their various eases. 

The war having ended. Col. Alexander went to 
Texas, and practiced there a few months, then re- 
turned to his former home. He was married in 
Cambridge, in 18(17. to Miss Sarah H. Harris, who 



was born in this county. Her parents were old 
settlers of Missouri, and members of an old Vir- 
ginia family. Dr. and Mrs. Alexander are the 
parents of one child, Kate 1'., now Mrs. Strother. 
of Fresno. Cal. This attractive and intelligent lads- 
is a graduate of the convent school of her early 
home. Col. Alexander is an honored member of the 
Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and also be- 
longs to the Royal Arch. Masonic fraternity, and 
is a member of the Episcopal Church, and one of 
its valued and efficient Vestrymen. Politically a 
Democrat, he is not a radical, but desires the best 
obtainable conduct of national affairs. Our Sub- 
ject is a member of the Saline County Medical 
Society, and has been its President. He is also a 
member of the National Medical Congress, and in 
all things pertaining to his profession, and in the 
active general interests of the world at large, is 
well known as a progressive and leading citizen. 
Among the other valuable pieces of property and 
real estate owned by Col. Alexander is a finely 
improved farm of one hundred and sixty acres in 
Saline County, Mo. 




ANIEL O'DWYER, a prosperous and lead- 
ing citizen of .Marshall, is a genial and 
cultivated gentleman, interested in all 
matters pertaining to the best welfare 
and progress of local and national affairs, and 
since his residence in his present home has been 
closely identified with various social, benevolent 
and religious enterprises. Although a true Amer- 
ican citizen, he is not a native of the United States, 
but was born across the water in the ancient city 
of Limerick. Ireland, in the year 1852. 

The parents of Daniel O'Dwyer were both na- 
ti\ esof Ireland. The paternal grandfather, Thomas, 
who owned a farm in the suburbs of Limerick, was 
born there, and died upon the farm where his busy 
life was passed. The father of our subject, Michael 
O'Dwyer. deceased, also spent his life upon the farm, 
which still remains in the possession of the family. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



165 



Kate (Costello) O'Dwyer, his wife, was a daughter 
of Daniel Costello, a farmer of Erin's [sle. Into 
the pleasant home near the old city of Limerick 
came many sons and daughters. Eleven children 

were reared to maturity, and of that goodly num- 
ber Daniel, the namesake of liis maternal grand- 
father, was the eldest. 

Receiving early advantages for study, Mr. 
o'liwyer completed his education in the Jesuit 
Seminary and attended that institution of learning 
for two years. Active, energetic and ambitious, 
he then engaged in business as a wholesale grocer 
in Limerick, managing a large establishment suc- 
cessfully until 188.'?, when, in the month of .Inly, 
he left his native land, and, embarking from Cork, 
departed for America. The brief and uneventful 
voyage, lasting only seven days, was soon safely- 
ended, and the tine steamer "City of Rome" 
landed Mr.O'Dwyer on our shores. He journeyed 
at once to Kansas City, where bis brother Thomas 
was in the grocery business. After a visit of three 
days in that city, he came to Marshall to rejoin 
his brother, Father M. J. O'Dwyer. 

Father O'Dwyer was a parish priest at Marshall 
and had been since 1882. He accomplished much 
efficient work in the Sacred Heart Parish and built 
the St. Savior Academy, at a cost of $10,000. In 
1887 he took charge of the Sacred Heart Parish of 
Kansas City, and in that flourishing city has done 
much for the cause of religion and humanity. He 
has been especially active and successful in paying 
off the church debts, and has also been the princi- 
pal factor in the erection and establishment of the 
Sacred Heart, Academy, whose building cost over 
$20,000. 

Our subject located and married in Marshall 
in the year 1883. His wife was the widow of 
Col. Flynn, who was Postmaster and a business 
man of Marshall. Mrs. O'Dwyer, an excellent 
and highly-esteemed resident of Marshal], is a 
daughter of Felix Hughes, and was born in 
County Armagh, Ireland, where her father was a 
farmer. Her mother, Mary Mullen, was also a 
native of Erin. Mrs. O'Dwyer came to America in 
1872. being under the care of Father Edward 
Ham ill, the pioneer Catholic priest of Marshall. 

Our subject and his wife have a pleasant and 



commodious home and entertain many friends and 
acquaintances. He is the owner of valuable city 
property, including two brick town buildings and 
two stores. He is an active member of the New 
Era Building and Loan Association of Hannibal 
and St. Joseph, a well-known and substantial 
Building and Trust Company. As an energetic and 
prosperous business man and a most excellent citi- 
zen, our subject is highly respected and has a host 
of well-wishers and earnest friends. He is a Demo- 
crat and an ardent supporter of his party, which 
he often represents in State and county conven- 
tions. Religiously, he is a valued member of St. 
Peter's Church and is ever ready to aid in all its 
good work and enterprise. 




11. SNODDY, M. D., the able physician 
and successful general practitioner resid- 
ing in Slater, is numbered among the 
prominent and leading citizens of Mis- 
souri. He is a Director of the Slater Savings 
Bank, and a Director and Vice President of the 
Slater Building and Loan Association. Largely 
identified with benevolent and fraternal organiza- 
tions, Dr. Snoddy has an extended acquaintance, 
as well as a constantly increasing professional 
practice. An ardent advocate of progress, he is 
ever ready to aid in all local improvement, and is 
widely known as a public-spirited man. 

Our subject was born in Georgetown, Pettis 
County. Mo., November 5, 1855. His father, a well- 
known physician of early days in Missouri, was 
born in Virginia, and came to this State when 
young. He was reared on a farm and for a time 
followed the pursuit of agriculture in Franklin 
County, "but later entered the Eclectic College at 
Cincinnati. Ohio, and was graduated from that in- 
stitution, after which he began the practice of 
medicine in Carthage. Mo. He afterward went to 
Georgeton, and in 1858 removed to Lamonte, 
where he engaged successfully in a large practice 



166 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



until 1887. In that year lie located in Warrens- 
burgh, and has now retired from active profes- 
sional duty. 

The mother of our subject was born in Frank- 
lin County, and was Miss Ella Brown, a daughter 
of one of the very early settlers of Missouri. Our 
subject was the fifth in order of birth amongeight 
children, lie attended the public school of La- 
monte, and in 1873 entered the State Normal at 
Warrensburgh, and continued his studies in that 
institution until 1876. Later he taught school for 
one term, and then began the study of medicine 
under his father, and brother, Dr. A. P. Snoddy, 
now deceased. In 1880 he attended the American 
Medical College at St. Louis, a celebrated institu- 
tion, from which in 1882 he was graduated with 
the degree of M. D. Immediately after graduat- 
ing he located in Slater and entered upon a most 
prosperous career as a practitioner. He built an 
attractive residence in the western part of the 
city, and has his otlice at the corner of Main and 
Emma Streets. From 1883 to 1885 he was inter- 
ested in the drug business with Dr. Gaines, now of 
Independence, the firm being known as Gaines & 
Snoddy. 

Dr. Snoddy was married in Warrensburgh,. Line 
30, 1882, to Miss Millie Yankee, who was born in 
Pettis County, Mo., and received a good educa- 
tion at Warrensburgh. The pleasant home of our 
subject and his estimable wife is blessed by the 
presence of four children: Una, Vera, Fred W. 
and Ella. Or. Snoddy is a member of the Masonic 
fraternity and belongs to the home Chapter of the 
Royal Arch Masons. He has been Secretary of 
the Ancient Order of United Workmen for seven 
years. For eight years he was Deacon of the 
Christian Church, hut resigned from the position, 
and is now Trustee of that religious organiza- 
tion. 

As above mentioned, our subject is connected 
witli the Savings Lank, the Slater Building and 
Loan Association, and was also for some time a 
member and local Director at Slater of the Equi- 
table Building and Loan Association of Sedalia. 
A stalwart Republican and an ardent supporter of 
the party, Dr. Snoddy has many times received 
the well-deserved honor of representing his fel- 



low-townsmen at various State and county con- 
ventions. For two years he was a member of the 
Republican Central Committee and was Chairman 
of the Township Committee. He was appointed 
by President Harrison a member of the Board of 
Pension Examiners of Saline County, but on ac- 
count of the inconvenience experienced in meet- 
ing the other members of the Board at Marshall, 
and also owing to the loss of time thereby occa- 
sioned, he resigned the position. Continuing in 
his usual round of professional work, he has but 
little leisure time, yet he is always ready to do his 
full share in all public work demanding the 
attention of every true citizen, and is foremost in 
kind and charitable deeds. 



NM!-^- 



[^ ON. I. S. PARSONS. Among the most in- 
J lluential farmers of township 52, range 21, 
is the gentleman whose name is quoted 
above and who resides upon his finely im- 
proved farm on section 9, near Miami. The events 
of his life, here briefly chronicled, will possess for 
our readers more than the ordinary interest at- 
tached to biography. For seven generations our 
subject is able to trace his ancestry- back through 
a long line of honorable men and women, many 
of the former having held offices of trust, and all 
having been persons of note in some way. 

The name of the great-grandfather of our sub- 
ject was William Parsons, and his son was also 
named William. He with his brothers cleared the 
ground for the first settlement of the town of Nor- 
way, Me., where the father of our subject, Henry 
K., was bom in 1787. lie married Betsey Gross, 
and engaged in business at South Paris, Oxford 
County, Me., where the subject of our sketch was 
born in 1825. The grandfather was a soldier of 
the Revolution, and during the late war our 
subject showed that the ancestral bravery was not 
yet extinguished. 

Our subject is one of a family of seven chil- 
dren, six of whom are now living, all having been 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



167 



born in Maine: William II. married .Miss Preston 
and now resides in Brooklyn, N. Y.; Emetine is 
married and still remains in her native Statu: 
Sarah \Y. became the wife of \V. T. Hewett; Anna 
married Elisha Morse, and resides in Maine; Oliver 
married ('. Jewell, and makes his home in Minne- 
sota; and Abbie, Mrs I. I). Gilkey, resides in 
[owa. George died at the age of eight years. 

During the early life of our subject he enjoyed 
many advantages which the boys in frontier set- 
tlements did not have. His education was ac- 
quired in the schools of South Paris and was com- 
pleted by the time he reached his twentieth year. 
A period of five years of teaching followed, for 
which his excellent education had prepared him. 
At the end of that time he decided to seek a home 
in the West, and made his first move into Indiana; 
lie later went to Kentucky, and finally, November 
7, 1847, he landed in the town of Miami, Saline 
County, Mo., coming hither via boat up the Mis- 
souri River. Here he resumed teaching, which lie 
followed for some time. 

Desiring a change of occupation, our subject 
purchased a tract of land consisting of three hun- 
dred acres, which had been partially improved, 
and for which he paid $10 per acre. This he 
further improved and sold a portion at a fair 
advance, retaining, however, a snug home farm of 
sixty acres, which is now well cultivated and finely 
improved. The grove surrounding the place and 
the beautiful shrubbery would instantly mark this 
as a home of taste and refinement. 

The estimable lady who directs the domestic 
affairs and makes the sunshine of this home was 
formerly Miss Kate Hill. She was born in South 
Paris. Me., and is the daughter of Capt. Thomas 
Hill, a veteran of the War of 1812. In 1850 she 
became the wife of Mr. Parsons, and five children 
have been added to the family circle, as follows: 
Flora, born in 1851, married J. F. Burroughs, and 
resides in Saline County, Mo.; Ella, born in 1855, 
died at the age of twenty-six years; Betty, who 
was born in 1858, married William S. Booths, and 
resides in Dakota; Emma, born in 1860, and 
Annie, whose birth occurred in 1807, remain at 
home with their parents. The children were all 
educated in their native town of Miami. 



Politically, our subject is a Democrat. He has 
hail the honor of representing the people of the 
Ninth Senatorial District in the Legislature, to 
which honorable office he was elected in 1*7!', by a 
large majority. He also served in the Southern 
army, enlisting from Saline County in Shelbj 's 
regiment, in which he rose to the rank of Lieuten- 
ant, and was the commander at the time of the 
final surrender, the superior officers being in 
Mexico. 



3C 



El*^ 




ERNARD V. MEAD. A railroad engineer's 
life is so attended with danger that one 
|| needs to have a remarkably sunny and 
sanguine temperament to be happy and at 
ease in tilling such a position. Our subject is an 
ideal member of the brotherhood. He is a clever 
man and a genial, good-natured companion. As :i 
teller of stories, either in the family, where, by the 
way, he is most delightful, or on the road, he is 
quite unapproachable. Located at Slater, Saline 
County, Mo., Mr. Mead is the engineer of a pas- 
senger train on the Chicago A' Alton Railroad, 
running from Kansas City to Roodhouse. 

Our subject was boru in Birmingham, Erie 
County, Ohio, September 13, 1840, a son of Dr. 
Alric 15. and Sallie (Warner) Mead. His father 
was a native of Hartford. Conn., as was also his 
grandfather, who was a manufacturer of iron, hav- 
ing a furnace and foundry. Mr. Mead traces his 
ancestry back to his Puritan fathers of English 
origin. His father graduated as a physician at 
Hartford, Conn., and on removing toOhio, studied 
two years at Oberlin College. He began prac- 
tice at Birmingham, Ohio, but in 1811 located at 
Twelve-Mile (hove, 111., near Wilton Center. In 
connection with his profession as a physician, he 
carried on farming, being the owner of one hun- 
dred and twenty acres of good land. In 1847, he 
removed to Joliet, 111., where he practiced until 
November, 1879, at which date his decease oc- 
curred. He was a prominent man and a highly 



168 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



esteemed physician. He served as County Coroner 
foi many years and also as County Physician. 

Our subject's mother was born in Vermont, near 
Montpelier, and was a daughter of Alfred Warner, 
a farmer in the Green Mountain State, who early 
settled in Ohio. His daughter Sallie graduated 
from a college in Virginia and was engaged as a 
teacher. She still survivesand makes her residence 
at .Morris. HI. Of her six children our subject is 
the second in order of birth. The others are: 
Flavins .1., who is in the furniture business at 
Georgetown, Colo.; Solon S., who resides in Indi- 
anapolis; Melville, who is in charge of the library 
at Joliet; Amanda, who is now Mrs. Bowers and 
lives at Hennepin, 111.; and Theresa, who is Mis. 
Field, of Morris, III. 

Our subject was hut four years old when taken 
by his parents to Illinois. The journey was made 
with team and they located at Twelve-Mile (Jrove. 
After a residence of seven years there, they re- 
moved to Joliet, and in that early day Mr. Mead 
shot more than one deer, beside other game, lie 
attended the public and High Schools at Joliet. 
and his ambition to get on in the world found 
vent by working on the neighboring farms, for 
which labor he received from ?7 to $14 per month. 
lie later purchased a threshing-machine and a span 
of horses, and did a good business with this outfit. 

I'pon the breaking out of the war, our subject 
enlisted in Company A. of the Fourth Illinois 
Cavalry, in August, 18(51. He was mustered in at 
Ottawa, at Camp Hunter, and marching to Cenlra- 
lia took the train for Cairo. He participated in 
the battles of Belmont and Ft. Henry, and in 
March, 1802. was m the six days' siege at Donelson. 
He was also a participant in the battles of Shiloh, 
Corinth. Iuka, Holly Springs and Coffeeville. He 
was then sent to Louisiana and joined the camp at 
Milliken's Bend, where he was detailed to, scout 
duty and engaged in several skirmishes. On re- 
turning to Illinois, he was dispatched to the front. 
and took part in the siege of Yicksburg. also in 
the battles of Grand Gulf , Point Gibson, Raymond, 
Jackson ( Miss.), Champion Hill. Black River, and 
in the forty-seven days' siege at Yicksburg. He 
then accompanied Gen. Custer on the Red River 
expedition, and was taken sick at Alexandria, La. 



After convalescing in hospital, he went to Galves- 
ton in ISO."), and during the furlough home which 
was granted him, received his discharge by general 
oidei. He was made ( hderly-Sergeant, and while 
lying sick at (ialveston received his commission as 
Second Lieutenant. His term of service extended 
from August, 1861, to April, 1866. Naturally, our 
subject had many adventures and escapades that 
would be interesting reading could they be here 
given. 

For a time after the close of the war. Mr. Mead 
was very ill, and on recovering was placed in 
charge of the cooper shop and chair factory in the 
penitentiary at Joliet. While there one hundred 
and fifty-eight convicts were working under him. 
lli~ shop was an extensive place and his responsi- 
bility was great. On one occasion, he discovered 
a plot laid by the prisoners for the escape of all. 
March 7. 1867, Mr. Mead was offered a position on 
the Chicago >v Alton Railroad by John A.Mitchell, 
the President. The position was that of a fireman 
out of Joliet. In 1869, he took charge of engine 
No. 12 and continued to run on that until Octo- 
ber. 1871, when he came to Missouri. He ran a 
construction engine at the time of laving the track 
between Mexico and Cedar City. He then en- 
gineered a passenger train for five years, and in 
the fall of 1877 ran engine No. 165 on the Kansas 
City Division. 

In 187'J, our subject encountered a broken rail, 
which whirled his engine around, heading it the 
other way. The expressman was killed and our 
subject received twenty-seven cuts on his body. 
On recovering from his two months' sickness after 
this catastrophe, he was given charge of No. 188, 
while since 1880 he has run engine No. 222. Mr. 
Mead has laid up a comfortable sum out of his 
earnings, and owns some valuable real estate in 
Kansas City, beside a residence in Slater that 
makes a comfortable and pleasant home for his 
family. He was married in Joliet. October 16, 
1867, to Mis~ Mettie A. Campbell, who was born 
in Quincy, Branch County, Mich. Her father, 
Thomas Campbell, was a native of Schenectady, 
N. V., and was a farmer in Michigan. He now re- 
sides with our subject. Mr. and Mrs. Mead be- 
came parents of three children, whose names are 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



169 



Fred K., Louisa and Adell. The eldest [s a fore- 
man on the Chicago & Alton Railroad. The elder 
daughter died al the age of nineteen, at Cold- 
water, Mich. The younger daughter, Adell. is at 
home. 

Our Subject belongs to the Brotherhood of Lo- 
comotive Engineers, being a Chief, lie was a de- 
legate to the National Convention in 1885, and to 
that held in Chicago in 1887. lie is the General 
Chairman of the Brotherhood Adjusting Com- 
mittee on the Chicago A- Alton Railroad. He he- 
longs to the Free & Accepted Masons and also to 
the Royal Arch Masons, and to the Missouri Com- 
mandery No. 36, of Knights Templar, Marshall, Mo. 
In politics, Mr. .Mead is a Democrat. 

Mr. and Mrs. Mead celebrated their silver wed- 
ding on Tuesday, October 18, 1892 (their annivers- 
ary falling on October 16, it being Sunday), when 
they were the recipients of many costly presents 
from their friends. 



* 




QUIRE J. FITZGEREL, one of the repre- 
sentative pioneer citizens of La Fayette 
County, Mo., is the subject of the present 
writing. The changes which have taken 
place in the forty years of his residence in the 
county are almost startling. Many of these he has 
taken part in, while he has witnessed most of them, 
and feels that he has cause to rejoice, that, not- 
withstanding the ravages of war and the visits of 
storms and floods, the county of his choice has SO 
bravely held her own in the match of civilization. 
Mr. Fitzgerel was born in Shelbj County, Kv.. 
November 27, 181*. a son of Silas and Susan 
(Tyler) Fitzgerel. both of whom were natives of 
Virginia who had removed into Kentucky at an 
early day. 

Several of the uncles of our subject were sol- 
diers in the War of 1812, and his maternal ances- 
tors can he traced back to William Tyler, who was 
born December 27, 1717. in Virginia. Our sub- 
ject was a mere child at the time of the death of 



his father. At the age of sixteen years he was 
doubly bereft by the death of his mother, and he 
was thus early thrown upon his own resources. 
For about one year he worked for his uncle Benja- 
min on a farm, receiving $5 per month, and he 
subsequently worked for a year and a-half for Dr. 
R. .1. Spur, at $8 a month. Then he served an ap- 
prenticeship of three years at the trade of a car- 
penter and joiner, following this for some twenty 
years. 

The only education he received was a short term 
in the early subscription schools, but all of his 
life he has been fond of reading, and although he 
is entirely self-made, a stranger would not imagine 
it from any discoverable lack. The marriage of 
Mr. Fitzgerel took place in September, 1840, when 
he was united in wedlock with Miss Kmeline Car- 
ter, who was born in Bourbon County, Ky. Of 
her children the following survive: Frances, the 
wife of Moses Anson; Henry O; Mary F., who is 
the wife of .1. B. Santmyer; anil Anna, who is the 
wife of William I!. Martin. Those deceased are: 
.lames William, a soldier in the Confederate army, 
who died leaving a wife and four children; and 
John II.. who left at his death a wife and two chil- 
dren. 

The first wife of our subject died in 1872. and 
in 1873 he married Mrs. Susan C. Seeber, the widow 
of the late Dr. Seeber, of La Fayette County. By 
this union two children have been added to the 
family. Squire .1. and Evaline. With the family 
is Cornelius W., the son of Mrs. Fitzgerel by her 
former marriage. In the fall of 1851, Mr. Fitz- 
gerel located in La Fayette County, and the next 
spring he brought his family here. They settled 
upon a farm a short distance northwest of Aull- 
ville, where he first purchased one hundred and 
sixty acres of land, forty of which were under 
cultivation. 

Our subject continued to add land to his orig- 
inal purchase, until he had about eight hundred 
acres. As Ins children married he gave each a 
portion, bul remained upon the old place until 
1*72. and the next year he came into the town. 
His landed possessions are still large, as he has 
been a vei'j successful business man, and has un- 
derstood how to manage his financial affairs. Dm- 



170 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ing the war his business was interfered with to 
some degree, as lie joined Shelby's brigade and 
was one of Capt. Bladso's battery, participating in 
the battles of Carthage, Springfield and Lexing- 
ton, suffering capture at one time by Lane's com- 
mand, about twelve miles west of Clinton, Mo.; 
but he was duly exchanged, and about two days 
after the war ended he returned and resumed his 
usual occupations. 

Mr. bltzgerel is a Democrat in his political feel- 
ings, and takes an active part in the deliberations 
iif his party, although early in life he was an old- 
line Whig. The church which accepted the re- 
forms made by Alexander Campbell, and is now 
called the Christian Church, has many good and 
pious members throughout the State of Missouri, 
and among them stands our subject. He is a man 
of great intelligence, and very interesting are his 
reminiscences of pioneer life. Looking over his 
broad and well-cultivated fields and at his sleek 
horses, it seems impossible to realize that there was 
a time when these fields were broken and plowed 
by the slow-moving oxen. Mr. Fitzgerel is spend- 
ing his last years in peace and comfort, after a life 
full of adventure and toil. 



y->. A THAN M. COOPER, a prominent agricul- 

[j ))/ turist and successful stock-raiser, located 
Y A» upon section 16, township 50, range 26, 
Lexington Township, La Fayette County, Mo., has 
also profitably conducted the mercantile business, 
and engaged extensively in buying and shipping 
stock. For many years our subject has been inti- 
matelv associated with the best interests of the 
neighborhood of his present home, and, progressive 
in his methods and ideas, and honorable in his 
business dealings, has won and worthily holds the 
esteem and confidence of the general public. Mr. 
Cooper was born in Hussell County, Va., March 
15, 1840. His parents were Jacob and Martha 
(Mead) Cooper, both native Virginians. 
The mother of our subject was the daughter of 



Fielden Mead, a well-known citizen of the Old 
Dominion. The ancestors of the Mead and Cooper 
families were English and German, and early set- 
tled m America, where they have ever since taken 
an active part in the growth and upward progress 
of the national Government. Among the iiio>t 
distinguished statesmen and American Revolution- 
ary soldiers was Richard Kidder Mead, who in 
December, 1775, commanded a company at the bat- 
tle of the Great Bridge, near Norfolk, Va., and who 
was soon after appointed by Washington as one 
of his confidential Aides, in which capacity, with 
the rank of Colonel, he rendered signal service 
throughout the war. The English branch of the 
Coopers were especially distinguished for their 
learning and ancestry, and their descendants in 
this country have been noted for their talents and 
general ability. 

Nathan M. Cooper passed his boyhood in his 
birthplace, and there attended the common schools 
of his home neighborhood, also assisting his father, 
who was a carpenter by trade and also engaged in 
agricultural duties. Our subject remained upon the 
homestead until he was eighteen years of age, and 
then began farming for himself. In 1868 he re- 
moved to La Fayette County, Mo., and for nine 
years tilled the soil; in 1877, he embarked in the 
mercantile business, in Page City. For the suc- 
ceeding two years he handled general merchandise, 
and in 187'.) located in Holden, Johnson County, 
Mo., where he profitably continued in the same 
line of business for one year. At the expiration 
of this time, preferring a residence in Page City, 
he returned there and employed himself in buying 
and shipping grain and live stock. 

In 1883 Mr. Cooper returned to the pleasures 
and labor of fanning life, and, aside from the pur- 
suit of general agriculture, engaged extensively 
in stock-raising upon his present valuable farm, 
which consists of four hundred and thirty-two 
acres, all under a high state of cultivation. In 
1883 our subject married Miss Virginia F.. daugh- 
ter of Orlando Bradley, a native of Virginia, but 
an old resident and early settler of Missouri, hav- 
ing arrived within the borders of the State in 
1840. Mr. and Mrs. Cooper are devoted members 
of the Presbyterian Church, and are widely known 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



171 



and enjoy the esteem and confidence of a large 
circle of friends. In the religious and benevolent 
enterprises of their church they are among the lib- 
eral givers, and are ever ready to aid in all good 
work. 

Our subject is active in the promotion of educa- 
tional advancement and interests, and served with 
ability and faithfulness as a School Director from 
1883 to 181)1, and principally to liis earnest efforts 
the schools of the county owe their high standard 
of scholarship and instruction. Mr. Cooper lias 
never been anxious for political promotion, bathe 
nevertheless takes an abiding interest in all local 
and national issues, and is in sentiment and prin- 
ciple a strong Democrat. Upright and honorable 
in his business dealings, energetic and efficient in 
the work of life, and ever conscientious in the dis- 
charge of duties intrusted to his care, our subject 
is one of the important factors of our national 
strength, an honored and useful American citizen. 



i R. STAGNER, a prominent citizen and 

I (®l honored resident of Marshall, Saline County, 

J A Mo., was lor man) years one of the leading 

stockmen of the State, and now retired from active 
business duties, enjoys the confidence and esteem 
of the many friends who know his worth and up- 
right character. Maj. Stagner, as this genial gen- 
tlenian is familiarly addressed, is a native of Ken- 
tucky, and was born near Richmond, Madison 
County, in December, 1824. His paternal grand- 
father was a native of Pennsylvania, and was bom 
during the Revolutionary War. He was descended 
from German ancestry, and was a sturdy man and 
a good citizen. 

His son Thomas, the father of our subject, was 
born in Kentucky, and was a very successful and 
extensive farmer in the Blue Grass region 
of that fertile State. He raised large numbers 
of mules and drove them to the South. The 
Indians were at times troublesome, and he was 
called upon to take an active part in the Indian 



wars in Ohio, and was under old Col. Dick John- 
son during the battle in which the famous Indian 
warrior Tecumseh was killed. Thomas Stagner 
was a Whig, and a true American citizen. He died 
in the year I860. The mother of our subject 
was Nancy Moppine, born in Madison County, Ky. 
Her grandfather, Thomas Moppine, was a native of 
Albemarle County. \'a..and an early settler of Ken- 
tucky. When a mere lad he served in the War of 
the Revolution, bravely fighting for God and lib- 
erty. The mother of our subject died in Ken- 
tucky in 1846. 

Thomas Stagner was twice married. By his first 
wife he had two sons and three daughters, and was 
the father of eight sons by his second marriage, of 
whom our subject, was the eldest-born. He was 
reared upon the old homestead, attended the dis- 
trict schools, and worked upon the farm until 1848, 
when he came to Missouri. He was prospecting 
and traveling in Platte, Davis and Caldwell Coun- 
ties for two years. In 1850 lie started for Califor- 
nia, in company with six men, driving their ox- 
teams. They journeyed slowly upon their way, 
going by old Ft. Kearney, now Nebraska City; then 
to the Platte River, near Ft. Kearney, by the way 
of Laramie; then from North Platte to the head of 
the Sweetwater, and thence to the South Pass down 
the Humboldt River; then across the desert, forty- 
five miles to Carson, south to the Grand Canon, 
and upward to the summit of the lofty mountains, 
and then downward to Hangtown. 

The trip across the plains occupied the entire 
time from May 7, 1851, to October 11 of the same 
yeai. For eighteen mouths our subject prospected 
perseveringly, and then engaged in freighting from 
Sacramento to Grass Valley, Nevada County, a 
distance of eighty miles. Mr. Stagner continued 
freighting for two years, and then returned home. 
Leaving California in 1851, he traveled to the 
Eastward by way of Panama and New York. He 
hail intended to buy cattle to ship to California, 
but found they were loo high to make a profit on, 
and abandoned the idea. He then bought a farm 
in Caldwell County, of two hundred and forty 
acres, and engaged in the pursuit of agriculture 
until the war. In 1864 he sold out his farming 
interests and located in St. Louis, where he en- 



172 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



gaged in the stock trade and commission business, 
in the old Union Stock Yards, and continued ship- 
ping for four years. 

In 18G7 Mr. Stagner settled in Saline County, 
Mo., but before locating permanently, engaged as 
>tockman near Slater. Entering into business there, 

hc> i established an extended reputation as an 

enterprising and ambitious man. He first shipped 
b\ boat from Cambridge, until the Chicago & Al- 
ton built their line from Slater. In 1872 our sub- 
ject was in the lumber business in Marshall, but in 
1875 he quit the lumber business and again en- 
tered in the slock business, which he continued un- 
til 1883, when he retired from active business du- 
ties. Always energetic and industrious, ami withal 
possessing excellent judgment, Mr. Stagner has ac- 
quired a competence, and has built three substan- 
tial houses in Marshall, which he rents. His life 
has been one of busy usefulness, and he now en- 
joys the consciousness of the well-deserved regard 
and confidence in which he is held by all who have 
the pleasure of his acquaintance. Our subject is 
a Democrat, and. as ever, believes the principles of 
Ins party are founded upon truth and justice. 




OBERT M. REYNOLDS, Public Administra- 
tor of Saline County, Mo., is a well-known 
resident of the city of Marshall, and is a 
V0 promising young attorney, full of life, 
health and energy. Thoroughly at home with the 
duties of his profession, and taking an active part 
in all public enterprises of the day, social, religious 
and benevolent, he is rapidly identifying himself 
with the advancement of the State and the county 
which now claims his professional duties. A native 
of Saline County, his acquaintance is limited almost 
only by the number of the population, and he is 
recognized by all as an earnest and progressive 
citizen. 

Our subject was born in Arrow Rock Township, 
Saline County, Mo., January 17, 18G3. His father, 



P. T. Reynolds, was also a native of Arrow Rock, 
but the paternal grandfather of Robert wos a Vir- 
ginian, and emigrated from the Old Dominion to 
Missouri in a very early day. and was one of the 

pioneer farmers of that section of the State, having 
settled in Arrow Rock when the country round 
about was little more than a wilderness. Cornelius 
Reynolds was an honest, upright man, and was much 
lamented when he passed away, after a long life of 
busy usefulness. His son, P. T., was reared upon 
the homestead farm, and for a portion of his early 
life engaged in the duties of agriculture, but en- 
tered upon mercantile business in Arrow Rock. He 
remained there from 1 S7 jf until about 1882, when 
he removed to Slater and continued in the same line 
of business there until he retired from active work. 

Mrs. P. T. Reynolds, the mother of our subject, 
was Miss Martha Gilmer, and is also a native of 
Saline County, having been burn at Arrow Rock. 
She is the daughter of John Gilmer, a native of 
Virginia, but an early pioneer in Arrow Rock 
Township. He was a very hard-working and en- 
terprising man, who was successful in accumulating 
property, and farmed about one thousand acre-. 
lie died in 1876, respected by all, at the good old 
age of ninety years. The mother of our subject 
still resides in Slater, and can claim descent from 
the old Virginia families renowned in the early 
history of this country. She is the mother of four 
sons and two daughters, of whom Robert is the 
second, and the only one who has acquired a pro- 
fession. 

Mr. Reynolds is essentially a self-made man. He 
was reared in Arrow Rock, and attended the vil- 
lage school, but determined to improve every op- 
portunity to progress in life, and in 187!) he en- 
tered the Central College in Fayette County, and 
studied there one year. He then taught school 
three years at Arrow Rock, as principal of the 
school, and then began the study of law. In 1888 
he was admitted to the Bar of Missouri by Judge 
Field, and immediately opened an office and en- 
tered upon the duties of his profession. In 1889 
our subject located in Slater, as partner of the firm 
of Heriden .V- Reynolds, and enjoyed a successful 
practice, but in 1890 he was elected to his present 
office as the Public Administrator of Saline County, 



-vs*?* 




W.T.Gilliam. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



175 



and removed to Marshall, where he devotes his 
time to the duties of official work and the practice 
of his profession. 

In 1885 Mr. Reynolds was married to Miss Sa- 
rah I... a daughter of Williams Kddms.a farmer of 
Howard County, and a well-known and successful 
citizen. Mrs. Reynolds was born in I [oward ( iounty, 
and is the happy mother of two children, William 
T. and Catherine. Our subject and his estimable 
wife have a large circle of friends and acquaint- 
ances in Marshall, and are prominent m the social 
gatherings of the city. Mr. Reynolds is a Knight, 
of Pythias, and also a Knight of Malta. He is a 
member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 
and is an Elder of the church in Marshall, and is 
known as one ever ready to extend his personal 
assistance in behalf of all good work. In political 
affiliations he is a straight Democrat, and has rep- 
resented his party at State and county conven- 
tions, ably discharging the duties thus reposed in 
him by his constituents. Our subject and his fam- 
ily reside in a pleasant and commodious home on 
Vest Street, and there entertain many of the 
prominent citizens of the State, as well as their 
own county. 



•£=SHN=i-^ 



IDOL WILLIAM TAYLOR GILLIAM, the 
honored founder of the town of Gilliam, 

owner and operator of the grain elevator, 
the Gilliam Mills, and the tobacco factory, 
prominently connected with the lumber interests, 
and President of the Gilliam Exchange Bank, 

has long been tl nergetic and efficient finan- 
cier of his neighborhood, liorn in Virginia on 
the 1 1 111 of August. 1808, our subject was a 
young man twenty-nine years of age, when, full of 
hope. courage and ardor, he journeyed to, Missouri 
and with rare ability began the successful and 
prosperous career he has here enjoyed for over 
fifty-five years. 

During this long period of time the history of 
Judge Gilliam has been intimately associated with 

8 



the progress and advancement of Saline County, 
to all of whose enterprises of importance, whether 
social, religious, benevolent or purely business, 
he has cheerfully extended a helping hand, and 
fittingly occupied the position of leader in local 
growth and improvement. His residence upon 
section 34, township 52, range 19, is known 
through all the surrounding country as the abode 
of hospitality, and there both friend and stranger 
find a ready welcome from the veteran pioneer 
and genial host. 

The father and mother of our subject, William 

and Judith ( \V Ison) Gilliam, were Southerners, 

the father being a native of Virginia, and a brave 
man. who served his country faithfully in the War 
of 1812. Judge Gilliam was one of a family of 
twelve children, four of whom are yet living. 
Anthony Woodson, who was born in Virginia in 
1805, has been twice married and resides in Saline 
County; James, born in the Old Dominion in 
1816, lives in Chariton County; Fayette, a native 
of Virginia, married Miss Ayres; Thomas, born in 
Virginia, married Miss Watts. Judge Gilliam 
carries his years so lightly and is so vigorous 
mentally and physically, it seems scarcely possi- 
ble that nearly eighty years have passed since he. 
a little boy, was a pupil in the rude log school- 
house in old Virginia. Acquiring there the rudi- 
mentary education of those early 'lays, he has 
built upon that substantial foundation an ex- 
tended knowledge, and, self-reliant, self-educated, 
and self-made. enjoys the proud consciousness that 
he has ever used to the best of his ability the 
talents with which a beneficent Creator so richly 
endowed him. 

At twenty-one years of age our subject entered 
tin' store of Silas Biglow as a clerk, the contract 
between the employer and his assistant being that 
for «5tt per year and instructions in business our 
subject should give daily service. A twelve- 
month experience gave the clerk confidence in 
handling the merchandise, and he then proposed 
that he should peddle goods from a wagon to dis- 
tant customers, carrying only such fabrics and 
useful .articles as were largely in demand. This 
venture was approved by Mr. Biglow, and proved 
eat success, netting the Brsl year a profit of. 



17G 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



$1,200, of which amount the employer received 
two-thirds, our subjecl having as his share *100. 

In the Old Dominion in 1830 our subject mar- 
ried Miss Mary S. Stewart, who was born in Vir- 
ginia in 1813. For the four years following bis 
marriage he devoted himself to agricultural pur- 
suits, and cultivated a farm given him by his 
father. In 1837, believing there were larger op- 
portunities for the advancement of young men in 
Missouri, he came to Saline County, where he pur- 
chased a tract Of three hundred and twenty acres 
from the Government. He prospered beyond his 
expectations and constantly added to his real es- 
tate, until he owned and controlled twelve thou- 
sand acres. The town of Slater is located upon 
Seven hundred acres of land sold by him to Joel 
Baker. A portion of his early possessions is now 
covered by the flourishing town which bears his 
name, lie continues the owner of three thousand 
acres of highly cultivated land, and which is prin- 
cipally in the hands of tenants, lie accumulated 
a large amount of money from his interests in 
live stock, and dealt in mules and cattle with 
great success. 

Possessing unusually clear discrimination and 
excellent judgment, Judge Gilliam knew no such 
word as fail, and it is safe to say. that had he 
possessed lessfaith in the honor of his fellow-men. 
to whom he lent money and the endorsement of 
his name, he would have been to-day one of the 
wealthiest men in the West. As it is. he possesses 
abundant means, and is thrice blessed in the 
wealth which is incorruptible and beyond all 
earthly price. At the time of the money panic of 
1875, he was engaged in the banking business in 
Marshall under the title of the "Gilliam & Doak 
Bank," and they were the only bankers in the 
county who did not suspend business. After the 
death of Mr. Doak. our subject paid all the bank's 
liabilities and closed the business. 

The death of his wife in 18,->1 left the .Indue 
with the care of six children. The eldest son, 
Anderson 11.. who was born in Virginia in 1834, 
was murdered by an outlaw on a steamboat on 
the Red River; Judith E., who was born in Vir- 
ginia in 1837, married Edwin Guerin, of Saline 
County; William 11., born in 1811, married Miss 



Alice Boswell, and is a prosperous farmer; Mary 
1'.. born in is HI and now the wife of John F. 
Burroughs, resides neai Marshall; Sarah Ann, 
born in 1 8 17. married II. D. Doak on the 2d of 
( (ctobcr, 1872, and died January 25, 1877, leaving 
one child, a son, who is at present a student in the 

military scl I at Boonville, Mo.; George, whose 

birth occurred in 1851, passed away in 18(12. 

Our subject married again in 1853, his present 
wife having been Miss Martha .1. Swinncy. a Vir- 
ginia lady, who was born in 1827. By this union 
Judge Gilliam became the father of four children: 
Thomas and James (deceased), Anna and Leta. 
The last-named was born in 1865 and became the 
wife of Dr. ('. I.. Lackey, a practicing physician of 
Sweet Springs. Mo. She died on the 2'.lt h of De- 
cember. 1892, leaving one child, a son, W. T., five 
and one-half years old. The children were educated 
principally in the common schools and two of them 
were graduated at the Glasgow College in Mis- 
souri. Judge Gilliam has already provided boun- 
tifully for all his children, dividing over *1(MI,0(HI 
among them, and still retains a handsome compe- 
tence. He has been a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church South since 1832, and is widely 
known as a munificent giver, not to one church 
only, but to the majority of churches established 
in Saline County, bestowing his generous dona- 
tions without regard to creed or doctrine. For 
twenty-two years he has been Steward in his 
home church, and responds as readily in behalf of 
educational advancement as he does in the exten- 
sion of religious work. 

Fraternally Judge Gilliam is a Freemason, and 
also is a valued member of the Independent Order 
of Odd Fellows. At one time he was connected 
with the Know-Nothing Party. In early days he 
was a Whig and later became one of the most 
ardent supporters of the Democratic party. Al- 
though never aspiring to official positions he has 
always been actively interested in party manage- 
ment and control. During the Civil War his 
earnest sympathies were with his own kindred and 
the people of the South, but in his home hundreds 
and thousands of hungry soldiers were bountifully 
fed, regardless of the color of the uniform they 
wore. Years have passed, and in many a home 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



177 



both North and South the memory of the kindly 
hospitality of Judge Gilliam and his good wife 
brings the unbidden tear to the eye of the veter- 
ans of the blue and gray. Pleasant and instruct- 
ive are the reminiscences of our subject, and 
thrice happy must he be in the assurance that he 
has worthily won the lasting esteem, confidence, 
and honored remembrance of his hosts of friends 
and fellow-citizens. 



• nrrin 



ffiSs mSSS ff *• 



^? OHN TYLER is the subject of this memorial 
sketch. During life he was one of the lead- 
ing men of La Fayette County and became 
well and favorably known here. Mr. Tyler 
■was born in Henry County. Ky., November 17, 
1813, a son of Charles Tyler, who made a fine 
record in the War of 1812 under Gen. Jackson. 
Our subject grew to manhood in his Kentucky 
home, enjoying only those educational advantages 
which were afforded in the country schoolhouse, 
conducted on the most primitive plan. Later 
reading had supplemented this knowledge, making 
of him a very well-informed man. quite equal to 
any emergency in life. 

Having been trained to agricultural pursuits, 
our subject early in his young manhood tinned 
his thoughts to the founding of a home, and, in 
connection with it and for its support, the cultiva- 
tion of a line farm. This laudable desire was ful- 
filled when Miss Catherine V. Streit became his 
wife, June 3, 1841. She was the estimable daughter 
of William and Susan II. (O'liannon) Streit, and 
was born in Fauquier County, Ya., January 24, 
1818. Her father was a native of Virginia, of 
German extraction, his father, with an uncle, hav- 
ing been the first two Lutheran ministers who ever 
came to Virginia. I'pon her mother's side .Mrs. 
Tyler was of I rish blood. 

The survivors of the ten children of Mr. and 
Mrs. Tyler bear the following names: Charles; 
Mary S.; John A. II.; Nannie S., wife of M. 
Schoolev; Lizzie H. and George W. in 1848, 



with his family, our subject decided to remove to 
Missouri. Following this decision, they embarked 
on a boat from Louisville.' Ky., and after a delight- 
ful trip, landed at Boonville, Mo., making their 
destination Pettis County. Several years were 
spent at this place, when they came to the farm 
upon which Mrs. Tyler now resides. This was a 
new place, and the Tyler family were among the 
pioneers, obliged to endure the hardships of the 
time, but doing so bravely, and overcoming obsta- 
cles which often seemed almost insurmountable. 
The death of Mr. Tyler occurred November 5, 
1890, when one of the most respected men of the 
county passed to his final rest. His business life, 
whether in tilling the soil or in buying and selling 
stock, was characterized by a wholesome hon- 
esty and industry, which stand as examples to his 
family and friends. His political opinions made 
him a follower of Democratic principles, and 
during the time of the Civil War he did what 
seemed to him to lie the dearest duty, by enlisting 
in the Confederate service under Gen. Price. Mrs. 
Tyler survives her husband, a lovable and intelli- 
gent woman, residing in great comfort upon her 
nice farm of one hundred and sixty acres. Re- 
turning again to Mr. Tyler, we can say that he 
left behind him the memory of a kind husband 
and father, an upright man and obliging neighbor; 
and who could desire a more extended tribute 
than this? His honesty was proverbial, and, in 
the words of one who knew him. ''John Tyler's 
word was as good as his bond, and his word was 
a- good as the best men's oath." 



*=E*^EE* 



s^IMON P. PFLEGER, a farmer, stock-raiser 

^! and prominent citizen of La Fayette 
County. Mo., located upon his farm in 
section 8, range 26, township 19, is the 
very worthy subject of this sketch. UN birth oc- 
curred in the state of Virginia. Floyd County, 
October 1, 1840, the son of Benjamin and Mary 



178 



PORTRAIT AND RI< 'GRAPHICAL RECORD. 



(Wedle) Pfleger, both of whom were natives of 
Virginia, and they were the parents of the follow- 
ing children: Andrew M.; Ellen, who became the 

wife of David Willis; our subject; Henrietta, who' 
became the wife of Rev. Mr. Summers; John N., 
who married the widow of George Smith; Dora 
I..; Estella, who became the wife of Dr. Smith; 
William and Mattie. 

Our subject was reared until he reached man's 
estate in his native county, where from his earli- 
est youth he was accustomed to agricultural pur- 
suits. His education was obtained at Jacksonville 
Academy, in Virginia, but all thoughts of work or 
school wen' banished when the call sounded for 
troops to Sght lor the Confederate cause. April 
l(>, 1862, he enlisted in Company D, Fifty-fourth 
Virginia, Confederate State- of America, fighting 
under (lens. Johnston and Hood. At one time he 
was under Brig.-Gen. Humphrey Marshall. 

The battles in which our subject took part were 
the important ones of Chickamauga and Mission- 
ary Ridge, the siege of Atlanta, and the skirmishes 
continually taking place between the Western ar- 
mies. Continuing in the army until the surrender 
of Johnston at < roldsboro, N. ('., he took part in the 
battles of Resaca, Ga., Dalton, ISentonviile, and 
others of minor importance, taking part in all in 
about thirty-six engagements. Strange to relate, 
he returned home without any wounds, although 
sixteen bullet-holes through his clothing at Ben- 
lonville Showed how close had been his call. 

After the war our subject continued to reside in 
Virginia until 1869, in which year he removed to 
La Fayette County. Mo., and first located in Do- 
ver Township, where he resided two years. Then 
he removed into Saline County, where he remained 
for a year, but later went back to La Fayette and 
took up his residence upon his present farm, con- 
sisting of seventy-five acres. The marriage of our 
subject was celebrated in November. 1873, with 
Mi— Rebecca Pfleger. a native of this, county and 
State, the daughter of David and Nancy Ftleger, 
who weic early settlers of the county, having 
come here in 1828. when they made settlement in 
Lexington Township. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Pfleger two children were born, 
but only one survived, Maria, now residing at 



home. In his political feelings our subject prefers 
the Democratic party, and is active in its ranks. 
His religious connection has long been with the 
Evangelical Lutheran Church. In the community 
where he has made his home and is best known, 
Mr. Ptleger is regarded as an honest, enterprising 
citizen and an important member of society. 



*eh 



>#> 




RS. ELIZABETH JENNINGS, a well- 
known lady, residing upon a tine farm of 
five hundred and forty acres of nicely 
improved land, located in La Fayette 
County, Mo., on section hi, range 26, township 
19, is the subject of this sketch. Her birth took 
place in Berkeley County, Va., August 15. 18:50, a 
daughter of .lames and Mary (Wigle) Hobinson, 
the father a native of Virginia, and the mother of 
Ireland, the latter coming to America with her 
parents when a young girl. Mrs. Jennings was 
reared in Berkeley County, Va., receiving a liberal 
education for the times, growing up into fail- 
womanhood under the parental care. Her mar- 
riage with Rev. .1. II. Jennings took place Janu- 
ary 1, 1849. 

The birth of James H. Jennings occurred March 
1, 1813, a son of James and Phoebe (Sanford) Jen- 
nings, in Shelter Island. X. Y., receiving his pre- 
paratory education in Monson Academy, in New 
York, later entering the theological school at 
Hampden Sidney. Va. Receiving his license to 
preach in 1842, he continued in the work for a 
period of forty 3'ears. During the war Mr. Jen- 
nings was a conscientious I'nion man, and found 
it desirable to leave his home until the unhappy 
time was over. The family remained in the old 
home, hut Mr. Jennings removed to a more congen- 
ial atmosphere in the State of Maryland. 

In 18117 Mr. Jennings came with his family to 
Missouri, locating upon the fine farm now owned 
by his bereaved widow, remaining there until his 
death, October 6, 1885. At this time not only 
did the Presbyterian Church lose a faithful la- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



179 



borer, the family a devoted husband and father, 
but the community a man of sterling character, 
who bore every test of life as does the true gold 
the touch of the acid. He was true — what more 
need be said"- The family born t<> Mr. and Mrs. 
Jennings was a large and interesting one, reaching 
the number of thirteen, but only eleven are liv- 
ing, who arc as follows: Elizabeth, who became the 
wife of J. T. Siler; James R.; Thomas; Sophronia 
became the wife of A. Reed; William; Ella be- 
came the wife of Lewis ('. Frey; Emma became the 
wife of George W. Smith; Edmund, Sallie, Laura 
and Minnie. Mr. .Jennings was well known in 
this county and will lung be remembered. 



■ > ■ ' i ' 'i 



•H»k> 



? I ' I r 




ERMAN SCHNIEDER, residing upon sec- 
tion 9, township 49, range 26, is a native 
of Warren County, Mo., and was born 
April 7. 1841. His parents were Christian 
and Anna M. Schnieder, both natives of Germany, 
who, in 1839. emigrated to the United states. 
They took passage at Bremen, and after a tedious 
and uneventful voyage landed at New Orleans, 
whence thej' proceeded up the Mississippi River to 
Missouri and located in Warren County. The}' 
were among the first German settler- of that por- 
tion of the Stale, and made a home on what was 
practically wild laud. We of this day can but 
feebly imagine the condition in which those pio- 
neer settlers found themselves, comingas they did 
to a strange, wild country where dread dangers 
lurked in the form of beasts and savages. 

The father of our subjed was a man of great 
energy. Soon his log cabin was sending its 
wreaths of smoke to the sky, and beneath it- simple 
roof thankful hearts reposed. Coming here with 
limited means, Mr. Schnieder was obliged to work 
hard and long, but before his death, m 1869, he 
was able to see his family in comparative comfort 
upon the farm he had struggled to obtain. The 
lirst wife of Mr. Schnieder died in 1850, but the 
second wife survived him and now lives on the 



home farm in Warren County. The following 
children survive: Minnie, who became the wife of 
Rev. Henry Hoefer, of Higginsville, Mo.; Herman; 
Frederick; Matilda, Mrs. Frederick Knopheide; 
Mary, who married Frank Kroek; and Anne, who 
became the wife of Charles Cook. The father of 
this family was a good man. a member of the Ger- 
mau Evangelical Church, and in his death Warren 
County lost an excellent citizen. 

Herman Schnieder was reared to maturity in 
his native county amid the pioneer scenes of those 
early days in Missouri. His first recollection is of 
life upon a farm, and he became well acquainted 
with agricultural pursuits before the war clarion 
aroused within his breast feelings of patriotism 
which did him honor. His enlistment took place 
in August, USG2, in Company II, Thirty-third Mis- 
souri Infantry, First Division, Sixteenth Army 
( oips. and the greater part of his service was per- 
formed under the command of Gen. A. .1. Smith. 
He took part in the battles of Helena, Ark.; Pleas- 
ant Hill, La.; Yellow Bayou, La.; Lake Chicot, 
Ark.; Tupelo, Miss.; Nashville; the siege of Span- 
ish Fort, Mobile Bay, and other minor engage- 
ments. For injuries received during his long and 
dangerous service, he receives a pension of $12 per 
month. Now, as always, a true and loyal Union 
man, Mr. Schnieder is a valued member of the 
Grand Army Post at Higginsville. The trying 
events in which he bore so faithful and courage- 
ous a part occurred before he established a home 
in La Fayette County. 

In the spring of 1869 Mr. Schnieder came to 
this county, where for several years he farmed 
upon rented land, and afterward bought a farm 
near Page City, lie resided on that place until 
1883, when be purchased his present farm, consist- 
ing of one hundred and thirteen acres of land, 
which he has accumulated by bis own efforts. The 
marriage of our subject, which took place Decem- 
ber 2 1, 1869, united him with Miss Lisette Brueg- 
genjolin. of Warren County, Mo. Their happy 
union has been blessed with twelve children, 
eleven of whom are living, as follows: Elizabeth, 
Louis, Minnie, Annie. Frederick. Frank. Mctia. 
Emma, Pauline, Clara and Bertha. Benjamin is 
deceased. Our subject is a man of influence in 



180 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



the community, an intelligent and progressive 
citizen, and both he and his wife arc members of 
the German Evangelical Church, which he supports 
as liberally as hi* means permit. 



y>ILLIAM DAVIS, an energetic and enter- 
prising agriculturist and prominent citi- 
\J^^ zen, owning and residing upon valuable 
farming property located in township 50, range 
19, Saline County, Mo., near Arrow Rock, is 
widely known and highly respected for his business 
ability and his sterling integrity of character. Born 
November 9, 1823, in Sullivan County, Ind., Mr. 
Davis belonged to a family who came originally 
from near Guilford, England, and who at an early 
date settled upon land which was then part of the 
colony of Virginia. This branch of the family have 
all been agriculturists from time immemorial. The 
paternal grandfather, William, was born in 1741, 
near Guilford Court House, Ya., and died in 1837, 
at ninety-six years of age. 

Grandfather Davis was twice married and his 
children were all born in Virginia. By his first 
wife he had two sons, John and Abraham. The 
eldest child <>f his second wife was a daughter 
Jane, who married Stephen Welch; Bethiah Jane 
died unmarried; Guilford, the father of our sub- 
ject, was born in the Old Dominion in 1795. He 
removed to the Territory of Indiana in 1813 and 
journeyed thither with wagons, crossing the Ohio 
River at Lawrenceburgh, and camping out on the 
journey. Three years later, when Guilford Davis 
was about twenty-one years of age, he was mar- 
ried to Miss Mary, a daughter of Thomas and Mar- 
tha Gray. The wedding occurred in 1816, and soon 
afterward the young husband and wife settled on 
the Vermillion River, in Vermillion County, Ind., 
and there they remained a few years, when they lo- 
cated in Sullivan County, where our subject was 
born. The maternal ancestors of William Davis, 
the Grays, were of Scotch descent and were strong 



Presbyterians, thrifty and prudent. The}' made 
their early home in Pennsylvania, the old Quaker 
State which furnished to the ranks of our soldiers 
in the old Revolutionary days some of the bravest 
and best of her people. 

Grandfather Gray and his wife removed from 
Virginia to Kentucky, thence to Indiana, arriving 
in the latter Territory about 1816, where he died. 
The widow removed to Iowa in 1852 and settled in 
Wapello County, where she died at about the age 
of ninety-three years. The grandfather of our 
subject settled near Rlootiiington and died there 
at a good old age. The mother afterward died at 
her home in Wapello County, surviving to reach 
her ninetieth year. William Davis passed the days 
of his boyhood upon the Indiana farm, attending 
the little log schoolhouse in winter and through 
springand summer assisting upon the farm. There 
was underbrush to lie cleared away and land from 
which the wood was to be cut, and so the time 
went on and at last our subject reached his twenty- 
first year. To this time he had been looking for- 
ward, and now it had come, and he began life for 
himself, though with very little capital other than 
a stout heart and a willing pair of hands. 

The eldest of our subject's father's family was 
Thomas; William, the subject of our sketch, was 
the second born; the third son was Abraham, who 
died in Wapello County. Iowa, in 1890; Bethiah 
Jane, the eldest daughter, married Aaron Wood, of 
Imvii; James lives in Iowa; Martha is married to 
Ernest Miller, a resident of Iowa; Joseph makes 
his home in Iowa, while John lives in Kansas; Nancy 
resides in Highland Township, Wapello County j 
Iowa: Benjamin is defeased. From this list of 
brothers and sisters, it will be easy to see that the 
homestead held a cheery group of young people 
long after our subject had left its shelter. At first 
Mr. Davis found employment on a farm, then he 
entered a blacksmith shop at Terre Haute, and at- 
tentively sought to gain an insight into so useful 
a trade. He afterward made two trips to New 
Orleans on a flatboat. going to that Southern city 
in the spring of 1846 and 1847. 

In the early spring of 1848, our subject removed 
to Wapello Count}', Iowa. With the savings he 
had carefully accumulated, he bought one hundred 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



181 



and sixty acres of land, and subsequent!}' added 
thereto until lie had three hundred and thirty acres, 
all under fine cultivation. In March, 1851, our 
subject was united in marriage with Miss Eliza- 
beth, daughter of Andrew and Elizabeth (Green) 
Major, natives of York County, Pa.,and of Scotch 
ancestry. The children who have gladdened the 
hearth and home of Mr. and Mrs. Davis are: Duane, 
deceased; Andrew J.; Guilford, deceased; Simon, 
Thomas J. and John G. These sons of our subject 
assisted him upon his farm, as he had assisted his 
father many years ago. In 1867, Mr. Davis again 
returned to Missouri, settling in the spring in Pet- 
tis County. During the same year he sold that 
property, and came to Saline County in the spring 
of 1868, locating on the farm where he now lives. 
At present, Mr. Davis owns one thousand acres of 
land and is engaged extensively in farming, besides 
which he handles stock, being especially success- 
ful in raising graded stock and line cattle. Pros- 
pered in business, he finds time to interest himself 
in the affairs of the day, and though never a poli- 
tician, he is, as have been all the others, a stanch 
Democrat. Mrs. Davis is a member of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church, and our subject is a cheer- 
ful giver in behalf of all its good work. Pleasantly 
situated in the evening of his days and surrounded 
by his children and his children's children, Mr. 
Davis cannot but contemplate with satisfaction the 
reward which honest integrity, busy industry, en- 
ergy and wise management have bestowed with a 
liberal hand upon him and his household. 



e-f-f^e 



'OSE1TI U. HUTCHASON, a prosperous gen- 
eral agriculturist and successful stock-raiser 
has for several years been an honored and 

useful citizen of Dover Township. 1. a Fay- 
ette County. Upon section 13, township 50, range 
26, be profitably engages in the cultivation of his 
farm, one of the most pleasantly located and gen- 
erally productive pieces of farming property in 
this part of the county. Our subject was born in 



Greensburgh, Greene County. Ky.. July 13, 1823. 
His father was Matthew Hutchason, a native of 
Virginia, and his mother. Nancy Rogers, was also 
born in the Old Dominion, whence she removed to 
Kentucky, being among the early settlers of Boone 
County. Our subject has a twin brother, who is 
engaged in business at Higginsville, Mo. 

Mr. Hutchason spent his youthful days in his 
native State and count}'. He attended the dis- 
trict schools of his home neighborhood during the 
winter months, and also at other times when he 
could be spared from the necessary assistance 
which, in common with all farmer boys, he gave to 
his father. The practical knowledge of agricul- 
tural duties thus obtained was but the apprentice- 
ship given to his future work in life. Thoroughlj 
grounded in the sowing, planting and reaping of 
the yearly harvest, he gained his capital, which he 
afterward used to excellent advantage. In 1856, 
he became a free and independent tiller of the 
soil, farming for his individual benefit in the State 
of Kentucky, where he has passed the most of his 
years. 

In the spring of 1881, our subject came to La 
Fayette County and settled 11)1011 his present home 
of eighty acres, a well-improved and valuable 
farming property. Upon the Kentucky homestead 
he raised stock extensively, dealing only in the 
finer grades of cattle. In Missouri, he has given 
his attention mostly to the care of Shorthorns. 
Man}' years ago. now almost a half-century since, 
our subject was united in marriage with Miss Em- 
ily F.Carter. Her father. L. 15. Carter, a native 
of Virginia, was one of the earl}' settlers of Ken- 
tucky, locating with other Virginians in Greene 
County. The pleasant home of Mr. and Mrs. 
Hutchason was blessed by the birth of eleven chil- 
dren, and of this largo family of sons and daugh- 
ters, ten yet survive. 

The brotheis and sisters who once gathered daily 
around the family hearth and table are in the 
order of their birth: Elizabeth, Benjamin M., 
Louis E.. Zillia 1'... Ida R., Sara, Mattie M., Joseph 
\V.. Bertha and Mabel C. Man\- of these children 
have married ami formed family ties, and their 
sons and daughters will worthily represent the 
family name, as have their forefathers before them. 



182 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



They all occupy positions of influence and useful- 
ness, and as good citizens, upright in principle and 

energetic in character, are widely known and uni- 
versally respected. Mr. and Mrs. IluUhason are 
numbered among the active and valued members 
of the Baptist Church, and are important factors 
in the religious and benevolent enterprises of that 
organization. 

The first representatives of the Hutchason family 
in the United States emigrated from the Queen's 
dominions in the early history of this country, 
took part in the Revolutionary struggles and have 
through their descendants contributed to the rapid 
advance and constantly increasing prosperity of 
our nation. Our subject has not yet completed a 
half-score of years in Missouri, but in his compar- 
atively brief residence in the county of La Fayette 
has won the entire esteem and confidence of the 
farming community which surrounds him. He has 
never aspired to political promotion, yet is ever 
interested in local and national issues, and casts 
his vote with the Democratic party. 




AVID .1. POWELL, a prominent and high- 
ly respected farmer of Washington Town- 
ship, I. a Fayette County, was burn here 
December 25, 1825, being the son of Rich- 
ard and Rachel (.lames) Powell. His grandfather. 
Joseph Powell, a farmer, born in Tennessee, came 
with his wife to La Fayette County, Mo., about 
the year 1835, and settled in Jackson County, 
where he died. The father of our subject, also a 
native of Tennessee, came to Missouri in 1820, 
making the journey overland with a wagon and 
team. He remained in Lexington until lands 
were placed on the market, when he entered about 
one thousand acres in Washington Township, 
upon which he resided until his death in 1840. 
lie was married three times. His first wife was 
iMiss Rachel James, who bore him six children, 
namely: Polly, Hannah, Ann, Jane, Joseph and 
David J. By his second wife, whose maiden name 



was Barbara McClellan, one child was born, 
James. His third wife. Martha (Mays) Powell, 
bore him three children, namely: Francis M. and 
George W., both in Oregon, and Thomas J. He 
was a member of the Methodist Church, and an 
industrious, honorable man. 

The mother of our subject, born in Tennessee, 
was the daughter "f David James. David J. Pow- 
ell, after the death of his father, removed to Jack- 
son County, where he resided until the war with 
Mexico. He then enlisted in Company A, Mis- 
souri Mounted Infantry, participated in the battles 
of Brazito and Sacramento, and after thirteen 
months returned to La Fayette County. With 
his brothers lie bought his father's homestead, 
where he has resided since, owning three hundred 
acres. He participated in the Civil War for a 
short time, serving under (Jen. Price for three 
weeks, and taking part in the battle of Lexington. 

Mr. Powell has been married twice. His first 
wife was Miss Nancy, daughter of John and Prude 
(Rice) Ingraham, who were among the earliest of 
the settlers of Washington Township. Her father 
was a hatter prior to his removal to Missouri. 
There were born to our subject by this wife eight 
children, four of whom lived to maturity. They 
were: Martha C, wife of Robert Ramsey; David 
D.; Joseph and John R., deceased. Mrs. Nancy 
Powell was a Presbyterian before her marriage, 
but subsequently became a Missionary Baptist. 
She died in the fall of 1865. 

The lady who for many years has been the de- 
voted helpmate and faithful companion of Mr. 
Powell was known in maidenhood as Sarah A. 
Basham, and was born near Louisville, Ky., the 
daughter of Benjamin and Malinda (Mongold) 
Basham, of Virginia, the father being a farmer 
and carpenter. They removed from Kentucky to 
Iowa, and thence to Jackson County. Mo., and 
later to La Fayette County. He served through 
the war under Gen, Price. Two sons and one 
daughter by his first wife were reared to manhood 
and womanhood. His second wife was Mrs. Bet- 
sie (Ruby) Gibson, who bore him four children, 
three sons and one daughter. In his religious 
faith he is a Missionary Baptist. 

Our subject and his wife have seven children 









-■■:," 





PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



185 



living-, namely: Charles W.; Emma J., wife of Os- 
car Fitter; Benjamin R.; William L.; James M.; 
Elizabeth 1'. and Dixie C. One child died in in- 
fancy. Mr. and Mrs. Powell are members of the 
Missionary Baptist Church, which he joined when 
but sixteen years old. He was one of the organ- 
izers of the Greenton Church, and has been a Dea- 
con for forty years. In politics he takes a lively 
interest, and is actively identified with the Dem- 
ocratic party. 




BKAM HUPP, for nearly two-score years 
an honored citizen of Saline County and 
widely known as a prosperous agricul- 
turist, resides upon section 4, township 
52, range 20, near the village of Sharon. A na- 
tive of Virginia, he was born in Shenandoah 
County in 1805, and is the son of Abraham and 
Elizabeth Hupp, both Virginians by birth. The 
father was one of the courageous and faithful of- 
ficers who fought bravely in the War of 1812. 
Our subject was the third in a family of seven 
sons. John Hupp, born in Virginia in 1802, mar- 
ried Miss Circle, and was a farmer in Ohio; Sam- 
uel, born in the Old Dominion in 1803, married 
.Miss Grips and resides in Virginia; Israel, who 
was born in Virginia in 1807, was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Barnes, and some time afterward 
died in his native State; Michael, born in 1809, 
married and afterward removed to Ohio; George 
Washington married and located in Ohio. 

Our subject studied in both the American and 
< o-iinan schools of Virginia, and industriously ac- 
quired all the book knowledge his limited time 
for study allowed him to gain. He was present 
at the laying of the corner-stone of the Baltimore 
Railroad Depot. The first wages he received 
amounted to $96 per year, and for a time he was 
employed in driving cattle for a resident Vir- 
ginian. Five years' steady occupation as a drover 
gave him the munificent salary of 8100 each 
twelve months. lie next became overseer of a 



large slave plantation, and continued there until 
he finally decided to locate in La Porte, Ind., 
where he purchased forty acres of land, paying 
for the property 813 per acre. Industrious, hard- 
working and thrift}', he prospered and added to 
his real estate until he had acquired by honest 
toil one hundred and five acres, which he brought 
under a high state of cultivation, and made his 
permanent home for thirty years. 

On account of business reverses Mr. Hupp set- 
tled in Saline County, Mo., December 1, 1865, 
and bought a tract of land containing six hun- 
dred and fifty-eight acres, at that time worth 815 
per acre, but now valued at *40 and upward. The 
home of our subject is desirably located, and 
could not be purchased for 811,000 with its ex- 
cellent improvements. Aside from this property, 
Mr. Hupp has given to each of his children a 
quarter-section of tine land, or its equivalent in 
money. Devoting his time to agricultural duties, 
he raises mostly wheat and corn, and also is an 
extensive stock-feeder. 

Sharing Mr. Hupp's pleasant and attractive 
home is his devoted wife, formerly Miss Louisa 
Gardner, with whom he was united in marriage 
June 9, 1837. Mrs. Hupp was born in 1814, and 
was the mother of ten children, of whom there are 
four boys and two girls living: Ann Elizabeth. 
born in La Porte, Ind., in 1838, married William 
Keplogle,and resides in her native city, where her 
husband is a well-known banker and farmer. Or- 
niond, born in La Porte, Ind., September 11, 1840, 
married Mrs. Laura Campbell, and resides in Sa- 
line County, where he owns nine hundred acres 
of valuable land; he became the father of eleven 
children, of whom there are nine living. Arthur, 
born in La Porte, Ind., married Mrs. McAmis and 
removed to Fairville, Saline County, where he is 
a farmer and cattle dealer; Julia, born in Virginia, 
married a Mr. Crane and died in 1880; Mary E., 
whose native place is La Porte, Ind., is married 
and lives in Wichita, Kan.; Theodore, born in 
1857, married Miss Martha Davis, and they are the 
parents of five children, two of whom now sur- 
vive; he resides in Saline County, where he owns 
three hundred and sixty acres of valuable land, 
all under excellent cultivation. 



186 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Mr. Hupp is a devoted member of the Baptist 
Church, and a liberal supporter of that religious 
organization located in Miami Township. Frater- 
nally, he has been a Free Mason since 1839, when 
In- joined that order in La Porte, and is now 
identified with Lodge No. 85, at Miami. As a 
pioneer settler in the West, he had many severe 
and thrilling experiences. For a brief time dur- 
ing the year 18:52 he lived in the wilderness of 
Ohio, where he was once surrounded by wolves 
and narrowly escaped with his life. Being nearer 
his destination than he supposed, a friend heard 
his cry for help and came to his relief. He has 
had many hardships to surmount and obstacles to 
overcome. Prior to his marriage he had $4,000 
loaned out, and through the Bankrupt Act lost 
every dollar of the amount. After his marriage 
he suffered another heavy loss, as some scoundrel 
poisoned eleven head of his best horses. Polit- 
ically, our subject was in early days a Whig, and 
later became an active supporter of the Repub- 
lican party. In Indiana he served as Door-keeper 
of the Legislature in 1845-46, one year in the 
House and one year in the Senate when it was 
Democratic. A true friend, a kind husband and 
father, and a law-abiding citizen, he lias won and 
retains the confidence of all who know him. 



^>«^' 



^ KS. EI'CY .1. DUVALL, one of the early 
settlers of La Fayette County, Mo., now 
residing upon the old place in township 
4!), range 26, section 21, is an honorable 
representative of the brave and cheerful pioneer 
women of the State. Her birth took place Febru- 
ary 14, 1830, in Jessamine Count}', Ky., a daugh- 
ter of Dr. W. J. and Elizabeth (Tapp) Ballard, 
both of whom were well-known and beloved resi- 
dents of the localities where their last days were 
passed. Dr. Ballard was a man whose life cannot 
be passed by with only casual notice, as his was an 
eventful career in many ways. Those who knew 
him best remember that he was an honored citizen, 




a skillful physician, and a noble Christian gentle- 
man. He was born in Albemarle County, Va., 
May 30, 1803, a son of .lames Ballard, who came 
West when Dr. Ballard was but a lad of six years. 
A common English education, such as was obtain- 
able at that time, was the best that William re- 
ceived, but when he left school he did not cease 
studying. In fact, he was always studious, becom- 
ing in time a man of superior culture and attain- 
ments. Especially was Dr. Ballard noted for his 
wonderful memory. 

In connection with the above statement it may 
be remarked that the greater part of the Bible was 
at the call of Dr. Ballard, so thoroughly had he 
read and studied the Sacred Word. For a period 
of forty-six years he was connected with the 
Methodist Church, having united with it in 1832, 
in Jessamine County, Ky. Very early in his reli- 
gious life, he became an exhorter and local 
preacher. His sermons and addresses always com- 
manded attention, not only on account of their 
literary and oratorical merits, but also on account 
of the vast fund of stories and anecdotes with 
which he illustrated his remarks. A thorough 
Methodist, he was still liberal in his views, and 
often visited churches of other denominations. In 
1822, Dr. Ballard married Elizabeth Tapp, near 
Nicholasville, Ky., a lady who was but eight days 
younger than himself. Their union was blessed 
with nine children, those still living being as fol- 
lows: Dr. L. J. Ballard, of Saybrook, 111.; William 
A., of Clay County, Mo.; Mrs. Duvall, our subject; 
Miranda E., wife of Dr. Hiram II. Rutlege, of 
lliilsboro, III.; and Emily F., wife of Anderson 
Brown, of Peoria, 111. 

Dr. Ballard removed to Bloomington in 1855, 
and, excepting for about one year and a-half, al- 
ways lived in the house where he died. His medical 
diploma was received from the Transylvania Medi- 
cal School, of Lexington, Ky., in 1833, and for 
about forty-five years he successfully practiced his 
profession. The death of this good man, which 
was presumably from some affection of the heart, 
was not wholly unexpected, as he had been con- 
fined to the house for some two months. The be- . 
loved and honored mother of Mrs. Duvall was 
Elizabeth Tapp Ballard, who was born in Culpeper 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



187 



County, Va., June 17, 1803, :i n <1 whose demise 
occurred at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. Dr. 

II. II. Rutlege, in Hillsboro, III., at the advanced 
age of eighty-one years and ten months. In early 
life, she removed with her parents to Kentucky 
and settled in Jessamine County, where she was 
married to the late Dr. W. .1. Ballard, November 
[1, 1824. "Mother" Ballard, with her husband, 
located at Nieholasville, Ky., where they resided 

until IS.")."), when they removed to 111 iiiiigton, 

111., and there lived most happily until June 26, 
1878, when occurred the death of Dr. Ballard. 
Some time after his death Mrs. Ballard decided to 
spend the remainder of her days witli her children 
in Saybrook and Hillsboro, 111. She had been a 
faithful mother, had lived beyond her expectations, 
and death found her ready and willing to go to 
join those who had gone before. She was a 
Christian wife and mother, patient, kind, intelli- 
gent and true. 

Our subject was reared in the pleasant town of 
Nieholasville, Ky., where her father was a practic- 
ing physician and minister of the Gospel. She re- 
ceived a liberal education, growing to womanhood 
an intelligent and fair daughter of a State noted 
for its charming women, and there was united in 
matrimony, May 1, 1851, with William P. Duvall." 
The latter was a native of Woodford County. Ky., 
born January 11, 1820, a sun of George II. and 
Elizabeth (Price) Duvall, both of whom were na- 
tives of Virginia. In his native State, he grew to 
manhood, receiving a fair education, which he 
supplemented through life with varied reading. 
For a time following the marriage, Mr. and Mrs. 
Duvall resided in Kentucky, but later removed to 
the State of Missouri, locating in Lexington, La 
Fayette Count}', where they resided for a quarter 
of a century. 

At this time Mr. Duvall was engaged in the 
business of photographing, conducting it with 
great success, but the confinement told upon his 
health, and he found it advisable to seek a more 
active employment. Hence, in 1869, the family 
moved out to the pleasant farm where Mrs. Duvall 
now resides, where the}- lived until just prior to 
his death, when they moved back to Lexington. 
His decease took place April 30, 1877, and he 



passed from earth a man respected by all with 
whom he had ever come in contact. The Christian 
Church had always found in him a firm supporter, 
for he loved its service, and was one of its most 
efficient and valued Deacons. Always ready to 
contribute to anything which his good judgment 
told him was for the advancement of the material 
interests of the town or county, he became one of 
the prominent men of the community. Especially 
was our subject known for his hospitality, and 
many there are in the county who have partaken 
of it. Mrs. Duvall is also an active worker, not 
only in the Christian Church, but in all that con- 
cerns the g 1 of the neighborhood. She is a 

good neighbor, a kind friend, and one ever ready 
and willing to afford assistance, if within her 
power. 

The family of Mr. and Mis. Duvall consisted of 
nine children, four of whom are living, as follows: 
Elizabeth, the wife of C. W. Kennedy; George W., 
Charles .1.. and James R. John H., a son by a 
former marriage of Mr. Duvall, is also living. The 
farm upon which Mrs. Duvall makes her home, and 
which is in her possession, consists of one hundred 
and twenty acres of land, and this is in a fine state 
of cultivation. Her life is a quiet, peaceful one, 
devoted to the ordinary duties of her station, and 
to the dispensing of the true hospitality which her 
husband so dearly loved to show. Although but 
sixty-three years of age, she has seen a wonderful 
growth and development in the State and county 
since her coming here. May her days be long and 
pleasantly occupied, until her summons comes to 
join those gone before. 



^*l] 



JHEODORE HUPP. The owner and occupier 

of the excellent farm located on section 8, 
township 52, Saline County, is the gentle- 
man whose name is to be seen at the head of this 
sketch. He is a native of the Iloosier State and 
was bom in La Porte, November 5, 1855. He is a 
son of Abraham and Louisa Hupp. Our subject was 




188 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



educated at Huntsville (Mo.) Academy, and left 
school at the age of nineteen years well equipped 
to take upon himself the responsibilities of a busi- 
ih'.-s life 

Mr. Hupp was engaged in work upon his father's 
farm and had a partnership in the same until the 
place was cleared up and out of debt. He built a 
good bouse and barn and greatly improved the 
place in general. Later his father gave him a 
tract comprising forty acres of land, which was 
well worth at that time $1,200. Upon this he 
ri.ited a snug little house, devoting to it the 
savings from his hard labor. About that time he 
married Miss Martha Davis, their marriage being 
solemnized November 12,1879. She was a native 
of Saline County and was born in 1861, being 
the daughter of Tyre and Mary Davis. The young 
couple immediately moved into the little home 
which had previously been prepared for their occu- 
pancy. They remained there one year and added 
to the original tract one hundred and forty acres, 
which was valued at $30 per acre. 

This last addition to the property was purchased 
on credit, but in the incredibly short space of three 
years he had so managed as to have discharged 
the entire indebtedness. It took Spartan energy 
and the severest economy on the part of himself 
and wife to accomplish this. At the same time he 
was in partnership with his father and purchased 
with him another tract of fifty-seven acres, for $19 
per acre. This was sold at the expiration of three 
years to a Mr. Watson Wood. About this time 
Mr. Hupp purchased at sheriff's sale, of the Mc 
Amis heirs, a tract of one hundred and seventy- 
two and a-half acres, for which he paid *20 an 
acre. This brought upon him new obligations 
and incumbrance, but he paid off the indebtedness, 
partly in work, lie had to resort to many make- 
shifts in order to raise the money, growing wheat 
and herding cattle to get together the payments 
on the land, but at the expiration of four years he 
was again free from debt. He now has an attrac- 
tive and comfortable home, with barns and out- 
buildings in keeping with the place. 

Mr. and Mrs. Hupp have been made happy by 
the advent into their home life of live children. 
Neither have they been spared sorrow, for only 



two of their children are now living. The eldest, 
F.rma. who was born in 1880, attends school in the 
vicinity of her home. Roscoe was born in L887. 
Mr. Hupp is. and has been since boyhood, an ener- 
getic worker and a public-spirited business man. 
Many men who find it necessary to devote much 
time to the drudgery of business find the process 
hardening to the better nature. Not so with our 
subject, however, as witness his treatment of his 
nephew, Walter Crane, who was left as a boy of 
five years to the care of his grandfather. He made 
his home with him twelve years and then came to 
live with our subject, with whom he has since re- 
sided, sharing equally in all the property with the 
original of our sketch. 

Mr. and Mrs. Hupp are members of the Baptist, 
Church, and the interest that he gives to religion 
is of the most active sort. When the new Baptist 
Church was. built some few } - ears ago, Mr. Hupp 
was appointed Trustee and also one of the Deacons, 
and has continued to be so associated ever since. 
Politically, our subject is a Republican, and, al- 
though he is not an aspirant for office, he takes a 
verv active interest in local affairs. 






ff AMES E. PAYNE, the editor of the Intelli- 
gencer, published in Lexington, Mo., and 
one of the oldest newspapers in this section 
of the Shite, is a fluent editorial writer and 
an excellent business manager, thoroughly posted 
in all details of newspaper work. Our subject 
was born in Christian County, Ky., January 21. 
1841. His father. Edward Payne, was of English 
descent, but was himself a native of Kentucky, 
and a successful agriculturist of the State. His 
wife. Mary Ann Callaway, was born in Kentucky, 
and was a daughter of John Callaway, who served 
with courage in the Revolutionary War. and was 
a native of Virginia. Mrs. Edward Payne was al- 
so a distant relative of Daniel Boone, of Ken- 
tucky. 

Edward Payne died in Husseliville, Ky., in 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



189 



1840, shortly before the birth of our subject, 
whose devoted mother passed away in Cass County, 
Mo. James K. Payne was the youngest of seven 
children, two girls and five manly hoys compris- 
ing the home circle. Our subject spent his youth- 
ful days in the States of Illinois and Missouri. 
and moved to Kansas City in 18.">7, attending a 

private srl 1 one session. In 18G1 Mr. Payne 

entered the Confederate service, and enlisted in 
Company A. Sixth Missouri Infantry, Confederate 
States of America, of which he was First Sergeant, 
and participated in the following battles: Elkhorn 
Tavern, Iuka. Corinth. Ft. Gibson, Champion 
Hill, and Vicksburg,and in the various engagements 
of the long campaign distinguished himself by 
his courageous conduct upon the held of war. 
Our subject was wounded in the conflicts of Cor- 
inth, Champion Mill and at Vicksburgh, and 
gave four years of faithful service. 

At the close of the war, returning to Kansas 
City, he engaged in business as a civil engineer, 
and did work for the city, remaining in this place 
busily employed for three years. In 1868 he be- 
came connected with the Commercial Advertiser 
and in 1*71 established the Cass County Courier, 
which he successfully edited in Harrisonville, Mo., 
for eight years. At the expiration of this length 
of time, Mr. Payne purchased the Sentinel, which 
he continued to publish at Independence until 
1890, when he sold out his interest in the paper, 
and in 1891 bought the Intelligencer, in Lexington, 
which at the present time he edits and controls. 
The readable paper, nine-column folio, issued 
each week, is Democratic in politics, and has a 
good circulation both in the city of Lexington 
and in the surrounding country, and has been 
established since 1871. The Intelligencer is attrac- 
tive in appearance, and is most ably conducted, 
and is surely winning its way into still more ex- 
tended favor. 

Our subject was married in 1878 to Miss Anna 
Hickman, of Independence, Mo., her father, 
Edwin Hickman, being a well-known resident of 
that city. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Payne 
lias been blessed by the birth of one daughter and 
three sons. Katherine is the wife of Fred 1 1. Starr, 
of the Kansas City Bank of Commerce; Robert 



Emmet and John Howard, the two sons, arc well 
known in Lexington, while the third son is dead. 
Mr. and Mrs. Payne are among the members of 
the Christian Church, and are identified with the 
enterprises and good works of that denomination. 



•5-=EE*=*___/ 



E*=* 



AMES B. HOOK, an excellent business 
man of the city of Lexington, Mo., is the 
subject of this sketch. His occupation is 
§^/' that of selling farm machinery, feed and 
seed, the business having been established by his 
father about 1868. He was welcomed into the 
world in Lexington Township, La F^ryette County, 
Mi>., January 19. 1850, a son of Joseph and Par- 
thena Ann (Carlisle) Hook, natives of Virginia. 
They came to the State of Missouri in 1843, and 
lived in Livingston County until 1844, when they 
came to La Fayette and located upon a farm, where 
they remained until 1868, when Mr. Hook came 
into Lexington and there started his store, which 
our subject bought in 1889, and Mr. Hook, Sr., re- 
tired from business and lives in this city. The 
mother died here in 1884, in her sixty-fifth pear. 

Our subject is one of a family of eight children, 
six of whom are still living. James B. spent his 
early years on the farm, then attended the Lex- 
ington schools, and later took a business course in 
Spalding's Commercial College, in Kansas City. 
Following this he entered into the farm implement 
business in Odessa, but returned to Lexington in 
1884, when he formed a partnership with his father 
in the implement trade, which he now conducts 
alone. His marriage took place in Lexington, in 
1 882, with Mis> Eliza Sand if er, of this city. a daugh- 
ter of Roberl Sandifer, and two sons. Harry and 
Omar, have blessed this union. 

In his political opinions Mr. Hook is a Democrat, 
and in 1890 was elected to fill the office of .Justice 
of the Peace for a term of four years. Socially he 
is a member of the order of the Knights of Pythias, 
having joined in 1878. His religious connection 



190 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



is with the First Baptist Church, in which he is a 
valued member. The family residence is in a 
beautiful part of the city, near Central College. 
Our subject may he called one of the rising men of 
Lexington, as lie has displayed those business traits 
of character which insure success. 



fi==*REDERICK R. NEET. Who has ever heard 
■Wgy of Southerners doing without the luxury 
_i of ice? And this aid in the dainties, in the 

making of which the Southern women are notable, 
is the source of handsome revenue to many large 
firms. Our subject, Mr. Neet, is a dealer in Lex- 
ington, La Fayette County, in both natural and 
artificial ice. He was born in Jessamine County, 
Ky., and is a son of Jacob and Sarah (Robb) Neet. 
They were a family of farmers, as the largest and 
best portion of Blue Grass residents are. 

Up to seventeen years of age our subject re- 
mained at home and attended the common school. 
He was then apprenticed to learn the carpenter's 
trade, at which he worked until 1852, when he 
came to Lexington and was employed at his trade 
until 1861. In April of that year he enlisted in 
the First Regiment of Missouri Infantry, com- 
manded at that time by Frank Blair. lie was the 
sixty-first man in the State of Missouri to enlist 
in the Union army, and for three months gave 
faithful service. He was then appointed Captain 
to recruit a company, and was breveted Captain 
of the First Regiment from New Mexico. 

Mr. Neet was taken prisoner at the battle of 
Lexington, Mo., but was exchanged and enlisted 
in the Eighth Regiment of Kansas Infantry, with 
which he served until after the battle of Shiloh. 
In 1862 he was promoted to the office of Major of 
the Tenth Missouri Cavalry, and remained with 
them until the close of the war. Thus it may be 
seen that Mr. Neet is of the liber of which heroes 
are made. 

Our subject engaged in the cultivation of fruits 
and vegetables near Lexington, which business he 



conducted until 1882. The demand for ice had 
then become so great as to promise an important 
industry, and the opportunity was seized by our 
subject to develop the enterprise. He has been 
very successful, and handles large quantities of 
both the natural and artificial article. I n politics Mr. 
Neet is a Republican, the principles of that party 
having been his for many years. He is a member of 
the James A. Mulligan Post No. 11, G. A. R., and 
was Commander for four years. 

In 1868 our subject married Miss Ella, a daugh- 
ter of William A. Bethel, of this city. Mr. and 
Mrs. Neet are the parents of one daughter, Aha 
by name, and the light of the household. Aside 
from his business as described, our subject pays 

I -iderable attention to the raising of fruit, for 

which he finds a ready market at home. 



aHARLES W. HOUSTON. Among the pleas- 
j, ant, genial residents of Saline County, none 
' are more favorably known than the subject 
of this sketch. Although his birth took place in 
the old Dutch county of Lancaster, Pa., upon June 
27. 1826. his family originated among the dells 
and glens of Scotland. The first representatives 
of the Houston family in America came here 
with a colony of Scotch-Presbyterians at a very 
early day, and settled in Pennsylvania. There 
were five brothers, of whom the great-grandfather 
of our subject was one. They all did not remain 
together, but two settled in the South, and there 
reared families, from one branch of which de- 
scended the Texan patriot, Gen. Sam Houston. 

The grandfather of our subject, who bore the 
name of Samuel, was a native of Pennsylvania, 
and at a place locally known as '• The Gap," six- 
teen miles from the thriving city of Lancaster, he 
passed his last years. He had been a man of con- 
siderable property and of influence in the county. 
At that home the father of our subject, named Will- 
iam, was born in 1800, and there passed his boy- 
hood and youth. At the age of maturity, he en- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



101 



gaged in the iron business in Bellefonte, Centre 

i ity, Pa. He married Mi-s Elizabeth B. Noble, 

a lady born in Philadelphia, July 24, 1803, who 
died July 1. 1868, in Saline County, Mo. She 
was the daughter of William Noble, of Chester 
County, Pa. 

In is 17, Mr. Houston discontinued his iron 
business, and in 184!) went to California, taking 
the Isthmus route. There lie died in 185!), having 
made but one visit home during all those years. 
His family consisted of five children, as follows: 
Samuel N., deeeased; Charles W .. our subject; 
Franklin, deceased; William, deeeased; and Henry 
A., who lives near Grand Rapids. Mich. The sec- 
ond son of the above-named Mi. Houston is the 
immediate subject of the biographer's notice, and 
if he had not been a prominent man in his county 
his life would not have possessed the interest 
which it does for the general reader. He has seen 
life in several of the best States in the Union, hav- 
ing grown up under his father's care and in his 
business while residing in the Keystone State. 

In the spring of 181'J, our subject came to 
Waverly, La Fayette County. Mo., and at that 
time he found but a wild, uncultivated stretch of 
land. It possessed much natural beauty, but it is 
not probable that this influenced the early settlers 
as much as did the unmistakable fertility of the 
soil and the salubrity of the climate. Here our 
subject made his home, and often enjoyed the pas- 
time of hunting, as the country at that time was 
simply overrun with wild turkeys, geese, brant, 
ducks and quail. This pastime was principally car- 
ried on in the winter, as the summer brought more 
serious duties. The love of sportsman-like enjoy- 
ments has not yet left our subject, and it is no un- 
usual sight to see him upon a brisk autumn morn- 
ing, with gun on shoulder, accompanied by friend 
and dog. on his way to some old haunts, although 
he does not find game as plentiful as in the days 
gone by. 

In the spring of 1850, our subject, joining in 
with a party of some sixty others, made an over- 
land trip to California. The company formed at 
Lexington, Mo., going by the way of Salt Lake, 
a pari making the trip north of it, and the other 
west of it, both parties re-uniting about one 



hundred miles beyond Salt Lake, arriving within 
a few minutes of each other. Our subject reached 
California in August, 1850, and remained there 
until the winter of 1851, when he returned home 
by wa\ of Central America, spending the greater 
part of the winter in that wonderful country, and 
arriving at home in the spring of 1852. 

The first marriage of our subject took place No- 
vember 15. 1853, with Miss Margaret Major, and 
the following children blessed this union: Laura 
L., who became the wife of Henry Scearce, of La 
Fayette County, and Noble M. Mrs. Houston was 
the daughter of < >. T. and Nancy J. Major, and 
died November 6, 1857. The second marriage of 
Mr. Houston was celebrated < (ctober 12, 1858. with 
Miss Fiances A. Fackler, in Leavenworth City, 
Kan., and two children, Charles F. and Martha F., 
have resulted from this marriage. 

In the spring of 1855, our subject embarked in 
business in Waverly, Mo., and later settled upon 
the farm in Saline County where he now lives. 
This is a fine piece of property, consisting of one 
hundred and sixty-live acres. Until recently Mr. 
Houston had been a Democrat, but he has be- 
come a member of the Fanners' Alliance and 
now votes the Third party ticket. The family of 
Mrs. Houston has an interesting record, which we 
take pleasure in giving below: The ancestors of 
the Fackler family came to America from Ger- 
many, and tin- father of Mrs. Houston, Jacob 
Fackler. was born in Ilagerstown, Md. The fam- 
ily name is an old one in the State of Maryland, 
having been known there for over two hundred 
years. ( )ne of its early members became l'resi- 
dent of the second college that was founded in 
this country. Grandfather Fackler, a Captain in 
the Revolutionary army, later became a merchant 
in Richmond. Va.. moving from there to Staunton, 
Va., where he carried on the same business until 
his death. During life he leased property for a 
term of ninety-nine years, and upon this his de- 
scendants lived until within three years of the ex- 
piration of the lease. 

Jacob Fackler, whose birth occurred in Maryland, 
in 1771, died in Saline County, Mo., in 1855. 
When he had attained his majority, he entered 
into the mercantile business with his father in 



192 



POxlTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Virginia, and there married Miss Matilda Morris, 
of Louisa County, Va., in 1810. She was a daugh- 
ter of Guthrie Morris, a prominent resident of 
that county. When seventy-five years old, Mr. 
Fackler came from Virginia to Missouri on horse- 
back and bought a farm six miles south of Mar- 
shall, where he lived until 1850. lie then, with 
his son George, located on section 5, township 50, 
range •-'•'!. The mother's death occurred in Sept- 
ember, 1841. These worthy people had been the 
parents of twelve children, of whom the following 
survive: Mary C, wife of Thomas Gaines, of Sa- 
line County; Elizabeth E., residing in Los Angeles, 
Cal.; Martha L., the widow of Albert Major, of 
Los Angeles; Frances A., Mrs. Houston ; Rev. D. M., 
pastor of an Episcopal Church in New York City; 
Dr. G. M., of Kansas City; and George J., also of 
Kansas City. The rest of the family have passed 
away. 



siz^x APT. JOSEPH R. BARNETT, a well-known 
((( , n and prosperous agriculturist and successful 
^^&y breeder and stock-raiser of blooded cattle 
and fine trotting horses, is numbered among the 
prominent and progressive citizens of Lexington 
Township, La Fayette County, Mo. His valuable 
farm, highly improved and yielding, under the 
excellent management of our subject,an abundant 
crop annually, is located upon section 20, township 
50, range 26. Capt. Barnett is a native of the 
good old State of Kentucky, whose proud boast 
has always been that no State in the Union has 
ever produced more brave men or lovelier women. 
Madison County was the early home of our subject, 
and within its borders he was born in duly, 1829. 
The paternal and maternal ancestors of the Bar- 
nett family were of Scotch, English and Irish de- 
scent. The grandfather of our subject. Judge 
Joseph Barnett, was a member of the first families 
of the Old Dominion and was born and educated 
in Virginia, lie later became one of the earlyset- 
tlers of Kentucky and was a man of eminence and 



ability. The father and mother of Capt. Barnett 
were Joseph and Elizabeth (Ryland) Barnett, both 
natives of Virginia, who afterward removed to 
Kentucky and reared their family in their adopted 
State, where they were well known and highly re- 
spected. Our subject spent the early days of his 
boyhood in Madison County, and in attending 
school and assisting his father the years went by 
until reaching his eighteenth year, when he came 
in the fall of 1848 to La Fayette County. 

In 18t'j Capt. Barnett, allured by the fabulous 
stories of the golden El Dorado of the West, started 
on the overland trip to California, and. slowly 
crossing the country by team, was six months on 
the road. Reaching the Golden State our subject 
at first devoted himself to mining and prospecting. 
After a time he engaged in transporting Govern- 
ment supplies, and a full decade had passed away 
when, in 1859, he returned once again to Missouri 
and successfully entered into the agricultural du- 
ties which have ever since claimed his steady at- 
tention. For some time he has profitably handled 
thoroughbred Jersey cattle and also owns some es- 
pecially fine trotting stock. His commodious sta- 
bles hold thirty head of trotting horses of the 
famed Hambletonian. Wilkes and Mambrino stock. 
These finely bred horses have already established 
a record as t':i>t trotters and give great promise of 
speed on the track. The farm of one hundred and 
fifty acres is thriftily managed, and its constantly 
increasing harvest yields a handsome return for 
the care and labor expended in enriching and cul- 
tivating the soil. 

Capt. Barnett took unto himself a wife in 1871, 
at this date marrying Miss Clarice, a daughter of 
Lawson Grant, a native of Marysville, Ky., who 
made his home in Missouri when he wasayoungand 
energetic man. Our subject's wife was born and 
reared in Missouri, and both Captain and Mrs. Bar- 
nett are widely known and highly esteemed. Our 
subject has passed years of usefulness and honor, 
and is numbered among the substantial citizens 
whose best efforts in life are given in behalf of the 
upward progress and rapid advancement of the 
prominent interests of their immediate homes and 
vicinity. Actively realizing the importance of 
wise and efficient conduct of local and national 




, JUr^~^o 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



195 



politics, Capt. Barnett is a strong Democrat and 
rejoices in the success of that party whose princi- 
ples and platform lus ancestors worthily sustained. 
As for himself, never seeking political preferment, 
lie is content to do hi- duty at the polls and abide 
by the result with the calm certainty that the great 
privilege is given to every true American citizen 
to aid in the guidance of our glorious Ship of 
State. 



B£+^ 



r=_ 



^f OHN J. GROSS is a prominent and highly 
respected farmer of Saline County, and re- 
sides on section 26, township 49, range 23, 
where he and his amiable wife have estab- 
lished a cozy home. He is well informed, and has 
a store of knowledge gained by actual experience in 
different portions of the country, having traveled 
quite extensively, and seen not a little of the hard- 
ships of life. His biography reads like a story- 
book, and is more interesting than the ordinary 
novel, because it is known to be true. His ex- 
perience in the Western country as a gold-hunter 
furnishes some thrilling incidents, as well as tales 
of suffering and danger, that would fill a good- 
sized volume if written out in detail. 

The subject of our sketch was born in Bavaria, 
Germany, on the 27th of March, 1830. His par- 
ents, Conrad and Salome (Dather) Gross, were also 
from Bavaria. The father, who was a farmer, 
emigrated to America with his wife and two chil- 
dren. Elizabeth and John, in the year 1830, sailing 
from Havre, France, and landing in Philadelphia 
after a voyage of more than two months. He 
located in Warren County, Pa., and engaged in 
farming, buying land there. In June, 1836, the 
family moved to Naperville, DuPage County, 111., 
where they bought land, and there the father died 
in April, 1 850, at the age of fifty-four, lie had 
been sick much of the time for years, having in- 
jured his health when clearing land in Pennsyl- 
vania, where lie was a pioneer among the Alle- 
ghanies. When in the old Country he served six 
years in the army in Bavaria, with head-quarters 
at Londau, After coming to America, he joined 

9 



the Whig party. In the Evangelical Association 
he served as Class-leader, exhorter and Trustee. 
The mother was again married, taking for her 
second husband Jacob Schnavelcy. She died in 
1864. 

Of the live children of his father's family, our 
subject was the second, and he with a sister, Mrs. 
E. G. Morton, of Naperville, 111., are the only 
survivors. A younger brother, Daniel N., served 
in the late War, being an Orderly under Gen. 
Sumner, and was wounded m the battle of the 
Wilderness. He died in Yankton, S. Dak., in 1890, 
being at the time of his death a hardware mer- 
chaut of that place, and also County Auditor. He 
had been Treasurer of I Hi Page County, 111., and 
for thirteen years served as Postmaster of Naper- 
ville, the same county. He was a prominent mem- 
ber of the Congregational Church and a highly 
esteemed man. Another brother crossed the plains 
in 1852, and died in California at the age of 
twenty-one. 

John J. was reared on the farm. His education 
was limited to the instruction received in the old 
log school house of that day. His father's health 
being poor, and he being the eldest at home, natur- 
ally a great deal of care and work devolved upon 
him. lie remained at home until 1850, and on 
March 21 of that year left Naperville to begin a 
journey across the plains to California, where he 
wished to mine for gold. He went with a com- 
pany of men with teams, and en route stopped at 
Salt Lake City, and listened to the preaching of 
Brigham Young. Toward the end of his journey, 
his provisions gave out, and he suffered the lack 
of food for many meals. 

The party camped on the summit of the Sierra 
Nevada Mountains on the night of July 23, and 
there our traveler was obliged to leave his horse, 
taking his pack upon his back. In crossing the 
Greal American Desert he almost perished for 
want of water, but meeting a few good Samaritans 
received aid from them. Mr. Cross began mining 
August 7. 1850, the second day after his arrival at 
Placerville, Cal. At this time he was in debt to 

the : mil of $54.50, bul was so successful that 

he soon found gold enough to clear his indebted- 
ness, and purchase a few tools beside. 



196 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



About that time, when everything seemed so fa- 
vorable, our miner was taken ill with typhoid fever 
and other complications, and here again he found 
good Samaritans to care for him. But his sick- 
ness cost him a large sum of mone3 - : he paid 818 a 
week to be waited upon; his doctor's bill was $8 a 
day. and at the end of his two months' illness, he 
was about $1000 in debt. This was a discouraging 
state of affairs, but he went to work bravely to 
make good the loss, as soon as he was sufticientl}' 
recovered, This time his work was in "Dead 
Man's Hollow," and along "Muddy Springs." He 
worked there during the winter of 1850-51, doing 
well, and paying each week something toward his 
debt. On Sunday he usually carried his little sack 
of gold dust that he had earned during the week 
to those whom he owed for caring for him. He 
had to walk eight miles to do this, but continued 
doing so until he had paid every cent of the debt. 
The people who saved his life at the critical period 
mentioned were James Johnson and Mr. and Mrs. 
Alverson, all from Naperville, 111., and Dr. Clark 
from Chicago. 

After his debt was paid, Mr. Gross went to 
Northern California and worked for a short time 
in the mines at Weaverville, when his health again 
failed. He then hired out to a company on the 
east side of the Sacramento River to make hay. 
He soon gained the confidence of his emploj'ers, 
and was appointed overseer in charge of the men. 
He was then twenty-one miles east of what was 
called Reding Springs, and in a part of the country 
where Indians were numerous and troublesome, 
. necessitating the keeping of a guard during the 
night for two months. He slept with his weapons 
near him every night during this time. They 
were attacked on several occasions about daybreak, 
and were obliged to fire upon their foes. One 
morning when the men were out at work, the 
Indians sneaked into the camp and murdered the 
cook, a tine young man of eighteen; they then 
stole a good many useful things from the store of 
the miners, and made their escape. Pursuit was 
made, and tlte second day the Indians were found 
and attacked, twenty of them being killed and two 
taken prisoners. In the fall of 1851, Mr. Gross 
and his comrade returned home by way of the 



Isthmus. During his absence, his health had been 
nearly ruined by drinking the alkali water from 
the Humboldt River. On his return he took 
charge of his father's property and engaged in 
farming. 

Mr. Gross was married December 23, 1852, his 
bride being Miss Eliza Meyers, who was born in 
Lancaster County, Pa., and came to Illinois in 
1844 with her parents. They have had eight chil- 
dren: John W., who is clerking in a store at Seda- 
lia; Alice S., wife of August Eisner, a merchant in 
Sweet Springs; Walter J., who married Maria 
Parrish, and is a telegraph operator at Wheaton, 
Minn.; Lydia F., wife of James Magness, of Sweet 
Springs; Daniel W.. at home; Samuel J., deceased; 
Milly A. and Edwin S., at home. All have had 
good educational advantages, and the eldest 
daughter has taught school several terms. 

Mr. Gross remained on the old homestead in 
Illinois until 1875, in the spring of which year he 
came to Saline County, and purchased one hun- 
dred and sixty acres of land in Salt Pond Town- 
ship, where he now lives. He has re-fenced the 
property, and cleared and otherwise greatly im- 
proved the land. In July, 1886, his house was 
destroyed by fire; fortunately, he was insured, and 
so rebuilt, putting up a substantial frame house. 
He has one hundred and seventy acres of good 
land, which makes one of the fine farms of the 
county. He has all the more reason to feel satis- 
fied with his work from the fact that he started 
poor. He is a Republican, and a member of the 
Independent Order of Odd Fellows in Missouri. 
Both he and his wife are members of the Evan- 
gelical Association. 



/jf$s& USAN W. HAGOOD. It is a pleasure to 
^S^> indite a biographical sketch of the lady 
\\m_)j) whose name appears above, and who lias 
for many years been associated with the 
growth and molding of the social part of this lo- 
cality. Mrs. Ilagood lives in township 29, range 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



i:t: 



2G. She i> a native of La Fayette County, having 
been born April 10, 1837, and has spent her whole 
life here. She is a daughter of William and 
Rhoda (White) Beatie, natives <>f Virginia. Her 
maternal grandsire, Richard White, is said to have 
been a Revolutionary soldier. 

William Beatie, our subject's father, moved 
with his family to .Missouri in 1833, locating at 
first in Boone County; thence coming to La lay- 
ette County. In the same year he settled on the 
farm now owned by Mr. McMeeken. on section 1 1, 
township 29, range 26, and was regarded as one 
of the earliest as well as most progressive settlers 
in this locality. His decease occurred in 1 m 7 ."> . 
while on a trip to California. His wife survived 
until March 12, 1881. 

In her girlhood our subject attended the pio- 
neer schools which the early settlers ambitiously 
denied themselves many comforts in order to se- 
cure, but which at best were poor makeshifts for 
acquiring an education. The country was very 
undeveloped at the time of her earliest recollec- 
tions and she has frequently seen herds of deer 
grazing where now there are well-cultivated farms. 
Later she was sent to a private school at Lexing- 
ton and was considered a highly accomplished 
young lady. She met in her early youth William 
F. Ilagood, whom she married September 30, 1857. 
Mr. Ilagood was a native of Todd County, Ky., 
and was born November 19, 1818. He was a son 
of Robert and Harriet (Payne) Ilagood, natives of 
Kentucky. The former is long since deceased; 
the mother still survives and makes her home in 
La Fayette County. Mo. Her husband was a sol- 
dier in the War of 1812 and the aged lady, ninety- 
five years of age, is still in the receipt of a pen- 
sion from the Government. She is counted among 
the oldest women in the count}-. 

William F. Ilagood was reared in his native 
State until twenty years of age, when with his 
[parents he moved to Missouri and located in St. 
Louis County. Thence he removed to Benton 
County, where he lived for several years, and from 
there came to l.a Fayette County about. 1848. 
This continued to be his home until the time of 
his death, which occurred in 1880, his obsequies 
having taken place February 27. lie was a man 



greatly esteemed by all who knew him and had a 
high standard of honor, morality and business in- 
tegrity. 

Our subject has been the mother of >ix children, 
whose names are: Joseph B., Mary V., Thomas II.. 
Clara (Mrs. II. C. Baker), Florence G. and Mattie 

R. Mr. Hag 1 was in politics a Democrat, his 

opinions being molded after the Clay pattern. 
He was a member of the Independent Order of 
Odd Fellows at Lexington and was popular among 
his confreres. He was a kind father and good 
husband, always doing for his family all that was 
in his power to develop the best that was in them. 
For many 3'ears he and his wife were identified 
with the Presbyterian Church. Mrs. Ilagood still 
lives on the home farm and owns about one hun- 
dred and forty-two acres of land, which is under 
srood cultivation. 




^ .KY. T. PEYTON WALTON is President of 
the Elizabeth Aull Female Seminary, which 
is located at Lexington. Mo. Before taking 
^p) up the personal history of the original of 
this sketch, we will glance in a cursory way at the 
history of the institution with which his name is so 
prominently connected. The school, which is the 
oldest in the State, was founded by the lady whose 
name it bears, Elizabeth Aull, and is under the con- 
trol of Trustees chosen by the Presbyterian Church 
of Lexington and the Presbytery of La Fayette. 
It was chartered March 12. 1859, and was endowed 
by the Missouri Legislature with full collegiate 
privileges. 

The other officers of the Seminary at the present 
time (1892) are S. (i. Wentworth, Vice-President; 
Dr. P. II. Chambers, Secretary; W. G. McCausland, 
Treasurer. Prior to the incumbency of the Rev. 
Mr. Walton a- head of the institution, the follow- 
in- Presidents in their chronological order wereat 
the head of the institution : Rev. LewisG. Barbour, 
D.D., 1860-1865; R. W. Finlcy. 18G5-1867; An- 



198 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



thony Ilavnes. 1867-1870; Rev. J. A. Quarles, 
I). I)., 1870-1873; J. M. Chaney, D. D., 1873-1876; 
A. II. Todd, 1876-1877; Rev. J. A. Quarles, D. D., 

1877-1886; .1. I). Blanton, 1886-1892; our subject 

completing the list of Presidents. 

Rev. T. Peyton Walton was born in Cumber- 
land County, Va., May 23, 1853. lie is the son of 
the late Dr. Richard P. Walton, of Norfolk, Va., 
his mother having been Miss Mary .1. Woodson. 
Our subject's paternal grandsire was Thomas H. 
Walton. The family is of English origin, the 
originator of the American branch having settled 
in Virginia at an early date. Mary Woodson's 
family were French-Huguenots. 

The original of this sketch spent his boyhood 
days iu Cumberland County. Like most Virginia 
youths whose parents were in comfortable circum- 
stances, he was sent to a private school, where he 
was prepared for college, and entered the college at 
Hampden Sidney, Prince Edward County, in 1874. 
In that old college, in which Christianity holds so 
prominent a place, our subject diligently pursued 
his studies and graduated in the classical course in 
1877. He then entered the Union Theological 
Seminary of Virginia, where he pursued his studies 
for three years, graduating in 1880, and in the fall 
of that year he was ordained by the Missouri Presbj- 
tery at Mt. Olivet Church, Callaway County, and 
immediately took charge of a mission field in 
Chariton Count}'. Since then he has been succes- 
sively in charge of churches at Brunswick; Ashley, 
Pike County, and Court Street Church at Ports- 
mouth, Va., also Mizpah Church, of St. Louis 
County, Mo. 

Being recognized in his church as a man of deep 
scholarship as well as piety, Mr. Walton's value in 
the educational work of the church was soon seen, 
and he was summoned from Portsmouth, Va., to 
take charge of Watson Seminary, which was located 
at Ashley, Pike County, this State. He had sus- 
tained his position with that school with marked 
success for two years, when, on account of failing 
health. In 1 was compelled to retire from educational 
work and accepted the charge of the Mizpah Church 
in St. Louis County, where he remained live years. 
dune 1, 1892, lie was elected President of the 
Elizabeth Aull Seminary, and the following day 



entered upon his duties. In spite of his having been 
so recently connected with the institution, former 
knowledge of our subject enables us to speak reas- 
suringly of the success that will undoubtedly attend 
his labors. The Board of Trustees has selected the 
right man for the right place. His energy and 
ambition will supplement his scholarship most ad- 
mirably m the educational work. 

Mr. Walton is a Knight Templar, and a member 
of Ashley Lodge. Bowling Green Chapter, and 
Cyrene Commandery, of the A. F. & A. M. May 
20, 1884. Mr. Walton married Miss Annie M., 
daughter of Ferdinand and Lucy A. (Harrison) 
Biliingsley, of Glasgow, this State. Mr. and Mrs. 
Walton have been the parents of five children, the 
following of whom are living: T. Peyton, Jr., Har- 
rison Biliingsley. Annie Louise, and Lavinia Caro- 
line. The family make their home at the Semin- 
ary, and extend most delightful hospitalities to 
both friends and those who are drawn to the place 
through educational interests or curiosity. The 
family are well fitted for the position they hold. 



-=^m>^<m 




II TS BIGELOW, a prominent and influ- 
ential citizen and leading manufacturer 

5 \V of tile, owning and managing the largest 
v£) plant in Saline County, Mo., is located in 
Gilliam, and resides upon section 34, township 51, 
range 19. Born in St. Charles County, Mo., in 
1824, our subject enjo3 - ed the confidence and es- 
teem of his early associates and friends, and held 
various official positions of trust. He was Assessor 
of St. Charles County for two years, and there 
discharged with honor and ability the varied and 
arduous duties of a Justice of the Peace for a full 
score of years. The Bigelows are of German de- 
scent, but the parents of our subject, Moses and 
Perthenia (Bogart) Bigelow, were natives of Penn- 
sylvania and Kentucky, the father having been 
born in the Quaker Slate in the year 1800. 

The paternal grandfather of Rufus Bigelow 
served bravely in the War of the Revolution, and 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



199 



the maternal grandfather, Daniel Boone, was num- 
bered among tli<' early pioneers of Missouri, hav- 
ing settled in the State in 1800. B Our subject was 
one of a family of six children, having two broth- 
ers and three sisters. The eldest sun, .lames Bige- 
low, was born in St. Charles County, Mo., in 1822. 
lie married Miss Hopkins, and engaged in the pur- 
suit of agriculture. Phoebe Bigelow was born in 
st. Charles County, and became the wife of Mr. 
Costello, and resides with her husband upon a 
farm in her native county. Rufus received his ed- 
ucational training in the scl Is of St. Charles 

County, early completing his studies and school 
attendance, and beginning life as a farmer at the 
age of twenty. 

For ten years our subject industriously engaged 
in the duties of agriculture, cultivating one hun- 
dred and seventy-eight acres, and at the expira- 
tion of half a score of years removed to .Saline 
County, where he entered into the mercantile bus- 
iness, which he prosperously conducted until the 
Civil War. when, robbed by the opposing parties, 
alternately, he was at last financially ruined. In 
1847, Mr. Bigelow married Miss Henrietta E. Ev- 
ersman, born in Warren County, Mo., in 1834, and 
after the war once more turned his attention to 
farming, cultivating a tract of land owned by his 
wife. Beginning for the second time at the foot 
Of the ladder, he has steadily climbed upward, and 
is again enjoying prosperity. In 1889 he rented 
his farm, and commencing upon a very small scale 
in the tile business, has gradually extended its 
proportions, adding improvements of value, and 
now contemplates building a stoneware kiln, and 
is also arranging for the establishment of exten- 
sive tile works at Slater, continuing his interest in 
both places as manager and President of the com- 
bined enterprises. 

Mr. and Mrs. Bigelow arc the parents of the fol- 
lowing children: G. A. Bigelow, born in St. 
Charles County. Mo., in 1848, married Miss Lou 
Wilhite, and resides with his family in Texas: .1. 
B. lligelow, born in 1850, was united in marriage 
with Miss Lou Willard, and makes his home in 
Colorado; E. C. Bigelow, born in Saline County 
in 1856j married Miss Huff, and is farming near 
Gilliam; .lames, born in Saline County in 1872. is 



a Texas rancher; Rudolph, born in Saline County 
in 1874, is yet a member of the home circle; Alice, 
born in St. Charles County, Mo., in 1852, is the 
widow of Charles King, and is now with her 
parents: Eva, born in Saline County, in 1857, 
married J. T. Goodman, a farmer near Gilliam; 
Addie, born in Saline County in 1859, was mar- 
ried to I.. L. Huff, a successful agriculturist, farm- 
ing near Gilliam; Lena, born in Saline County, 
in 1862, married Mr. Harding, who is engaged in 
business in Gilliam as a painter. 

Our subject, although he has never connected 
himself with any religions denomination, has ever 
been a cheerful giver to the maintenance of relig- 
ious organizations, and has also interested himself 
in educational advancement, his children receiving 
the full advantage of the schools of their home. 
A strong Democrat, Mr. Bigelow is a firm believer 
in the principles of his party, and is a member of 
the Farmers' Alliance, and is thoroughly posted 
in local and national affairs of moment. Widely 
known and highly respected, our subject and his 
estimable family are in their various homes and 
localities numbered among the useful, energetic 
and prominent citizens of our country, and are 
representative, self-reliant Americans, who, over- 
coming all obstacles, steadily win their upward 
way to fortune and prosperity. 




R. MATI1EW W. HAL] ' Saline County, 

comes of a family of professional men, 
who trace their ancestry back through 
professional men: and he himself is hand- 
ing down the title to his sons, among whom are 
three practicing physicians, a banker and a Circuit 
Clerk. Dr. Hall's birthplace is in Washington 
County, K'y., where he first saw the light of da\ 
.May 15, 1817. He was reared in La Fayette 
County, graduating in 1837 from the Transyl- 
vania Medical College, at Lexington, under its 
first Board of Instructors. Soon after graduation, 



200 



POETRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



he went to Salem, 111., and practiced eight yearsi 
and there married Miss Agnes Lester, a native of 
the State of Virginia. 

The Doctor came to Arrow Rock, Saline County, 
Mo., in 1845, practiced here twelve years, then re- 
moved to his present home, purchasing a farm of 
three hundred and sixty acres of fine land, and 
continuing his practice until his advanced age 
made it advisable for him to lead a more quiet 
life. 

Dr. Hall's family consists of eight children: Dr. 
C. Lester, a practicing physician of Kansas City; 
William E., who is a banker of the same city: 
Louisa F., wife of William W. Trigg, of Boonville, 
Cooper County; .Tohn 1!., a practicing physician 
of Marshall; Florida L., wife of Dorsey W. Shackle- 
ford, of Boonville, a prominent lawyer of that 
place; Thomas 1!., who resides on the old home 
farm with his father, and is a practicing physician; 
Mathew W., the present Circuit Clerk; and Effle 
B., wife of Fred 15. Glover, a business man of 
Kansas City. 

Dr. Hall's parents, Rev. Nathan II. and Annie 
(Crawford) Hall, were from Virginia and Ken- 
tucky. The Rev. Nathan Hall preached at the 
First Presbyterian Church at Lexington, Ky., for 
twenty-seven consecutive years. His family con- 
sisted of seven children, the four sons all being 
professional men. Both Randall and Nathan Hall, 
grandfather and great-grandfather of Dr. Hall, 
were Revolutionary soldiers, and were with Wash- 
ington at the surrender of Yorktown. 

The Halls are of Scotch extraction, with the 
strength for which that nationality is noted. The 
Doctor's great-grandfather was at one time an 
Fpiseopal minister, but did not continue in that 
church, and his son became a Baptist minister, so 
several denominations have been represented. 

Dr. Hall's sons who are doctors are graduates 
from the St. Louis Medical College, and the older 
two have taken post-graduate courses in New 
York. As has been noticed, one of his sons-in- 
law is a lawyer, adding another professional man 
to the family. Dr. Hall has been greatly blessed 
in his children, all seeming to fulfill the expecta- 
tions that might reasonably have been indulged 
in with regard to them, and helping to prove the 



theory of inherited tendencies, as indeed would 
seem to be the ease with the Doctor himself. 

In 1861, and again in 1875, Dr. Hall represented 
Saline County in the Legislature, being elected to 
that position on the Democratic ticket, having al- 
ways been an ardent supporter of that party. Dur- 
ing the war he was surgeon in Col. Robinson's 
Regiment, and was taken prisoner on the Black 
Water River, and sent to McDowell College, and 
later transferred to Alton, 111., where, after three 
or four months, he received his parole. His eldest 
; son, C. Lester, was taken prisoner at the same 
time. His second son was also in the Confederate 
army, and served under Joe Shelby. 

Dr. Hall is a member of the Mt. Olive Presby- 
terian Church, of which he is an Elder. His post- 
offlce address is Marshall, while his farm is located 
on section 7, township 49, range 20. It is a fine 
place, and furnishes plenty of interesting occupa- 
tion for all the time and strength that the Doctor 
feels able or inclined to put upon it, and he him- 
self, after a long life of usefulness, has earned the 
right to take the part now of an interested 
looker-on and adviser, living over again in the 
lives of his children, and especially, perhaps, in 
those of his sons who are following his own pro- 
fession, the years of his own youth and middle 
age. Respected in the community, and esteemed 
by many friends, lie is going pleasantly down the 
slope of this existence toward a new and larger 
one. Mrs. Hall departed this life at her home. 
September 17, 1883. 







ON. LEONIDAS H. TUCKER, the Presid- 
ing Judge of the County Court of Saline, 
is one of the most prominent and influen- 
<*j. lial citizens of the State, and for many 
years has been constantly identified with every 
interest of importance in his immediate locality. 
He is one of the leading factors in the upward 
growth and progress of various useful and benevo- 
lent associations which have gathered into their 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



201 



membership the most cultivated and intelligent 
citizens in the country, and he is distinguished by 
the ability with which he conducts the daily busi- 
ness of life. 

The paternal grandfather of our subject was a 
farmer in Virginia, of English descent. His son, 
Joshua G., removed with his family to the South- 
west, traveling all the way by team and arriving 
in Missouri in 1838. At that lime the family 
consisted of husband, wife and one child. They 
first located in Saline County, on the Pinnacles in 
Miami Township. The next year they moved to 
Cooper County, where the father suffered heavy 
losses from the great floods of 1844. Becoming 
discouraged, he left the place, and in 1844 came to 
Miami Township, Saline County, and bought a 
far. n, where he was prospered exceedingly. A 
man of resolution and energy, he also thoroughly 
understood agricultural duties and was exceed- 
ingly practical in thought and action. He was 
a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and 
was a consistent Christian man. lie died when 
about sixty-three years of age. 

The mother of oitr subject, Elizabeth A. (Har- 
per) Tucker, was born in Nodaway County, Ya., 
and died in Miami Township. Her father died 
when she was an infant, and she was reared by an 
uncle, Dr. Harper, of Virginia. She was the mother 
of three daughters and two sons, the eldest child in 
the family being Leonidas, our subject. His Brsl 
residence in Missouri was in Cooper County, but 
from 1844 he has lived in Saline County. Judge 
Tucker was born December 13, 1837, in Dinwid- 
die County, Va. He attended the common schools 
of Saline County, but as his father's farm was new 
and required much cultivation to make it profit- 
able, he was obliged to assist in the daily cares, 
and sometimes was not able to go to the little log 
schoolhouse. Subsequently he had the advantage 
of instruction in Fairview Academy. His studies 
there completed, he returned home and again en- 
gaged in farming. 

In 1861, at the first call, our subject enlisted in 
the Confederate army under Gen. Parson. He 
eras also under Gen. Price for about two years. 
During the war he was in various parts of Mis- 
souri, and was Orderly-Sergeant in (apt. Brown's 



Company of Fairville. In about two years he re- 
turned home, and was married in Miami, June 7, 
1862, to Miss Sarah H. Mercereau, who Was born in 
Union, Broome County, N. Y. Mrs. Tucker is the 
daughter of Job L. Mercereau, a native of New 
York, and a farmer in Broome County. She is a 
graduate in music and taught seven years in the 
South, and has also followed that profession here. 
Judge Tucker and his estimable wife became the 
parents of three sons and two daughters: Layton 
G. was educated at Central College, in Fayette, 
Mo., and is a farmer in Marshall Township; Frank 
W. was also educated at Central College, and fol- 
lows farming pursuits in Miami Township; Har- 
vey E. and Minnie I. are at home. Ettie L. died 
in infancy. 

When Judge Tucker located on his farm he first 
cultivated one hundred acres and engaged in rais- 
ing hemp. Later, he devoted more time to stock- 
raising and feeding cattle, in which he was so suc- 
cessful that he increased his acreage, and now 
owns a farm of four hundred acres, all finely im- 
proved. The magnificent home farm is in Miami 
Township, upon section 7. Judge Tucker has in- 
creased his lauded estate, until he controls fully 
$50,000 worth of farming property. He had six 
hundred acres all improved, but has given two hun- 
dred to his sons. The home farm is all fenced and 
is improved with a handsome residence and well- 
built and commodious barns. Aside from general 
agriculture our subject is raising full-blooded and 
grade Shorthorns, and feeds a large number of 
cattle. He was in the Saline County Fair Asso- 
ciation from its formation until its close, having 
served as Director constantly, and for one year 
was President. He has some line roadsters in his 
barn, and the entire appearance of the farm de- 
notes the energy, thrift and good management of 
the owner. 

Judge Tucker is very properly a member of the 
Old Settlers" Association. Ahvay interested in 
educational advancement, he was a school official, 
and in 1886 was elected Presiding County Judge 
and re-elected in 1890. lie is a member of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church and has been a Trus- 
tee. Politically, he has frequently enjoyed the 
distinction of representing his constituents in State 



202 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



and county conventions, and in every instance 

lias conducted his official duties in a manner must 
satisfying to all concerned. Conscientious and 
upright, lie has worthily won the good-will and 
confidence of the general public. 



♦^•S-^* 



^ UDGE B. 1). WEEDIN, the popular and 

enterprising County Surveyor, and for- 
merly Judge of the County Court, is a 
prosperous agriculturist, possessing an ex- 
tended experience in farming, chiefly upon section 
18, township 50, range 26, La Fayette County. 
Our subject engaged in military life, both in the 
State militia of Missouri and as a brave and fear- 
less officer in the late war. In the discharge of 
the various official duties intrusted to his care he 
has exhibited the clear judgment and faithfulness 
which have ever distinguished his conduct upon 
the bench and in the daily affairs of life. A citi- 
zen of undoubted integrity of character, he has 
worthily won the confidence of the general public, 
and commands the esteem of all who know him. 

Judge Weedin is a native of Glasgow, Ky., and 
was born in 1831. His father, Caleb Weedin, was 
a native of South Carolina, and when a boy re- 
moved to Kentucky; afterward he came to Mis- 
souri, when it was a Territory, and sojourned here 
for some time, and then returned to Kentucky 
and married Miss Eliza S. Moore, who was born in 
that State. 

The paternal grandfather of our subject, Ben- 
jamin Weedin, was a veteran of the Revolutionary 
War, a brave and patriotic man, ardent in the 
defense of the Colonies, and a believer in the 
Government of a republic. The youthful days 
of Judge Weedin were passed in Kentucky, where 
lie attended the common schools and aided his fa- 
ther upon the farm until 1849, when he entered 
Centre College at Danville, and, having completed 
the classical course with honor, was graduated in 
1853 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. 



Immediately following the completion of his 
college course, our subject came to La Fayette 
County and settled in Lexington, where he en- 
gaged in surveying and civil engineering. He 
served in the State Militia of Missouri, and in 
1861 enlisted as Lieutenant in Ruffner's Battery, 
remaining at the front until the close of the war. 
Courageous and fearless, he participated in the 
battles of Prairie Grove and Little Rock, and nu- 
merous skirmishes. He was in the thick of the 
conflict almost continuously, sharing perils and 
daily privations year after year until the close of 
the war. Returning then to La Fayette County, 
he once more resumed the peaceful avocation of 
earlier life, and, locating upon his present farm, 
became again a tiller of the soil. 

The farm of one hundred and sevent3 r acres is 
under a fine state of cultivation, annually yield- 
ing a bounteous harvest, and yearly increasing in 
value. An adept in civil engineering and ac- 
counted an expert surveyor, Judge Weedin has 
most efficiently conducted the duties of County 
Surveyor, being elected to the position in 1880, 
and holding the office continuously ever since. 
It is now nearly twenty-three years since our sub- 
ject took his seat upon the bench as Judge of 
La Fayette County, and for a term of two years 
lie presided with honor and ability, his rulings, 
ever in accord with law and evidence, displaying 
the acquirements of a scholar and the legal knowl- 
edge of a thorough jurist. 

In the month of August, 1865, Judge Weedin 
was united in marriage with Miss Martha A., 
daughter of Daniel Lankford, an old and highly 
respected resident of the county. The pleasant 
home of Judge Weedin and his wife was blessed 
by the birth of three children, two sons and one 
daughter. Kirby, the eldest of the family, is a 
civil engineer in Denver, Colo. William B. is a 
medical student in Maxwell, Tenn. Katie S. is a 
promising student in Elizabeth Aull Seminary, at 
Lexington, Mo. The mother of this family died 
in 1879. She was a faithful member of the Cum- 
berland Presbyterian Church, and an estimable 
lady. Judge Weedin is an active supporter of 
social, religious and benevolent enterprises, and is 
identified with the Cumberland Presbyterian 



. 





rfoYU Id. d^rvu^ 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



205 



Church. Possessing an extended acquaintance, he 
has long been recognized as an important factor 
in local progress and improvement. He has al- 
ways taken an abiding interest in political affairs, 
and is a thorough and consistent Democrat. 



teh 



/ OHN B. J< >NES. In presenting to our read- 
ers the salient features connected with the 
life of this prominent citizen of Aullville, 
^§g/ it may be well to first briefly revert to his 
ancestry, which on both sides is admirable. It 
united the traits of thrift, sagacity, enterprise, in- 
dustry, patriotism, and, indeed, all the qualities of 
the best manhood and womanhood. On the pa- 
ternal side, Mr. Jones is descended from Welsh and 
German ancestors, while on the maternal side he 
is of Scotch-Irish and English descent. 

During the Revolutionary War the grandfather 
of our subject joined the Colonial army in its 
struggle for liberty. Again, when patriots were 
called for, in the War of 1812, both paternal and 
maternal grandfathers were among those who en- 
tered the ranks as soldiers. Great-grandfather 
Boyd was for five years a prisoner with the In- 
dians at Ft. Du Quesne, and was there at the time 
of Gen. Braddock's defwat by the French. 

Our subject was born in Brooke County, W. Va., 
September 27, 1833, the son of Ellis and Hester C. 
(Boyd) Jones, natives of West Virginia and of 
Washington County, Pa., respectively. He was 
reared upon his father's farm, and for a time at- 
tended the common schools; he later entered Beth- 
any College, where he completed bis education. 
For a short time he taught school in West Virginia, 
and as he lias always been a very extensive reader, is 
well informed upon almost every topic. In 1858, 
he came to La Fayette County. Mo., and in I860 
began farming upon land which h* had rented. 
Later he bought a tine tract of land a short dis- 
tance south of Aullville. and upon that and an ad- 
joining farm he remained until 1888. 

During the late war our subjeel was a member first 



of the enrolled militia, then of the provisional 
militia, and later of the United states troops. 
While with the latter he was First Sergeant of 
Company E, Forty-fifth Missouri Infantry, and 
was appointed to duty principally in this State, 
although he also served some time in Tennessee. 
About 18S.H, Mr. .bines came into the town of Aull- 
ville, where he has remained ever since. He was 
married June 15, 1871, to Mrs. O. P. Twiss, a na- 
tive of Kentucky. Mr. and Mrs. Jones are mem- 
bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is 
serving as Steward, which office he has held since 
1868. 

For many years our subject has been a stanch 
Republican. lie has served his party on the County 
Committee, and at present he is a member of the 
State Central Committee for the Fifth District. 
His connection with the Masonic order is of long 
standing; he has served as Master of the lodge in 
Aullville, and he is very active in all matters con- 
nected with the order. He was a charter member 
of the James A. Mulligan Post No. 11, G. A. R., 
at Lexington, and later became a charter member 
of the John P. McCluney Post No. 331, G. A. R., 
Higginsville, Mo., of which he has been three 
limes honored by being made Commander, and at 
present holds that position. 

Mr. Jones has been much interested in the de- 
velopment of this county, and has assisted with 
his means and influence to aid its progress. Al- 
though lie has retired from active work on the 
farm, he remembers the trials through which lie 
has passed and by which he has attained to his 
present state of peace and plenty. 



>>—»■■ ' i»i ' i > 



> i ' i i ^- 



B. ROBERTSON is one of the leading 
y and influential young farmers and stoek- 
tf&P^ ra ' st ' ls "' Valine County and well deserves 
representation in this volume. He re- 
sides <ui township ■"> I . range 23. He was born in 
Knox County, Mo., April Hi, 1859, and is of 
Scotch-Irish descent, the family having been 



206 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



founded in America by ancestors who settled in 
Virginia in Colonial days. His grandfather, Jo- 
siah Robertson, was born in that Slate, from where 
he removed to Ohio, but in the year L840 became 
a resident of Marion County, Mo., where he en- 
tered a considerable tract of land. His family 
numbered two sons and three daughters: John M., 
a lawyer and real-estate dealer of Kansas City; Al- 
bert G., living near Mt. Leonard; Isabel, widow 
of W. Moreland, who resides on the old home- 
stead in Marion Count}', Mo.; Jane, wife of Robert 
Hall; and Caroline, wife of Daniel Black. 

A. (i. Robertson, the father of our subject, was 
born in Ohio in 1822, and with his parents came 
to Missouri at the age of seventeen years. He has 
followed farming throughout his entire life and is 
still engaged in that pursuit. He remained at 
home until his marriage with .Miss Mary, daughter 
of Randall and Rosa Black, both of whom are na- 
tives of Ireland. Their daughter was born in the 
Buckeye State. Mr. and Mrs. Robertson began 
their domestic life upon a farm in Knox County, 
Mo., which he had entered only a few months be- 
fore their marriage. He at one time owned six- 
teen hundred acres of land, but has sold to his 
sons all but about five hundred acres. In 18(!5 
lie removed to Hancock County, 111., where he 
rented land for a short time, and then came to Sa- 
line County, where he has since made his home. 
While in Knox County he served as Judge of the 
County Court. In politics he supports the Demo- 
cratic principles, and during the war his sympa- 
thies were witli the South. The Robertson family 
numbered eight children, but George M. and 
Annie are now deceased. Those still living are: 
Josiah, John M., Dorothea J., Daniel B., Thomas J. 
and Minnie. 

The subject of this sketch acquired his educa- 
tion in the public schools and was reared to man- 
hood upon his father's farm. In 1887 he took a 
trip to the Southwest, visiting New Mexico and 
Colorado, and on his return he was joined in mar- 
riage with Miss May, daughter of Jesse Van 
Winkle, of Saline County, who is of German de- 
scent. Two children grace their union, Minnie 
and George. 

Mr. Robertson purchased his present farm in 



1882. In company with his father he bought 
four hundred and forty acres of land, but has since 
purchased his father's share and recently has be- 
come owner of a tract of one hundred acres not 
far distant. He is engaged in general farming 
and stock-raising, and feeds cattle, hogs and sheep 
epiite extensivel}'. He also breeds mules and 
horses, and handles each year between three and 
four hundred hogs and between two and three 
hundred cattle. His landed possessions aggregate 
Ave hundred and forty acres, and the well-tilled 
fields and neat appearance of the place indicate 
the thrift and enterprise of the owner. His home 
is a commodious and handsome residence, beauti- 
fully located, and stands as a monument to the 
progressive spirit of the owner. Mr. Robertson is 
acknowledged one of the active, prosperous and 
progressive farmers of Saline County. 



AMES II. STARR, a representative agricul- 
turist and a highly respected citizen of La 
Fayette County, Mo., resides upon his 
finely cultivated homestead located in 
section 16, township 48, range 27, and is widely 
known as a man of sterling integrity of character. 
Earnest, energetic and self-reliant, he has made his 
own way in the world, and, successful in the pur- 
suit of agriculture, is also an important factor in 
local improvements and progress. Our subject 
was born in Jefferson County, Tenn., near McFar- 
lan Post Office, February 13, 1840, and is a son of 
Sampson and Anna M. (Scaggs) Starr. 

Sampson Starr, born near Bull Gap, Tenn.. was 
long an honest, hard-working and intelligent far- 
mer of his native State, but finally he determined 
to try his fortunes in Missouri, and in the fall of 
1853, with team and wagon, slowly made the 
journey hither, being six weeks upon the way. At 
last reaching his destination, December 24, he set- 
tled in Sniabar Township, and two years later lo- 
cated on one hundred and twenty acres in section 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



207 



5, township 18. range 27. where lie lived many 
years, an industrious tiller of the soil, and after a 
life of busj usefulness passed away in 1882. 

Sampson Starr was twice married, and by his 
first wife became the father of five children, all of 
whom lived to adult age. The sisters and brothers 
were William, James H., Ellen, Marian and Eme- 
line. The second wife was Mary Simpson, a lady 
well known and highly respected in the home 
neighborhood and locality. The parents of our 
subject were both members of the Cumberland 
l'resl>\ terian Church, and were consistent Christian 
people. In political affiliation, Sampson Starr was 
in early life a Whig, and later a strong Republican, 
The Starrs are of German ancestry, but numerous 
members of the family have long been among the 
honest, upright and law-abiding citizens of the 
United States. 

James II. Starr, reared upon a farm, was trained 
into habits of energetic industry, and with but a 
limited education, grew up manly and self-reliant, 
and at nineteen years of age, enlisted in October, 
1862, in Company A, First Missouri Cavalry, and 
served bravely as Second Sergeant. The first bat- 
tle in which he participated was at Kirksville, and 
following that he took an active part in all the 
engagements in which the regiment was called into 
action. He was severely wounded in the left leg 
at Lexington, and after facing perils and priva- 
tions courageously, was honorably discharged from 
the service in St. Louis, July 7. 1865, and returned 
at once to agricultural duties. Upon September 2, 
1868, our subject was united in marriage with Miss 
.Mary . I. Martin, who was born in Johnson County, 
Mo., the daughter of Joseph and Fizzy (Hunter) 
Martin, who came from North Carolina to Mis- 
souri, and were among the early settlers of the 
State. They became the father and mother of ten 
children. 

Mr. and Mrs. James II. Stan- became the parents 
of six children, five of whom are now surviving. 
They were as follows: Charles, who is married; 
Fannie, the wife of John Edwards; George S., 
Mcrril A., Lillie F. and Fred M. Our subject and 
his esteemed wife are Baptists, to which denomina- 
tion Mrs. Starr has belonged since childhood, bul 
Mr. Starr, who formerly was a communicant of the 



Cumberland Church (Presbyterian), has only been 
a member of the Baptist Church the past twelve 
years. The husband ami wife are both active in 
all good works and benevolent enterprises of their 
church, and are liberal supporters in the extension 
of its good work. Politically, Mr. Stan- is an ac- 
tive Republican, and an ardent advocate of the 
part}'. Immediately upon his return from the 
scenes of war. our subject rented land, and later 
bought ninety acres adjoining his father's farm, 
which he improved, and in April, 1885, profitably 
disposed of, and then located upon the one hun- 
dred and eighty acres of valuable land which now 
comprise his fine homestead. Mr. Starr has won 
success in life by honest effort, and is well worthy 
of the regard which he receives from friends and 
fellow-citizens. 



c=1 



"S3 



£+£ 



rJ 



t=r 




i S. McDANIEL, M. D., one of the oldest 
physicians and also one of the most inllu- 
i ential of the residents of Saline County 
||y Mo., is the subject of this sketch. His 

location is upon section 19, township 52, range 
20, and he is a native of the State and county, 
having first seen the light here in 1847. 

The parents of Dr. McDaniel were R. E. and 
Delia (Richerson) McDaniel, both of whom were 
natives of the State of Virginia. The family was 
formed, before coming to America, by the union 
of Scotch and Irish elements, but of their exact 
location at that time we have no data. The family 
home was in Virginia, and there the father of our 
subject was educated in the common schools and 
passed a part of his early life. In 1844. we find 
him located in the county of Saline, one of its 
most prominent citizens. At different times he 
engaged in the mercantile business in Missouri — 
at Boonville, and also at Miami, at which lat- 
ter place he was located at the time of his death. 

Mr. McDaniel had acquired a large amount of 
property, having purchased some five thousand 
acres in Saline ( 'ountv. the greater part of which 



208 



POxiTRAlT AJSiD BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



he retained at the time of his decease. This 
land has since been divided between the heirs, 
and by the terras of hi-, father'.- will our subject 
was found to be one of the executors. The father is 
still well remembered in the county, as he had iden- 
tified himself with all matters concerning his State 
and county, lie was elected to and filled with 
credit the office of Judge of the County Court, 
and was also one of the organizers and builders 
of the Bethel Church. His convictions were firm, 
and his adherence to the principles of Democracy 
unwavering, and he was always warm in his feel- 
ings for the cause of the Confederacy. 

Our subject was one of a family of twelve 
children, nine brothers and three sisters. At pres- 
ent four of the lirotheis are living and two sisters. 
The eldest of the family was Reuben McDanicl 
(see sketch); Giles R. married Laura Gainett. and 
resides in Kansas City, where he carries on a real- 
estate business; B. F. married Martha Brown, and 
at present practices law in the city of Pueblo, 
Colo., near which city he is engaged in extensive 
cattle and land interests; Mary married Mr. Bell, 
a minister of the Gospel at Miami; and Flora E. 
is the widow of Quincy Thomson, and now lives 
north of Slater. 

< >ur subject was reared on the home place, and 
his early education was obtained at what is com- 
monly known as the Bethel Schoolhouse. After 
finishing here, he attended .school at Fairville, 
completing the English branches of his education 
at Huntsville, Mo., at the age of nineteen. This 
had necessitated close application and a brilliant 
understanding. He then commenced a course of 
medical studies with Dr. Dunlap, a Miami phy- 
sician, and remained with him for one year as 
a student; he then went to the Medical Univer- 
sity of Virginia, thence going to Bellevue College, 
in New York City, from which institution he was 
graduated in 1*70. 

At the death of his beloved father, our subject, 
with two brothers, took charge of the estate, to 
which business he attended until the year 1873, 
when he began the practice of medicine in Saline 
County. Here he remained until his marriage 
with Miss Hebe Scott. She was born in the town 
of Miami, in Saline County, in 1855, and was the 



daughter of John P. Scott. The marriage took 
place in 1.S8G. and one child was born of this 
union, Mary, born in 1KK7. At this time Dr. 
McDaniel removed to Kansas City, where he again 
resumed the practice of medicine and remained 
three years, when he returned to Miami. 

Our subject is the owner of the old McDaniel 
homestead and the surrounding tract of land of 
four hundred and twenty-five acres, all improved, 
and which is at present valued at 865 per acre, 
lie is a valued member of the Baptist Church in 
Miami, and is a liberal supporter of the same. 
As may be imagined, Dr. McDaniel is a Democrat 
in his political belief, both from training and con- 
viction. 



=I#!^1 



i!^»i^!!i|#j 



' OSEPH II. PAGE, the progressive and en- 
terprising founder of Page City. La Fay- 
ette County. Mo., is numbered among the 
' early pioneer citizens of this State who laid 
the broad foundation of the advancement and up- 
ward growth of their localities, and has aided in 
all the improvements that have been important 
factors in the rapid settlement and development 
of this portion of the United States. Our subject, 
always ambitious, energetic, and withal possessing 
excellent judgment, has accomplished results most 
gratifying in retrospect. A self-reliant man, over- 
coming obstacles with apparent ease, he was well 
adapted to the requirements of the almost wilder- 
ness into which he came in early boyhood. 

Born in Warren County, Ky., in 1813, Mr. 
Page is the son of Axel II. Page, a native of Vir- 
ginia. His mother, born in the Old Dominion, 
was a daughter of John Ennis, also "a native Vir- 
ginian. The remote ancestors of the Page family 
were of Scotch and English nativity, while the 
English branch of the Pages early located in Vir- 
ginia, and during the Revolutionary struggles and 
triumphs rendered signal service to the Federal 
Government. The paternal grandfather of our 
subject, in whose honor Mr. Page received the 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



209 



baptismal name of Joseph, was a native of Vir- 
ginia, and a man renowned for courage, wil and 
ability. He was widely known and commanded 
the est ccin of a large circle of friends and acquaint- 
ances. 

The early years of the life of Mr. Page were 
passed upon his father's farm in Warren County, 
Ky. His leisure moments were few. In spring, 
summer and fall he assisted in sowing, planting 

and reaping, and in winter went to Scl 1. Trained 

to honest industry, he acquired habits of useful- 
ness and independence of character, which were 
his substantial capital with which to begin life for 
himself. In 1827 the family hade adieu to old 
Kentucky and removed to Missouri, settling in 
Dover Township, La Fayette County. Our sub- 
ject en joyed some further educational opportuni- 
ties in his new home, where the subscription 

schools of the neighborl d were conducted with 

regularity. Passing through the days of boyhood 
and arriving at twenty-one years. Mr. Page de- 
termined to begin farming for himself, and lo- 
cated upon his present homestead, which is on 
section 23, township 50, range 27. 

The three hundred and twenty acres, all under 
a high state of cultivation, have ever yielded ex- 
cellent returns for the labor and time expended 
upon the fertile soil. In the year 1836 our sub- 
ject was united in marriage witli Miss Elizabeth, 
a daughter of Crislev Couch, a native of North 
Carolina. The pleasant home of Mr. and Mrs. 
Page was blessed by the birth of fifteen chil- 
dren. This exceptionally large fainih of brothers 
and sisters were widely known for their intelli- 
gent ability and self-reliance. Of the eight sons 
and seven daughters who were wont to cluster 
about the family table, the following survive, and 
all occupy positions of honor and influence. Eliz- 
abeth, named in honor of her mother, was the eld- 
est child. Axel II., called by the honored name 
of his grandfather, was the second child, and then 
followed in succession Henry C, William I!.. Jo- 
seph 1 1.. Francis, Bathsheba, Jessie .1.. Mary, Joshua 
1!., Thomas II.. .lames M. and .Maria, the young- 
est daughter. 

Mr. Page is a strong Democrat, and has affili- 
ated with that party since I860. 'Without desir- 



ing political promotion himself, he is ever inter- 
ested in the candidates for local and national 
office, well knowing the prosperity of the whole 
country depends upon the skillful guidance of 
those who stcei- theShip of State. Fraternally, our 
subject is a member of the Masonic order at Lex- 
ington, Mo. Three-score and five years have 
passed swiftly away since Mr. Page, then a boy of 
fourteen, made his home not far from his present 
location. The then unbroken land has since yielded 
up its thousands of acres to culture, and blossom- 
ing orchards have replaced the thick underbrush. 
Modern dwellings, roomy barns, and commodious 
Outbuildings stand where Stood the rude houses 
fashioned of logs, and little is left to remind the 
new-comer of the pioneer days. The work which 
such unselfish and untiring citizens as Mr. Page 
accomplishes lives after them, and the benefits 
they confer on posterity are a lasting monument 
to their lives of toil and usefulness. 



T'OIIN PORTER SCOTT. Some mention of 
the life work of this former prominent busi- 
ness man of Miami, who has now entered 
into his rest, will not be without interest to 
our readers. He was bom in Salem. Inch, July 24, 
1819. His father, OUey Scott, was born in Cul- 
peper County, Va., April 11, 1789. Through him 
the ancestry is traced back to John, then to Will- 
iam, who emigrated from Derry, Ireland, (it is 
thought from dates in the family record in the 
year 1735) with Burden's Colony, who came over 
as agents for Lord Thomas Fairfax on condition 
that he had one hundred settlers on his grant of 
land in ten years. 

Records and traditions of the Scott family arc 
meagre, consisting only of births, marriages and 
deaths. They were known as an honorable, highly 
respected race, and were generally thrifty and in 
comfortable circumstances, .lames and John, the 
latter our subject, were left orphans so early in 



210 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



life that they had little remembrance of their par- 
ents. Their Scott relatives being in Kentucky, 
they entered at once the family of their guardian, 
Dr. Burr Bradley, from Boston, Mass., under whose 
charge they remained until grown to manhood. 
( If their mother's family, named McKinney, living 
not far from Salem, they have a more complete and 
satisfactory record, which dates back, however, to 
the same colony of Scotch-Irish Presbyterians. As 
early settlers of Virginia, Kentucky and Indiana, 
they were prominent in all work which tended to- 
ward advancing civilization, building up institu- 
tions of learning, and as ministers and leaders their 
names often occur in the early history of those 
times. 

Dr. Bradley placed James and John Scott in 
school, under the charge of John I. Morrison, a 
prominent educator of Southern Indiana. James, 
not being fond of books and not possessing an in- 
tellectual turn of mind, chose to leave school early 
for a business life. Shortly afterward he was mar- 
ried to Adaline Shelbourne, a lady of rare execu- 
tive ability and force of character. They reared 
three children: Janie Smith, Lou Belle Tinner, and 
Dr. Walter, who showed early in his profession a 
high order of ability, but died while young. James, 
the father, died in 18fi8. The following extract 
was found in his record book, a fitting tribute to 
his brother: "There is but one real, genuine re- 
spectable service of God, and that is the service 
which da}' by day shows itself in honest, earnest 
and sincere living, which day by day endeavors to 
free itself from unrighteousness, which day by day 
endeavors to clothe itself in the beauty of unself- 
ishness. All this I believe my brother endeavored 
to do." 

John' P. Scott continued in the Washington 
Count}' Seminary through its course, having as 
classmates many who afterward became prominent 
in the history of that State. He was selected by a 
Congressman of that district for a scholarship at 
West Point. It was, however, decided by Dr. 
Bradley that he was physically unfitted for the 
drill, and Thomas Rodman, who became an able 
engineer and also the inventor of the Rodman 
gun, was selected to take his place. lie was then 
urged by his teacher and friends to study law, for 



which he had a decided preference and mental fit- 
ness. He pursued legal studies for some time, and 
was able through life to work up any case in which 
he became interested. In the literary societies 
connected with the school, he showed a high order 
of ability, both as a writer and speaker. 

It was here that the life mistake of Mr. Scott 
was made. He was turned aside from his chosen 
profession by the necessity of immediate effort for 
a living. In a financial crisis in the town, his 
guardian failed, and he thus lost the little remain- 
ing of his patrimony. Resigning a life of congenial 
brain work, for which nature had fitted him and of 
which he always felt the want, he afterward lived 
in a world cf books and beautiful ideals, apart 
from the business to which he devoted his life and 
energies for fifty years. For three years he was 
book-keeper for a house in Salem, after which he 
removed to St. Louis, and from there went to 
Boonville, Mo., in 1841. Here he enjoyed his first 
holiday, visiting the family of his uncle, William 
Scott, a prosperous planter. In that city he ac- 
cepted a position in a business house, remaining 
three years. 

While in Boonville, Mr. Scott formed the ac- 
quaintance of Judge McDaniel, with whom he 
agreed to go to Saline County and take charge of 
a general mercantile and produce business. Saline 
being at that time a large hemp-producing county. 
The firm of McDaniel & Scott was established in 
1844. Before taking charge of this business, Mr. 
Scott went to Iowa and was there married to Miss 
Elvira A. Weir, a schoolmate of former years, and 
together they started life in Miami. The business 
was heavy and laborious, requiring the closest care 
and attention. The partnership was dissolved in 
1847, and from that time Mr. Scott continued 
alone in business through life. As a business man, 
no other in the county left a fairer or more hon- 
orable record. The business is still conducted un- 
der his name. At his death, he left two children 
and three grandchildren, namely: Mrs. Eva W. 
Miller and her two children, Eva S. and Louise W.; 
and Mrs. Hebe McDaniel and her daughter, Mary. 
Eva W. was married, November 3, 1871, to Lewis 
W. Miller, a voting lawyer of promise, who died in 
January, 1S74. He was a son of Hon. John G. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



211 



Miller, who was sent to represent liis district in 
the Congress of the United States three times. He 
died comparatively young during his third .term. 
Hebe was married, in June, 1877, to Dr. A. S. Mc- 
Daniel, son of Judge R. E. McDaniel, well known 
in the earl}' history of Saline County. 

During the horrors of the Civil War, and when 
the country was so impoverished that bankruptcy 
was almost, universal, Mr. Scott paid every dollar 
of debt and made a new start in life, after his 
prime was over. He devoted the more closely to 
business his declining years, that might have been 
spent in a leisure that would have given time for 
the intellectual enjoyment he had been denied. 
His writings were mainly historical and political 
sketches. He also left many little poems that are 
highly prized by his family and friends. The last 
he ever wrote expresses his faith in the love of the 
Father, and his belief and hope in immortality. 
Every year he seemed to have conic up into a 
higher plane, growing more and more patient, 
strong and loving. Without a bodily infirmity, 
with mind vigorous and clear, that for which he 
had always longed — death suddenly and without 
pain— came and he fell asleep. 

James Weir, father of Mrs. Elvira A. Scott, was 
born in Rockbridge County. Ya.. in 17!»7. His 
father, Robert, born in 176',). was the son of .lames 
Weir, Sr., who emigrated from County Down in 
the North of Ireland. From him his descendants 
possess two relics, his will and a memorandum 
book with dates as far back as 171."). in which some 
items indicate that he held a public ollice. There 
are extant records of the Weir family dating back 
to the sixteenth century, when this branch of the 
family obtained their grant of land in the North 
of Ireland. James Weir removed with his father 
from Kentucky to Clarke's Grant, north of the 
Ohio River. Indiana was then a Territory, full of 
hostile Indiana. For a time they lived in a fort. 
James Weir married Jane Dinwiddie, of Scoti 
County. Ky. Her father. Thomas Dinwiddie. who 
belonged to the family of that name known in 
Colonial history, removed to Kentucky soon after 
the Revolutionary War. James Weir lived in 
Indiana until 1811, when he removed Mill further 
West and located in Iowa, then a Territory, partly 



in possession of the Indians. He settled in Wa- 
pello County in the new reservation, with the his- 
tory of which he was prominently connected for 
ten year.- before his death. As a citizen and 
friend, he was beloved and respected by all. 



"*- =^^>*<I 



*— 



epfNTHoNY W. DOUTHITT, residing upon 

(@/-J| | a very good farm located in township 10. 

/// lit range 26, section 32, in La Fayette County, 
qJ Mo., may be named as one of the most suc- 

cessful of the agriculturists of this part of the 
State. Our subject was born in Beaver County, 
Pa., February 13, 1828, a son of Robert and Phoebe 
(Newkirk) Douthitt, both parents being natives 
of Pennsylvania. The paternal ancestors of the 
family came from Ireland, and the grandfather, 
Joseph Douthitt, took part in the Revolutionary 
War under Gen. Wayne. This grandfather was 
a pioneer of Beaver County, Pa., and there the 
father of our subject was born ill 1802. 

( )ur subject has two brothers and one sister liv- 
ing: Shipman N., Robert J., and Mrs. R. A. Satter- 
field,of Marshall County, Pa. Anthony was reared 
to maturity in his native State, and, while early 
accustomed to the duties of farm life, his education 
was not neglected. After attendance at the sub- 
scription schools of his neighborhood, he went 
into the public schools, and from there entered the 
Darlington Academy, at Darlington, Pa., where he 
continued for some time. This excellent institu- 
tion has always kept up a high standard of educa- 
tion, and when our subject left there he was pre- 
pared for the business of teaching, which he en- 
gaged in for some time in his native State. 

The marriage of Mr. Douthitt took place May 1. 
1851, with Miss Anna W. Welsh. a native of Beaver 
County, bom April 30, 1*27. She was the estima- 
ble daughter of William and Beulah (Coopei i 
Welsh, her father a native of Pennsylvania and 
her mother of New Jersey, of English ancestry. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Douthitt six children were born, 
as follows: Homer J.. Richard W.. Joseph B.. Rob- 



212 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ert L.; Ella J., wife of Allen Brown; and Mary T., 
deceased. Both of the daughters of Mr. Douthitt 
followed the profession of teaching, one until mar- 
riage, the other until called away by the summons 
all must obey. The sons are all fine young men, 
able to take their positions in life with credit to 
themselves and the family. 

In lxGG our subject removed with his family to 
the State of Missouri and located first in Johnson 
County, where he remained until 1868, then came 
into La Fayette County. The farm upon which 
Mr. Douthitt and his most excellent wife reside is 
a very good one, in a fine state of cultivation, 
yielding a handsome income, and lias proved a val- 
uable investment. Success has crowned the efforts 
of our subject, and now he and the companion of 
his joys and sorrows are enjoying the comforts of 
life in a quiet way, attending upon the services 
of their church, the Southern Methodist, as oppor- 
tunity offers, and living, in the meantime, lives of 
Christian effort and example. 

Mr. Douthitt is a Democrat in his political pro- 
clivities, and has filled many of the local offices in 
the gift of the people. His vote always goes in 
the direction of improvement of any kind in the 
county or State. As a member of the Masonic 
fraternity, a Master Mason, he is widely known, 
and is now connected with the lodge in Higgins- 
ville. and is one of the most highly respected men 
in the county, having so conducted his life as to 
receive the esteem of all. Mrs. Douthitt is also 
most favorably known to a smaller circle. She 
lias one remaining sister, Mrs. Mary Barnes, of 
Pennsylvania. 



J/OSEPH I). EDWARDS, a prominent business 
man of Fairville, Mo., and the present Post- 
master of the place, is the subject of the 
present notice. His parents were natives 
of Virginia, and were named Joseph C. and Eliza- 
beth (Harvey) Edwards, and both died there when 
Joseph, Jr., was but a lad. He grew up in the kind 
family of Maj. Harvey, who was the father of 



Thomas R. E. Harvey, of whom a sketch appears 
elsewhere. His education was somewhat limited 
and was received in an old log schoolhouse, of 
primitive pattern and design, of the kind now 
rarely seen except in a picture, where its pic- 
turesqueuess does not display its actual discom- 
forts in real life. 

In 1836, our subject came with Maj. Harvey to 
Saline County, Mo., and this has been his home 
ever since. He went into business for himself in 
1847, when he began clerking in a store in St. 
Louis, but remained there but a short time, when he 
returned to Miami and engaged in business, where 
he continued for three years, prospering all the 
time. When in his twenty-first j'ear, he married 
Miss Elizabeth, the daughter of James Baker. She 
became the mother of one son, who is named 
Marcellus and is now a real-estate broker of St. 
Louis. Mrs. Edwards lived but a short time, and 
in 1854 our subject married Mrs. Amanda Ilarl, 
the daughter of Thomas Evans, and to them were 
born seven children who are still living and one 
which has been taken away. 

After marriage, Mr. Edwards followed farming 
as an occupation until 1875, when he established 
his present business, which has proven very sat is- 
factory. He seems peculiarly fitted for commercial 
pursuits and is very popular. As soon as he had 
established his business he was made Postmaster 
and has directed the affairs of the office to the sat- 
isfaction of all the community. • His mercantile 
business has been very gratifying in its success, as 
he keeps up with the times and is always pleasing 
and obliging. 

Politically, our subject is a Democrat and for 
several terms has served as Justice of the Peace. 
His religious convictions have placed him in the 
Christian Church and he is a man highly esteemed. 
He has had a long residence in the county, has 
seen most of its development and lias been identi- 
fied with its progress in the best sense of the term. 
There are some who feel pleased if progress is 
made and are glad to participate in it, but who do 
not render much aid in that direction themselves, 
but it is not to that class that our subject belongs, 
as he encourages the improvements and helps to 
push along the car. 



' 





*>?%& 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



2 1 5 



li. DAVIS, A. B., M. s.. M. I). Few, if any, 
men are better known in Marshall than 1 1 1 < - 
genial City Physician, and although he 
unites the melancholy office of Coroner with 
the aforesaid, that is a necessary evil that is for- 
gotten in his pleasing personality and in the read- 
iness with which he responds in hours of need to 

the | r as well as the rich, lie is a native of 

tins city and was horn March 29, 1*12. the son of 
Isaac W. and Rebecca (Baker) Davis. 

Members of the Davis family for the past three 
generations have figured conspicuously in the pub- 
lic life of Marshall. Our subject's grandfather, 
Cornelius Davis, held the first .lust ice Court in 
Saline County, and was one of the Commissioners 
who located the county seat at that place. He was 
a native of Ken lucky, where he married and where 
his son, our subject's father, was born. In about 
L820, he removed to Missouri, before it was made 
a Slate, ami located in what i- now Saline County, 
at Jonesboro, which was the first county seat. He 
followed merchandising throughout his life. 

Our subject's mother was born in Virginia, and 
came here with her parents about 1822. Her fa- 
ther, Michael Baker, also located near Jonesboro. 
After Marshall was made the county seat, our suh- 
je i - father moved here, built a -tore and carried 
on a general mercantile business until his death, 
which occurred in 1*44. The family which he 
left compri-cd a widow and live sons: Cornelius 
M., Henry. Thomas, Joseph 1'.. and Isaac. The 
mother died in 1863. she was a devoted member 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and reared her 
children in the teachings of that faith. 

As a lad. our subject was first sent to a public 
school. Afterward he became a student in the 
Central College, in Fayette, Howard County, 
and in 1869 was graduated with the title of Bach- 
elor of Art-. He then entered the Missouri State 
University at Columbia and was graduated June 
25, 1873, with the title of Master of Science. 
Later, he took a course at the Missouri Medical 
College in St. Louis, and there added the profes- 
sional title to his other degrees in the Class of '83. 
In the meantime he had disciplined himself and 
hail doubtless learned many valuable lessons by 
teaching. 
10 



Thus equipped for the practice of bis profession, 
Dr. Davis determined to hang out his shingle at 
his old home, and consequently his professional 
work has been confined to thisplace. He ha- built 
up an extensive practice, and is widely known as a 
profound student of the science, as well as being suc- 
cessful in the practical treatment of his profession. 

Three times he ha- been elected Coroner of the 
county, and is the first and only City Physician 
whom .Mar-hall ha- ever had. He is a member of 
the Saline County Medical Society, and, fraternally, 
belongs to Lexington Lodge No. 149, I-'. & A. M. 

Our subject has given his undivided attention 
to his chosen work, and in these days when science 
is making such strides, and a hint may reveal 
hitherto unknown world-, he finds that his time is 
so taxed that he can give but little attention to 
affairs not directly pertaining to his practice. Dr. 
Davis is as yet in the bachelor ranks, but doubtless 
some estimable lady will sometime make him happy. 







""■. 



AMI l.l.l S BARNETT, Jr., one of the sue- 
cessful farmers and stock-feeders of Mid- 

-J dlelon Township, La Fayette County, Mo.. 
is the subject of this -ketch. The fine farm of 
which he is the owner is located in township 50, 
range 24, section 22. and consists of three hun- 
dred and twenty acre- of well-improved and cul- 
tivated laud, beside which he owns another farm 
of two hundred and fifty acre-. Mr. Barnett is a 
native of the county, having been born in Lex- 
ington Town-hip iu 1854. His parents were 
Cam ill us and Martha (Young) Barnett, the latter 
a daughter of Col. .lame- Young, natives of Ken- 
tucky ami Tenness 

Our subject -pent hi- boyhood day- in La Fay- 
ette County, ami was afforded the advantagt 
fered by the public school in Lexington. At the 
age of twenty-one years, he desired to begin life 
for himself and decided to make agriculture his 
occupation. This has been a congenial business. 
and in it he ha- found prosperity, and in eonnec- 



216 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



tion with cattle-feeding he has become a wealthy 
and influential business man in this locality. His 
many acres yield surprising crops, and the demand 
for cattle never grows less. 

In politics Mr. Harnett is a pronounced Demo- 
crat, giving much thought to the great questions 
of the day. February 17, 1880, was made mem- 
orable by his marriage with Miss Minnie Goodwin, 
a daughter of James W. Goodwin, of La Fayette 
County, and two bright little sons, James and 
Samuel, have graced this union. Our subject and 
his good wife are both members of the Presbyte- 
rian Church, and their community tind in them 
true friends and kind neighbors, who are ever 
ready to extend a helping hand to those who are 
in trouble or want. 



<§ 



_=] 



&+^ 



-s 



/*pvN HRIST1AN ALTHOUSE, a leading and rep- 

(I resentative business man of Marshall, Saline 

^^7 County. Mo., is a well-known and highly- 
respected member of the substantial firm of C. 
Althouse it Co., wholesale and retail dealers in 
groceries and queensware. This prosperous house 
also does a large business in the baking depart- 
ment, and taken altogether has a wide-reaching 
custom, extending its boundaries every year, and 
now embracing the greater portion of the county. 
Since 1869 a resident of Marshall, Mr. Althouse 
has been for more than a score of years closely 
identified with the growth and best interests of his 
present home, and has aided in benevolent enter- 
prises, being especially active and energetic in 
church work and religious advancement. 

Our subject was born in Prussia, Germany, April 
25, 1843. His father, Christian Althouse, was a 
native of Germany and followed the peaceful pur- 
suit of agriculture, though he served his regular 
time in the German army. He was a prominent 
member of the Presbyterian Church and was for 
many years Ruling Klder of that religious organi- 
zation, and was universally esteemed and highly 
respected by the entire community among whom 



he lived, and died a true and sincere Christian 
man. His wife, Mary E. (Lettermann) Althouse, 
was born and died in Prussia and was a most ex- 
cellent mother and devoted wife. The six chil- 
dren, all trained to habits of thrift and industry. 
are }'et living, and with the exception of our sub- 
ject reside in their native land. 

Mr. Althouse, the third child of the family, was 
reared in the village of Arfeld. He received early 
instruction in the common schools of the neighbor- 
hood, and when fourteen years of age was appren- 
ticed to a baker and thoroughly learned the trade. 
After engaging in journeyman's work in differ- 
ent parts of Prussia, he determined to leave home 
and family and emigrate to America. In May. 
1867, he left Bremen on the steamer "Metropolis," 
and in thirteen days was safely landed in New- 
York. His destination was Missouri, and he was 
soon located in Randolph County, near Roanoke, 
where he worked on a farm for eighteen months. 
He then found more profitable employment in 
Huntsville as a baker, and remained there until 
1869, when he came to Marshall and started a 
bakery of his own, also selling confectionery. 

About 1871), our subject added groceries and 
ran the two branches of business in partnership 
with G. H. Althouse, who retired from the firm six 
years ago. Mr. Althouse and his sons now pros- 
perously conduct and manage the entire business. 
He has built a brick block of two stores, forty 
feet front and two stories high, and the firm uses 
one store. The bake-shop, built separately, was 
designed by Mr. Althouse, is very large and well 
adapted for the purpose of its use. and is pleasantly 
located on a corner fronting the lots built on and 
improved with stores. Mr. Althouse also erected a 
handsome family residence on Benton Avenue. 
He was married in Randolph County in 1870 to 
Miss Eliza Althouse, born in Randolph County 
and a daughter of G. II. Althouse, a farmer of that 
county. Mr. and Mrs. Althouse are the parents of 
three children: George II.. attending the Missouri 
Valley College; Mary, a member of the Class of 
'i(4, studying music; and Reuben Y. 

Our subject affiliates with and has been an 
officer of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows 
and is now a most valued associate of the fra- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



217 



teraity. He is also a member of the Cumberland 
Presbyterian Church, and as one of the efficient 
building committee did great service in the erec- 
tion of two houses Of worship in .Marshall, anil 
has ever been foremost in promoting religious 
work. He and his family arc important factors in 
the social and religious lifeof the church, and have 
personally many true and faithful friends both in 
the religious world and among the general pub- 
lic. Our subject is no office-seeker, but he takes an 
active interest in the management of local and 
national affairs, and in common with all good 
citizens emphasizes his opinion with his v< te, east- 
ing his for the Democratic candidates on the party 
ticket. Honest, energetic and upright in his daily 
life and character, Mr. Althouse has fairly won 
success in the country of his adoption and has the 
hest wishes of all his fellow-townsmen. 



-fr=-5-= 



S^ICHARD BASTIN THORP, one of the early 
L^i teachers of Missouri, and a successful agri- 
lk: ■ * culturist, has held important official pos- 
\£) itions in Saline County, where he is highly 
respected as a man of sterling integrity of character, 
possessing undoubted ability and self-reliant energy. 
Born October 17, 1824, in Howard County, Mo.. 
he has for many years been an important factor in 
the progress and rapid advancement of the best in- 
terests of his lifetime home. Grandfather Thomas 
Thorp was a native of Virginia, his father and two 
elder brothers having come from England at a very 
early date. He died in Kentucky, to which State 
he had removed with a portion of his family. 

By Grandfather Thorp's second marriage, which 
united him with Eleanor Jackson, a native of 
Virginia, he became the father of the following 
children: Thomas; Jackson, the father of our sub- 
ject; Dorcas, who married John Warden, of Ken- 
tucky; Mrs. Lucy Morris; Mrs. Wells; and Mrs. 
Swift, of Madison County, Ky. Jackson Thorp, the 
father of Richard Bastin Thorp, was born in Madison 



County, Ky., in 1799, and having passed the days 
of his boyhood in Kentucky, removed to Missouri. 
After his father's death, he returned to Kentucky to 
settle the estate, and remained there a little over 
two years, engaged meanwhile in teaching school, 
lie returned to Howard County in 1823, and in 
July <>f that year married .Miss Harriet Bastin, who 
was born in Lancaster, Ky., the daughter of Rich- 
ard and Polly Bastin, who were Virginians. Mr. 
Thorp had bought land in Howard County,Mo.,in 
1820, and with his wife located upon that as yet 
uncultivated farm. 

Jackson Thorp was taught in the schools of those 
early days in Kentucky, and was well informed, his 
education surpassing that, of the average man who 
has never attended college. With industry and 
energy, he acquired about four hundred acres of 
land. He was prominent in religious affairs, and was 
longa Clerk in the church which he liberally assisted 
in supporting. Until his death in November, 1849, 
he retained his official position in .the house of wor- 
ship which he attended for so many years. 

Both the father and mother of our subject 
were buried on the old homestead. Their chil- 
dren in order of birth were Richard Bastin; 
Thomas J., living in Texas; Jesse R., residing in 
Quanah City, Tex.; Mary A., the wife of Reuben 
T.Briggs, of Armstrong, Howard County; Matilda 
Ellen, wife of Dr. W. 15. Glover, of Marshall; Mar- 
garet L., deceased ; and Henry (lay. who resides 
upon the home farm. Our subject remained at 
home until twenty years of age. His father was 
injured by falling into the mouth of a coal mine, 
and from its effects afterward died of paralysis, 
the elder sons being therefore obliged to aid in the 
support of the family. Our subject taught school 
in Clay and Platte Counties, and also was em- 
ployed collecting for others. Returning to How- 
ard County in 1846, he attended school, and after- 
ward taught two terms in Sheridan County. 

Our subject then taught in Pettis County for 
two sessions, and in 1848 came to Saline County, 
where he engaged in teaching for a short time. Oc- 
tober 17, 1848. he married Miss Julia A., daughter 
of Richard Marshall, of Saline County. Mrs. Julia 
Thorp died in February, 1867. She was the mother 
of these sonsand daugters: Mar) Louise, who mar- 



218 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



vied George T. Menefce; Joseph M., now of IIol- 
lister, Cal; Richard J., of Saline County; Susan J., 
who married Theodore Piper,- of Marshall; John B., 
a resident o! Miami. Mo.; and Minnie, who mar- 
ried Robert Clough, of Saline County. 

In 1870, Mr. Thorp was elected Sheriff of Saline 
County, and served with ability for two years. 
During that time, he also conducted prosperously 
a good farm, about six miles from the county seat. 
He is an active member of the Baptist Church, and 
has assisted in its social and benevolent enterprises. 
In early times he was a Whig, and during the war 
was a Union man. For a short time he was en- 
rolled in the militia, but was exempted on account 
of physical disability. He and his father and his 
grandfather were all slave-owners until the slaves 
were emancipated. 

After the war, Mr. Thorp voted with the Repub- 
lican party for the new constitution for the State 
of Missouri, believing it then to be necessary. 
In 1870 he co-operated with the Liberal party which 
favored the removal of the legal disabilities of the 
people. These sentiments accorded with his views. 
for in fact before the movement gained force be 
had advocated the removal of all disabilities, and 
had prophesied that disabilities incurred by beliefs 
or actions during the war must be removed. In 
business matters he has prospered, and now owns 
seven hundred acres of fine land, mostly under a 
high state of cultivation, and has given much at- 
tention to stock-raising, handling only the best of 
its kind. As an instructor he was justly very pop- 
ular and taught uninterruptedly until 1851, when 
be purchased a farm. In 1860 he was elected 
School Commissioner for Saline County, and held 
the office until it was abolished in 1861. He was 
appointed by the Probate Court as Public Admin- 
istrator in 18C4, and from the County Court re- 
ceived the position of Road and Bridge Commis- 
sioner for Saline County, but resigned these offices 
upon the death of his wife. In 1869, Mr. Thorp was 
married to Mrs. Mary A. Marshall, widow of Will- 
iam B. Marshall, a half-brother of Mr. Thorp's 
first wife. One son blessed this marriage, Richard 
B., Jr. Our subject and his excellent wife are 
widely known ami highly respected as valued mem- 
bers of the social circles of their community. In 



all the various positions of trust which he has held, 
he has discharged the duties with energetic fidel- 
ity, and well deserves the confidence awarded him 
by all his fellow-citizens. 



=m^r~<m^ 



eHARLES II. BRADFORD, a prosperous 
general agriculturist and successful stock- 
raiser, now located upon section 35, town- 
ship 50, range 20, Saline County, cultivates a 
homestead of one hundred and sixty acres situated 
near the nourishing town of Nap ton. He is a na- 
tive of the State, having been born on the 13th of 
June. L845, in Arrow Rock, Saline County. Stan- 
dish Bradford, who came from England to America 
in the " Mayflower," and who afterward became 
Governor of Massachusetts, was one of the early an- 
cestors of Mr. Bradford. The Governor married 
Miss Louisa Slaughter, a lady noted in those early 
days for her beauty and worth. 

The paternal grandfather of our subject, Joel 
Bradford, was born in New York State in 1753, 
and died in 1836. lie was a lawyer of eloquence 
and prominence, and was united in marriage with 
Mis> Sarah Stockin, who became the mother of 
three sons and two daughters. The uncles and 
father of Mr. Bradford were, in the order of their 
birth, as follows: Ilezekiah, George, and Charles 
M., the latter our subject's father. Their two sis- 
ters were Louisa and Helen. The three brothers 
engaged in mining in Pennsylvania, and at length 
( leorge and Charles sold out to Ilezekiah, George 
locating in Cuba, where be became a planter, and 
■Charles M. coming West, where in later days he 
became an eminent physician. 

Dr. Charles M. Bradford was born February 27, 
1817, in East Iladdam. Conn. His parents moved 
to New York and there he received an excellent 
education, subsequently pursuing his medical 
studies in Pennsylvania, graduating in 1838 with 
the degree of M. D. from the University of Penn- 
sylvania. In March. L839, with all the ambitious 
ardor of an energetic and enterprising young man, 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



219 



he joined an emigrant train bound Wes1 from 
Pennsylvania, and traveled by wagon, camping oul 
on tin' way. 

Large game was plentiful, and the rifles of the 
emigrants supplied them with venison and bear 
meat, and after crossing the Missouri River buf- 
falo were often seen. The party reached the Mis- 
sissippi at Alton, and now for the firsl tune the 
eyes of t lie venturesome young men were glad- 
dened by the sight of the broad Western prairies, 
toward which they had for so many weeks been 
steadily journeying. The new scenes were viewed 
with special interest by the young physician, who I 
was destined to carve out his future fame and fur- 
tune in the Western wilds. The party, still con- 
tinuing upon their way. crossed the river on rafts i 
made of split logs, and upon these rude but sub- 
stantial conveyances the household goods and 
people were safely transported, the stock swim- 
ming across. 

Dr. Bradford came to Howard County, where he 
engaged in teaching school, and in 1840 opened 
an Office in Arrow Rock and began the practice of 
medicine, succeeding from the first beyond his 
early expectations. During his entire life he re- 
mained among the people, who, when he passed 
away, August 21, 1862, lamented him as a true 
friend and public benefactor. Dr. Bradford was 
married, October 26, 1811. to Miss l.avinia M., the 
daughter of John and Eliza (Sappington) Pear- 
son. She was born in Howard County. August 
2:5, 1825, and was the granddaughter of John Sap- 
pington, and the step-daughter of Governor ('. F. 
Jackson. Dr. Bradford and his highly esteemed 
wife were the parents of seven children, namely: 
Helen, Charles M., Sadie, Isabelle, Ida, Louise and 
George. Of these, George, Helen and Sadie are 
dead. Helen was married to Thomas \V. Russell, 
and Sadie was the wife of Col. Thomas Price. Ida 
is married to W. EL Shaw, a Presbyterian minis- 
ter. Isabelle is Mrs. Jesse T. Baker, and Louise 
is married to Lewis Nelson. President of the first 
National Bank of St. Louis, .Mo. 

i >ur subject was educated in the scl Not Arrow 

Roefc, St. Louis University, St. John's College, at 
Fordham, N. Y., and also received instructions in 
Poughkeepsie, N. V. UN education and early 



training fitted him well for the battle of life, and 
materially advanced his upward progress. In 

1864, Mr. Bradford crossed the plains to Virginia 
City. Mont., returning to his home in the fall of 

1865. January 1, 1867. he was married to Miss Sue 
Smith, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Smith, 
of Cooper County, Mo. The wife of our subject was 
born in 1 845, and educated in the schools of Cooper 
County, and in Paris, Ky. Mr. and Mrs. Brad- 
ford have three children, Charles Ernest, Thomas 
G. and Helen Louise. After his marriage, Mr. 
Bradford settled near Arrow Bock, where lie con- 
tinued to reside for fifteen consecutive years. At 
the termination of this length of time, he removed 
to his present home near Napton. His valuable 
farm of one hundred and sixty acres is under a 
high state of improvement, and annually yields a 
most abundant harvest. As have been the ances- 
tors of our subject, so is he numbered among the 
upright and progressive citizens, who by word and 
deed worthily identify themselves with the ad- 
vancement of our great Republic. No name has 
commanded greater respect and confidence of the 
general public than the illustrious name of Brad- 
ford, which is associated with the early history 
of the triumphs and struggles of the American 
nation. 



®*@li 



1!*^~ 



/p^RANYILLK ALLKN RICHART, M. D., of 

[If (=, Elm wood. Saline County, is a very pol- 
\_A ished and well-educated young man, and a 
physician who thoroughly understands his business. 
He has been in this county only a short time, but 
has already made for himself a place in the confi- 
dence of the people. 

Dr. Richart was born at Sharpsburg, Bath 
County. Ky.. June 21, I860. His father was Dr. 
1). M. Richart, born in Bourbon County, Ky., July 
27. 1832. His grandfather, Oliphant Richart, was 
from Pennsylvania. His great-grandfather was a 
Scotchman and came to America in Colonial times, 
being one of Gen. Washington's spies. He settled 
in Pennsylvania. The grandfather emigrated to 



220 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Kentucky in early days and was a farmer there, 
ending his days in the State at a ripe old age, in 
1862. 

Dr. Richart, Si\, became a physician, having 
been graduated from the Kentucky School of 
Medicine at Louisville. His practice was largely 
at Sharpsburg, and during the war he was a sur- 
geon with Gen. John II. Morgan. He practiced 
about thirty years and died in 1882, at Sharpsburg. 
lie was a Baptist in faith and was a prominent 
man, having a good local reputation. 

The wife of Dr. D. M. Richart and the mother of 
our Dr. Richart was Mary .1. Allen, of Bath County, 
Ky. Her death occurred in 1890. She was a sister 
of Lieut. II. T. Allen, who made extensive explor- 
ations in Alaska in 1888. lie is now a military 
attache at St. Petersburg and is one of only two 
Americans who have enjoyed the personal friend- 
ship of the Czar of Russia. Mrs. Richart's father, 
Sanford Allen, of Bourbon County, Ky., was a son 
of Judge Allen, the first judge in that county. 
The Aliens are an old Virginia family of Culpeper 
County. Mrs. Richart's father was a wealthy 
banker of Sharpsburg. Me died in 1M75. 

Dr. Richart is the eldest of five children, all of 
whom are living. He received his preliminary 
education in the common schools and academy at 
Sharpsburg, entered the Georgetown College in 
1878, where he remained until 1880. In 1882 he 
entered the Kentucky School of Medicine at Louis- 
ville, and graduated from the University of Louis- 
ville in 1886. He took post-graduate courses in 
the New York Polyclinic in 1888 and 1889. His 
firsl practice was near Mt. Sterling, Ky., and after- 
ward in that place. He came to Elm wood, this 
county, in April, 1892. Dr. Richart is ex-Presi- 
dent of the Montgomery County (Ky.) Medical 
Society, and is a Knight Templar. 

The Doctor was married in 1886, his bride 
being Miss Ella Grant, of Louisville, Ky., daugh- 
ter of Capt. II. I!. Grant, of that city, author 
of "Grant's Knight Templar Tactics," &c, &c. 
This gentleman is now Grand Secretary of the 
Grand Lodge of Masons of Kentucky. He was 
formerly custodian of the Masonic Savings Lank, 
of Louisvilie. Mr. Grant also served four years 
in the Federal army during the war, that is, 



all through the struggle. Mrs. Richart's mother 
was Mallie Richardson, daughter of Samuel Rich- 
ardson, a prominent contractor of Louisville and 
very wealthy. Mrs. Richart received her educa- 
tion in the High School of Louisville and Miss 
Hampton's school for young ladies. 

The Doctor suffered a great loss, September 25, 
1892, when his wife was called from this earth, 
and in his affliction has the sincere sympathy of 
all his friends and neighbors. Dr. Richart is a 
Democrat but is not actively engaged in polities. 
He is thoroughly interested in his work and no 
one can doubt that he will win a high position in 
the front ranks of the profession, as he has already 
made some long strides upon the chosen way. 
The Doctor is a welcome addition to the citizens 
of Saline Count}' and Elmwood, and although we 
do not wish to invoke any new causes for work of 
the nature that he is interested in, yet we do cor- 
dially wish him a goodly share in the practice that 
must inevitably be needed. 



^2 



JACKSON LONG, a resident on section 36, 
township 52, range 21, Saline County, near 
the Postofflee of Slater, is the subject of this 
sketch. He is the owner of one of the good 
farms in this county, and a man universally re- 
spected and esteemed. The birthplace of Mr. Long 
was in West Virginia, where in 1827 he was born 
to Alexander Long,who was the son of Philip Long, 
a native of Eastern Virginia. The family came 
from Scotch ancestors and were among the earliest 
settlers of the Old Dominion. The maiden name 
of the mother of our subject was Catharine Yager, 
and she became the mother of fourteen children, 
seven sons and seven daughters, of whom four 
sons are still living. One of these was a soldier in 
the Confederate army. 

Our subject grew up in an early pioneer home of 
Virginia, and took advantage of all the opportun- 
ities which were offered in the schools of that day. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



221 



He remembers the log schoolhouse, with its split-log 
seats, with holes in the wall in lieu of windows. 
This accompanied the crude torn) of education of 
the day. These same Localities are better equipped 
in these daj'S, but perhaps they do not send out 
any better men, nor those who will more thoroughly 
perform the duties of life, than those who gradu- 
ated from the log cabin. There .are few shrewder 
men :in il better financiers in his line in the country 
than the subject of this notice. 

The first business venture of our subject was 
that of conducting a small grocery store in his na- 
tive place, but he abandoned this in a few months, 
and in 1*52, left his native State and came to 
Missouri, where he sttled in Knox County in a 
wilderness. Here he purchased four hundred acres 
of land from "Uncle Sam" at 81.25 per acre, and 
with an ax upon his shoulder he started out to be- 
gin the making of a home. With his own hands 
lie cut and split, and also built, eleven miles of 
fencing. His first house was one constructed of 
logs, the doors of which were made by him out of 
such material as the forest furnished. The only- 
cash expended in the construction of this house 
was $1, which went for nails with which to weather- 
board the roof. 

Mr. Long continued to improve his farm and 
afterward added a modern frame house and a barn. 
At this place he remained until 1869, when he sold 
his farm for $20 per acre, therein- realizing, in the 
advance of the real estate, over £7,000 for his fif- 
teen years of work. Following this he moved to 
Saline County, Mo., purchasing there three hun- 
dred and forty-five acres of partially improved land 
for which he paid $35 per acre. One can scarcely 
believe upon visiting the farm of "Lucie .lack," as 
he is familiarly called, that when he bought the 
place in 1869 there was scarcely a shrub upon it. 

Now the beautiful lawn surrounding the 1 e 

of our subject is filled with trees of every kind, 
from the graceful maple to the smallest of flower- 
ing shrubs. Nature lias here blossomed like the 
rose for its kindly owner. His residence is a con- 
venient and modern structure, containing seven 
rooms, and cost him $2,200 to construct, a striking 
contrast to his first residence both in appearance 
and price. He is a man of means, for besides his 



homestead he owns three tenement houses and four 
well-kept barns. His purchases of land have con- 
tinued until now he has seven hundred and fifty 
acres, which, at a rough estimate, would be valued 
at from $65 to #70 per acre. 

The marriage of our subject took place in 185 I. 
with Miss Jane Ann Summerville, who was born in 
Mason County, Va., in 1836, and their union was 
celebrated in the old State of Virginia, and has 
been blessed with seven children, all but one of 
whom have been spared to cheer the declining 
years of their parents. The eldest son, William 
E., was born in Knox Count}', Mo., in 1855, and 
he married Miss Yan\Yinkle,of Saline County, Mo., 
where they reside with their three children. Alex- 
ander was born in 1857, in Knox County, and mar- 
ried Miss Keffer, and is a farmer; James was born 
in 1859 and is a farmer by occupation; Eliza was 
born in 1869 and married Ed Hawkins, and they 
reside in Saline County; George was born in 1873, 
and Robert in 1876. Mr. Long has given his chil- 
dren the best of educational advantages, three sons 
having graduated at Kirksville, one daughter nt 
Fulton and another at Marshall. 

Although not a member of any denomination, 
Mr. Long is a good man and sets an example of 
virtue to the younger generation. There is no 
man in the community who is more universally 
respected, nor one whose integrity is less questioned 
than that of our subject. He has never aspired to 
office, but has upheld the principles of Democracy 
upon all occasions. The late election of Mr. Cleve- 
land as Chief Magistrate wreathed his face witli 
smiles. 






WHITE WADDELL, a prosperous farmer 
and highly respected citizen of La Fayette 
County, comes of old heroic Revolutionary 
^l>' stock, his grandsire having fought in that 
great struggle. He resides on section 15, town- 
ship 48, range 26, where he has a finely improved 
farm of four hundred and thirty-one acres, all 



222 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



under cultivation. John T. Waddell, a native 
of Mason County, Ivy., born in 1798, was his 
lather, and his grandfather was William Waddell, 
a native of Virginia and a soldier of '70, who 
gave an eye to the cause of liberty. The mother 
of our subject was Nellie (Triplett) Waddell, a 
native of Mason County, Ky., born in 1801, her 
ancestors being from Kentucky. She was married 
to John T. Waddell in Mason County, he being a 
fanner and a manufacturer of plows. They came 
to Lexington Township, La Fayette County, Mo., 
in 1836, where they made a permanent home, and 
at the time of his demise in 1842 he was engaged 
in erecting a mill; his wife died ten years later, in 
1852. They were the parents of ten children, all 
of whom, except our subject, are dead. Alexander 
Campbell, the founder of the Christian Church, 
converted them to acceptance of his doctrines, 
and both of them lived and died in that church, 
the husband being a very active member. A 
brother of John T., Maj. James W., served with 
distinction in the War of 1812. 

Our subject was born January IS), 1836, and 
was brought by his parents to La Fayette County 
in September of that year, and afterward educated 
in the Masonic College at Lexington, which he 
was finally compelled, to leave on account of ill 
health. The tinning business was followed for a 
short time, or until the outbreak of the war, when 
he was appointed .Sergeant-Major of the Seventy- 
first Missouri Enrolled Militia, under Col. Neill, 
serving for a time under Gen. Yaughan. In the 
year 1862 he was made Deputy Sheriff under 
.Sheriff Jacob A. Price and served until 1865, and 
in the following spring moved to the farm where 
he now lives, then in a wild and rough state. 
Resolutely he took hold, and by energy and indus- 
try has brought the property to its present con- 
dition of excellence. The residence was built in 
1888 at a cost of $900 and a cozy barn is now be- 
ing completed at a cost of $450. He gives his 
best energies to the growing of grain and the 
raising of stock, being especially interested in 
Shorthorn cattle, and he is most careful that his 
land shall be kept in a high state of cultivation. 

This very early settler was married November 
4, 1857, to Miss Betty M. Feree, a native of Ohio, 



who died in May, 1859. He was again married, 
January 3 i, 1861, taking as his second wife .Miss 
Mattie G. Waddell, a native of .Missouri, daughter 
of John J. Waddell; she died September 22, 1885, 
leaving her husband one child, Hannah L.. wife of 
Frank S. Groves, of Kansas City, Mo., who has one 
child. Miss Belle Hunter became his third wife, 
July 19, 1887, a native of Davis County, Mo., who 
has borne him one child, James White, Jr. The 
fellowship of our subject was with the Christian 
Church at Lexington, until his removal to the 
farm. His daughter is a graduate of the Baptist 
Female Seminary at Lexington, she having taken 
the full course in music. Our subject votes 
with tin 1 Democratic party. 



i 1 i ■ i - *—*-«■ 




OBERT J. BROWN. To the restless, ad- 
venture-loving American who seldom 
stays long in one place, there is a wonder- 
^^) ing admiration for the man who is content 
to spend his life in or near the place where he was 
born. Such an admiration is awakened by our sub- 
ject, who was born in Franklin County, this State, 
near Marion, his natal day having been November 
23, 1853. He is a son of the late James Brown, 
who was numbered among the pioneer settlers of 
that portion of the State. His mother was in her 
maiden days a Miss Sarah Bridges, an estimable 
woman, who reared her children to be loyal citi- 
zens and men of sterling character. James Brown 
died at his home in 1855. The family included 
five children, there being three sons and two 
daughters, and of these our subject is the fourth in 
order of birth and the youngest son. He spent 
the early years of his life up to sixteen in his na- 
tive county. At that time he came to Saline 
County and has ever since been a resident of the 
town or vicinity. 

Robert Brown received the advantages of a 
common-school education. When the time came 
for him to choose an occupation, he first engaged 
in farming, which he followed until 1880. He then 




Hfeb 



Seth Mason. 



PORTRAIT AM) BIOGRAPHICAL BECoRD. 



22.'. 



came to Slater and launched into the live-stock 
business, and in 1886 he formed a partnership with 
Frank L. Ayres, under the firm name of Brown & 
Ayres. Prior to that time, from 1880, lie had been 
in the emploj of Josiah Baker, Jr. The live-stock 
business in Kansas has grown to such important 
proportions that one who attends closely to the 

duties can scareelv make a failure. Our own pop- 
ulation ill the States calls for an immense supply in 
this direction, while our exports to other countries 
are not small. There is. therefore, every reason to 
suppose that the same success which has hitherto 
attended our subject in his business enterprises 
will continue to reward his efforts hereafter. 

Mr. Brown was married in Saline County, in 
August, 1*74. The lady of his choice was Miss 
Mary A., daughter of Benton Gwin, of this county. 
She was born in June. 1*.">7, and is a ladv of rare 
virtues. The domestic life of this couple is of a 
very happy character. 



~5 KTII MASON was formerly a highlj es- 
^fe£ teemed citizen of La Fayette County, and 
in his decease many lost a trusted friend 
and one who was ever ready to lend a help- 
ing hand in time of need. lb' was one of the 
early settlers of this county, among whose pioneers 
he held an influential position. Mr. Mason was a 
native of Frederick County. \'a., and was born 
July 19, 18l!'>. He was a son of Neth and .lane 
(Mason) Mason, the former a patriot of the War 
of L812. 

Reared to manhood's estate in his native place, 
Mr. Mason there received g 1 educational ad- 
vantages and the added advantage of a home dis- 
tinguished by intelligence and culture. He be- 
came a student at the old and renowned William a nil 
Mary College and was well versed in all the col- 
lege lore then considered so essential to the schol- 
arly man; that is, he learned his Latin so thoroughly 
that he could repeat page after page from memor\ 



longafterhe had left college. He took great pride 

in keeping up with the advancement of the day. 
but had no idea of becoming a professional man. 
rather a country gentleman, and engaged in agri- 
cultural pursuits all his life. 

February 26, 1845, our subject married Miss 
Amelia Earle, a native of Clarke County, Va., 
born October 17, 1826. Her parents were Col. 
John B. and Maria Miller Earle, both natives of 
Virginia. The former was commissioned a colo- 
nel of Virginia troops in the War of 1812. Mrs. 
Mason's ancestors on the paternal side were Eng- 
lish, and are said to have been Scotch-Irish on the 
mother's side. She was reared to maturity in her 
native State and was educated at a ladies' semi- 
nary in Wi nchester, Va. 

Mr. and Mrs. Mason became the parents of ten 
children: Ida, Edward, Mary, Amelia, Lelia, Ella, 
Leslie, Irvin, Effle and Frank. The eldest is Mrs. 
J. II. Burns; Mary is .Mrs. Smith, a widow; Am- 
elia is Mrs. W. E. Kellar; Effle is a teacher in the 
public schools. Our subject removed to Missouri 
with his family in 1854, and came to La Fayette 
County and settled on the farm where the widow 
now resides. That was before the present town of 
Higginsville was known. Their first home was a 
log bouse and their tract bore but slight improve- 
ments, and it was Mr. Mason who brought the 
farm to its present highly cultivated condition. 
. Himself a scholar. Mr. Mason esteemed mosthigh- 
ly the advantages of an education, and realizing 
that such advantages would be the best feature in 
inducing a good class of settlers to come here, he 
was an ardent advocate of the most advanced educa- 
tional methods; nor was his interest confined to 
the mental evolution of children alone, but related 
to advancement in every feature of public life. 
While in Virginia he was a captain in the State 
Militia anil during the war drilled a company of 
Confederate troops for service, lie was a Dem- 
ocrat in politics and although not rabid was de- 
voted to what he considered the patriotic features 
of bis chosen party. 

The estate that Mr. Mason left comprised over 
two hundred acres of land. Their first home, 
above described, has been replaced with a commo- 
dious and comfortable mansion, containing all the 



226 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



conveniences which ra:ike our present mode of life 
so much easier than anything hitherto known. 
This is occupied by Mrs. Mason, who is most highly 
regarded among the matrons of the county. She 
is identified with the Presbyterian Church. Mr. 
Mason departed this life March 8, 1889. He stood 
high in the esteem of all who had the pleasure of 
his acquaintance. In the family life his demise 
left a grief that can never be wholly assuaged, and 
as a neighbor and citizen he will always be remem- 
bered for the wood that he did. 



'-••••^ 



<fl MLLIAM PIPER, one of the early and hon- 
\rJ/( ored settlers and most successful agricul- 
Wy turists of Saline County, has been closely 
identified with the business interests of his sec- 
tion of the Stale for over fif t.3' years. A citizen 
of upright character and ability, genial in manner 
and liberal in sentiment, he is the soul of hospi- 
tality and has a host of warm and earnest friends. 
In Virginia, the early home of the patriotic ances- 
tors and bravest defenders of our nation's liberty, 
our subject was born, near Charlottesville, in Al- 
bemarle County. His paternal grandfather, Will- 
iam, and his father, Willis Piper, were both natives 
of the Old Dominion, the latter born November 
13, 1809. 

Willis Piper was a merchant in Virginia, but in 
1812 decided to try his fortunes in the newer State 
of Missouri. The family made what was then a 
tedious trip by team and wagon. A six-horse 
wagon and several carriages were required to 
transport them and their belongings, and they were 
about two months on their uneventful journey to 
Saline County. They first made their home in 
Arrow Rock, later removed to Miami, then to 
Blackwater Township, and finally settled in Jcf- 
ferson Township. Here the father followed the 
pursuit of agriculture, and, being an enterprising 
man, dealt in land. He also engaged in merchan- 
dising at Arrow Rock for eighteen months and was 
the owner of valuable estates in various portions 



of the county. He was a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church and a highly respected citizen, 
and died much regretted in January, 18C7. passing 
away in Cambridge Township soon after the war. 

The mother of our subject, Mary S. Black, was 
a native of Virginia and was born in Albemarle 
County November 17, 181G, and was the daughter 
of John Black, also a native and farmer of the Old 
Dominion. He was a veteran of the war and 
served his country faithfully in the War of 1812, 
for which service his wife afterward received a 
land grant from the Government. Mrs. Willis 
Piper died in Arrow Rock Township October 2, 
1852. She was the mother of nine children: Will- 
iam, our subject, was the eldest and was born No- 
vember 9, 1834; John B. was killed at Booneville 
in the Civil War; James was with Gen. Marinaduke 
during the war and died soon afterward from the 
effects of privation and exposure; Martha P., Mrs. 
Thorp, resides in Texas; Mary E. died at home; 
Willis, also a participant in the Civil War, lives in 
Oklahoma; Leonidas, born in 1842, died in 1872; 
Joseph is a merchant in Texas; and Francis, who 
is not permanently settled in any locality. 

William Piper was eight years old when his par- 
ents removed to Missouri. He had for a brief time 
attended the neighboring school near his Virginia 
home, and after his father had located in the pio- 
neer settlement of the new country, he went to 
the primitive school in the vicinity and wrote his 
first exercises on a plank with a goose quill. In 
later years he enjo3'ed the advantage of a course 
of instruction at the University of Missouri, at 
Columbia. He remained at home until twenty 
years of age, when he became possessed of a 
part of his present valuable farm, and there be- 
gan life for himself. The farm contained about 
one hundred and eighty acres, three miles south- 
west of Marshall. Upon this fine piece of property 
Mr. Piper settled and industriously engaged in 
the pursuit of general agriculture. He added to 
his real estate until he had here three hundred and 
twenty acres of excellent land, all under cultiva- 
tion. After two years' occupation, he rented it 
during the war and lived with M. D. Gaines, his 
father-in-law, in Clay Township. 

After a time, our subject returned again to his 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RFX'ORD. 



227 



homestead and devoted Ids efforts to stock-raising, 
handling only blooded cattle and feeding a large 
herd on the range, lie succeeded reinarkabh 
well, but the range was soon fenced in and lie 
was obliged to buy more land, for which he paid 
from $10 to $50 an acre, until now he has eleven 
hundred acres in three farms, all fenced and im- 
proved. Mr. Piper lias three sets of buildings 
and as many tenants, and raises annually a line 
crop, the land yielding from twenty-five to ninety 
bushels to the acre. In 1875, two hundred acres 
furnished eighteen thousand bushels of corn, and 
although the soil and climate are favorable to the 
culture of wheat. corn is the principal cereal raised 
upon the finely improved place. In the spring of 
1802, the wife of our subject died and he removed 
temporarily to Marshall. 

Mr. I'iiier had been united in marriage in 
1862 to Miss Mildred L., a daughter of M. I). 
Gaines, an old settler of the county and a pioneer 
Settler of Clay Township, where he engaged in 
farming. He was a man of sterling character and 
of strong physique and lived to the advanced age 
of ninety years. Mrs. Piper was educated in La 
Fayette Seminary, Howard County. She died 
February 9, 1892, and left four children: Morti- 
mer is a farmer of Marshall Township; .lames is 
also an agriculturist of the same township; Lula, 
educated at Lexington and a fine musician, is at 
home; and Charles, the youngest of the family, is 
also at home. The home farm of our subject is 
one of the most attractive in this portion of the 
country. The extensive acres are within easy dis- 
tance of the city and are especially noticeable for 
the handsome and commodious residence and nu- 
merous valuable buildings, among the rest an un- 
usually roomy and convenient barn. The rich .--oil 
is watered by the Phoenix Creek; the well-kept 
orchard supplies a great variety of luscious fruit, 
and the timber, a heavy walnut grove, diversifies 
the scene and add- to the charming effect of the 
whole landscape, which during the harvest months 
is bright in coloring and animated m the extreme. 

Mr. Piper has been one of the most extensive 
stock-raisers in this section of country. He was 
the pioneer in raising full-blooded Durhamsin this 
Vicinity and has sent from his farm to the sur- 



rounding States hundreds of head of horses and 
mules. In 1858 our subject visited his old home, 
always dear to him, in Virginia. Many and great 
have been the changes in Missouri since he first 
came to the State. In the early days hospitality 
was the rule, not the exception. His father wel- 
comed the stranger guest, and without reward as- 
sisted him to locate land. People were social and 
had confidence in each other, and even the crops 
were different. Our subject long assisted in rais- 
ing hemp and tobacco, and in the very early times 
when game was plentiful has counted in one day 
besides turkeys fifteen deer in a herd. Mr. Piper 
has been a prom incut factor in the successful ter- 
mination of various enterprises of Saline County, 
lie assisted in getting the railroads to establish 
themselves here, and raised $150,000 for the Chi- 
cago & Alton, and also aided in the completion of 
the line of the Missouri Pacific Railroad connect- 
ing here. 

Our subject is a member of the Agricultural So- 
ciety of Saline County and is also connected with 
the Fine Stock Association. He is a strong Demo- 
crat and an able advocate of the principles of the 
party, and has represented his fellow-townsmen in 
county and State conventions, attending the large 
gathering at Grand Eddy. Pettis County. Honest 
and energetic, fearless and enterprising, Mr. Piper 
has been an important factor in the business 
growth and progress of his adopted State, and 
through long years of intimate association has won 
and firmly holds a high place in the affection and 
esteem of the people among whom so many years 
of his prosperous and useful life have been passed. 






OHN K. THOMAS is one of the most exten- 
sive farmers, if not the most extensive, in 
Saline County. He is a member of the 
Masonic fraternity and the Ancient Order 
of United Workmen, as well as the People's party, 
and is altogether a most worthy citizen. The 
Thomas family began here with Notley, Col. John 



228 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



D.,and Benedict Thomas, who came to what is now 
La Fayette County in 1818, and settled close to 
the line which al this time divides Saline and La 
Fayette Counties. They took up large tracts of 
land and became extensive land-owners. 

These brothers were natives of Maryland, where 
Notley Thomas had married a Miss Smith. The 
children of this union grew to years of maturity. 
They were: Dr. L. C, who was reared in this 
county and was a graduate in medicine, with an 
extensive practice in this and adjoining counties; 
Nancy, who is still living; Maj. Baltimore; Oscar, 
who was a merchant and also an extensive farmer, 
and an active man, and one who stood well in the 
community, as did all the family; Alonzo, a grad- 
uate in law, afterward located in Santa Rosa 
County, Cal.. where he became a Judge; Betsy, 
who married John Patrick, and died in Colorado, 
as did her husband; Rebecca, who became the wife 
of David Palmer, of La Fayette County; Susan, 
who married Benjamin Cooper, of La Fayette 
County; and Notley, of Waverly, Mo. 

Oscar Thomas married in 18:18 Miss Zerilda E. 
North, by whom he had ten children, among whom 
were: Lawson, who died just before graduating in 
medicine, and who was unmarried; W. Scott, of 
Waverly; Notley, deceased; .1. R. Thomas; and 
Emma E., wife of II. C. Francisco, of Lexington. 

John R. Thomas was born in 1852, and resided 
in this county until he came to years of maturity- 
lie was educated in the common schools here and 
the Christian Brothers' schools of St. Louis. Mr. 
Thomas married in 1873 Miss Bertie E. Gwatkin, 
a native of Virginia, and a member of one of the 
best families of the State. They have one child, a 
daughter. Our subject was a stanch Democrat 
up to the time of the formation of the People's 
party, but was one of the Brst to advocate the 
principles of that organization, and to work for its 
advancement. 

As has been said before. Mr. Thomas is an exten- 
sive farmer and no one in the county does a larger 
business in that line than he. He is a man of good 
Standing in the community, strong in principles 
and true to his convictions. He is clear-sighted 
and sound in judgment, although he may, of 
course, differ in opinion very frequently from 



other men who are also worthy of being listened 
to with respect, which must necessarily follow from 
the fact that men have individual characters and 
differing experiences. Mr. Thomas, however, is a 
gentleman who commands the respect even of his 
political opponents, and who has the cordial es- 
teem of many friends. 1 1 is address is Mt. Leon- 
ard. Saline County, Mo. 



$+£{ 



~S 



^-^jEORGE P.. FLETCHER, one of the prom i- 
>' Middleton Township, La 



^p^EORGE B. FLET 
If ,— nent farmers of 
%j| Fayette County, 



'Ns^l Fayette County, Mo., is the subject of the 
present sketch. His excellent farm is located on 
section 16, range 24, township 50, and consists of 
three hundred and fifteen acres. Our subject was 
born in Henry County. Mo., in 1837, a son of AVill- 
iam and Rachel (Burroughs) Fletcher, the latter a 
daughter of George Burroughs, all natives of Ken- 
tucky. William Fletcher, the father of our sub- 
ject, was born in Mason County, Ky., in 1813, a 
son of John and Ellen Fletcher, of Virginia. 

In 1829, William Fletcher came to the State of 
Missouri, where he has since resided, and now at 
the age of seventy-nine years still enjoys good 
health. He has always been one of the well-known 
Democrats of the township. Since 1840 he has 
belonged to the Christian Church, an active 
worker in its schemes of benevolence. In 1831, 
he married Rachel Burroughs, by whom he became 
the father of seven children, three of whom are 
yet living, and are: our subject; Sara, the wife of 
T. B. Warren; and Fannie, the wife of C. W. Mc- 
( ord, of Iligginsville, Mo. 

When quite young, our subject removed with 
his parents to La Fayette County, Mo., where he 
entered the common schools, receiving there a 
good education in the ordinary branches of learn- 
ing. At the age of twenty-one j-ears, he began 
farming on his own account with his father, which 
occupation still engages his attention, and in 
which he has been very successful, both in farming 
and in raising cattle. His greatest success is in 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



229 



raising wheat and corn and the breeding of high 
grade Shorthorn cattle. Nol many farmers have 
liner pieces of land than has our subject. 

In 1868, Mr. Fletcher was united in matrimony 
with Miss Lucy, a daughter < >f Stephen Catron, 

one of tl ail\ settlers of Missouri. Five bright 

and interesting children have been bora to Mr. 
and Mrs Fletcher, as follows: Georgie, Stephen 
\\\. Guy, John K. and Walker. Both Mr. Fletcher 
and his wife are much respected members of the 
community, and the latter is connected with the 
Presbyterian Church, where site is known as a good 
Christian woman. In his political feelings, Mr. 
Fletcher is a decided Democrat, believing firmly 
in the perpetuation of Democratic principles. 



JAMES <>. HOGAN, a prominent pioneer of 
La Fayette County and the owner of one of 
the best farms within its limits, resides on 
section 35, township 40, range 26. The 
birth of Mr. Ilogan took place in Warren County, 
Ky.. May 3, 1827, he being a son of Alexander and 
Mary (Hatcher) Hogan, natives of Virginia. The 
family is of Irish descent, its first representative 
in this country having been his great-grandfather 
Hogan, who after emigrating served as a soldier of 
the Revolutionary War. When but thirteen years 

of age, ■ subject, a motherless lad. was brought 

to La Fayette County, Mo., by his father, who en- 
deavored in every nay possible to fill the place of 
the absent parent. 

After reaching Missouri, Mr. Hogan, Sr., entered 
Governmenl land in a portion of the county which 
was entirely uncultivated, and thus became :\ pio- 
neer, living here until his death in 1881. These 
years were seasons of toil, and the lapse of time 
represented the operations of nature, aided l>\ 
those of this industrious man. which eliminated 
the weeds and wire grass and brought the wild soil 
into conditions favorable to the growth of rich and 
bounteous crops. The work of the pioneer i an be 
scarcely overestimated, with its toils, privations, and 



sometimes its slight remunerations. Our subject 
was One Of six children, but only two of them, 
.lames O. and a sister, Cassandra, the wife of Henry 
Slusher, remain of the family, sickness and death 
having often invaded the home. 

Our subject attended a country log schoolhouse 
in his native State, and well he remembers the old 
puncheon floor, the huge stick and mud chimney, 
and the other primitive surroundings, as he con- 
trasts them with the massive buildings in which Ins 
grandchildren obtain their educations. Three 
months more were devoted to the acquirement of 
learning after he had made his home in Missouri, 
but that was all the assistance he ever received 
from the inside of a schoolhouse. Later read- 
ing and communion with the world have taught 
him many lessons, and he is considered a very well- 
informed man. 

The first marriage of Mr. Hogan took place in 
Missouri and united him with Miss Sarah Warren, 
a native of La Fayette County, and the daughter 
of Anderson Warren, an early settler of the county. 
The second marriage of Mr. Hogan united him, 
September 1, 1858, with Miss Euphamy Slusher 
daughter of Henry and Rebecca ( Robireson ) Slusher; 
she was bom in La Fayette County. May 21. L840. 
Her father was an old resident of Dover Township, 
where he settled in pioneer times. Resulting from 
his first marriage, Mr. Ilogan has two children. 
Edward and Jeremiah, and from the second mar- 
riage: Cecil; Johanna, the wife of John Longest; 
James H. and Nora 1!. 

Mr. Ilogan ha- lived so long in the county that 
he has witiii-.se. 1 the -rent growth and development 
of it- resources. His memory goes back to the 
day- when he broke the ground with five voke of 
e\en. and when every road was merely a path, upon 
which the great lumbering wagons were slowly 
drawn through deepest ruts, buried in pits of sand 
or mud, or jolted recklessly over roughest stone-. 
As he traverses the county behind his fast-stepping 
horses upon the be-t of macadamised roads, or 
rushes across the country ill the railroad ear. no 
doubt he mentally contrasts t lie advancement made 
in locomotion with the early days in the county. 
His reminiscences of those days are very entertain- 



230 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Although our subject had his own way to make 
in the world, he has done well and has gained 
wealth and influence. lie has filled the offices in 
his district to the satisfaction of all. In his poli- 
tics, lie has long been a supporter of the tenets of 
the Democratic party, latterly becoming interested 
in and identifying himself with the Davis Grange, 
in which he holds the office of Master. During 
the war he did his part as a brave man. enlisting 
in the spring of 1861 in Company F., Shelby's 
Regiment, Confederate troops, and served princi- 
pally in Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri and Texas, 
taking part in the battles of Prairie Grove, Lex- 
ington, Marshall, Springfield and Hartsville (all in 
Missouri), Helena, Ark., and was slightly wounded 
in the right thigh in a retreat across the Boston 
Mountains in Arkansas. He remained in the service 
about four years and surrendered at Memphis, 
Tenn. Mr. and Mrs. Ilogan are now enjoying the 
fruits of an industrious life, esteemed by their 
neighbors and friends. 



-<-^l>*<^ 



K. R. W. McCLELLAND, an able and suc- 
cessful physician of Saline County, Mo., en- 
jo vs an extended and lucrative practice in 
Arrow Rock and the surrounding country. Thor- 
oughly versed in professional duties, and a man of 
high attainments, Dr. McClelland was solicited to 
become one of the professors in the medical de- 
partment of the State University, and urged to ac- 
cept the chair of the Theory and Practice of Med- 
icine. He declined, the offered honor however, 
as his constantly increasing practice demands his 
closest attention, and scarcely allows him time for 
needed rest or recreation. Our subject was born 
December 24, 1835, in Callaway County, Mo., and is 
of Scottish ancestry. He remained in his birthplace 
until about fifteen years of age, when he removed 
with his parents to Howard County, in the same 
State. 

The youthful days of Dr. McClelland were passed 
upon his father's farm, engaged in the duties of 



agriculture, or devoted to study in the little school 
in the neighborhood, where he laid the foundation 
of a higher education. He attended a High School 
in Howard County, and at the age of twenty-one 
began the study of medicine with Dr. J. B. Wilcox, 
of Rocheport, Boone County, Mo. In 1859 he en- 
tered the University of Virginia, graduating from 
the department of medicine in 186(1, with the de- 
gree of M. I). After a few months of practice Dr. 
McClelland went to St. Louis, where he took two 
courses of lectures in the St. Louis Medical College, 
much of his time during this course being spent in 
the hospitals. Graduating with honor from this 
renowned institution, our subject, having com- 
pleted his studies in 1861, established himself im- 
mediately at Pleasant Green, Cooper County, where 
he engaged in practice until the war disturbed his 
relations with the people, when he went to Bell Air. 

Dr. McClelland as a Southern man was in full 
sympathy with the Confederacy, and as most of the 
citizens of that vicinity favored the Union cause, 
he removed to his father-in-law's place, near Col- 
umbia, Mo. Here our subject spent the winter of 
1861, and in the spring located in Millersburgh, 
Callaway County, within a mile of his birthplace, 
and purchased the old homestead. lie remained 
amid the scenes of his infancy for one year, then 
sold the farm, and in the spring of 1865 settled in 
Arrow Rock, his constant home for the past twenty- 
seven years of prosperous practice of his profession. 
More than thirty years ago, upon December 18, 
1861, Dr. R. W. McClelland and Miss Martha 
Phillips were united in the bonds of wedlock. Mrs. 
McClelland is the daughter of Judge Hiram and 
Elizabeth Phillips, of Boone County, near Colum- 
bia. 

Two children, daughters, blessed this union. 
Belle died at the age of one year and seven 
days, and for a time the sunshine of life was 
dimmed in the pleasant home. Nora Adella is at 
home and is the central attraction in a large circle 
of friends. She is now a young lady radiant with 
the brightness of youth, an accomplished and at- 
tractive graduate of Stephens' College at Columbia, 
a Baptist institute, from which she received her 
diploma in the summer of 1886. Judge Hiram 
C. Phillips, the father of Mrs. McClelland, was a 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



231 



man of superior ability and undoubted integrity 
of character. He was a native of Albemarble 
Countyj Va., but early removed from the home of 
his childhood tn Cynthiana, Ky. His wife was Miss 
Elizabeth Cave, daughter of Elder Richard Cave, 
one of the pioneer preachers of Boone County, Mo. 
The Judge moved to Boone County in L819, and 
was Slate Senator for t lie term 1840-42. lie 
was County Judge at the time of his death, and 
had been the presiding Judge of Boone County 
for tin- past thirty years. Judge Phillips died at 
the age of seventy -six years, in 1869, universally 
lamented by the entire community, among whom 
he had dwelt so many years. His beloved wife 
died in the same year, ai, r ed seventy-one years, 
while on a visit at the home of our subject. "In 
death they were not long divided." 

James McClelland, the paternal grandfather of 
our subject, was a Kentuckian by birth, and resided 
in Bourbon County. A veteran of the War of 
IS 12, hi 1 was widely known and highly respected, 
and surrounded himself with a family of intelligent 
children. His sons and daughters were: .lames, 
William, Elizabeth, Arthur, Thomas, Elisha (the 
father of our subject), and Joseph, all reared upon 
the Bourbon County farm, near Paris, Ivy., wheie 
the only surviving son, James, now resides, aged 
ninety-three years. Elisha was born about 1808 
and died in the fall of 1859. lie had devoted his 
life to the pursuits of agriculture and stock-raising, 
for twenty years trading in mules and horses, buy- 
ing and feeding in Missouri, and shipping to 
Southern markets. When about twenty-two years 
of age he settled in Callaway County, and with 
him came his brother Thomas, and three of his 
sisters. lie married, in 183:5, Miss Elizabeth, 
daughter of Thomas and Sarah West, Kentuekians 
by birth, and long-time residents of Missouri. 

In 1817. Dr. McClelland 's father removed to 
Howard County, and settled upon a farm near 
Fayette, where he lived until his death. His ex- 
cellent wife died in 1851. They were the parents 
of eight children, of whom Dr. McClelland was the 
eldest. Elizabeth, the eldest daughter, now de- 
ceased, was married to II. B. Redmond; Louisa, de- 
ceased; Sarah was married to J.G. Wiseman, now in 
a mercantile business in Ashland, Mo.; Thomas C, 



engaged in the banking and mining business, in 
Joplin, Mo., resides in Kansas City; Catherine, mar- 
ried to Mr. DeMoss, a lawyer of Kevtesville, Mo.; 
Martha and James, both deceased. 

Dr. McClelland is a prominent Democrat, and 
has been frequently solicited by his party to be- 
come a candidate for office, but he has invariably 
declined the honor, as he prefers to devote himself 
to the duties of his profession. He is deeply in- 
terested in the cause of education, and was for years 
one of the Trustees of Stephens 1 College, and was 
one of the members of the Board of Examiners, ap- 
pointed by the Governor, of the graduating class 
in the medical department at Columbia, Mo. Aside 
from the practice of his profession, Dr. McClelland 
has an interest with his brother at Joplin in min- 
ing, and also owns four hundred acres of valuable 
land in Saline and Cooper Counties. Our subject 
and his wife and daughter belong to the Baptist 
Church, and are foremost in the good work of that 
religious organization. When Dr. A. L. Arnold, 
who had so long been connected with the State 
University, died, once again Dr. McClelland was 
urged to accept the vacant position, but he was 
firm in his denial, well knowing that with his large 
practice any additional duty could not be under- 
taken. Secure in the esteem and confidence which 
his earnest efforts and skill entitle him to, our sub- 
ject continues his professional rounds through 
storm or sunshine, and in the hearts of those whom 
he has faithfully attended, going almost down into 
the dark valley to bring them back to sorrowing 
friends, there can be but one grateful word spoken 
— "He hath done what he could." 



11^ 



>m 



"5^^ RNST HADER i^ one of the enterprising 
;fe) German-American citizens who, having 
ImLs$ sworn allegiance to the flag of their adopted 
country, have brought here that energy and the 
best traits of character for which their countrymen 
are noted, infusing it into the new conditions of 
life here. Mr. Ilader resides on section 12, town- 



232 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ship 49, range 26, La Fayette County, and his 
farm is characterized by that neatness and thor- 
oughness of cultivation which almost always are 
noticed on a farm owned by a German. Mr. 
Hader was horn in Prussia, August 28, 1849. lie 
is a son of John G. and Wilhelmena Hader, both 
of whom were natives of Germany. 

The family hegira was made to the United 
States in 1855. They look passage in a sailing- 
vessel and after a voyage of six weeks landed in 
New York, but proceeded almost immediately to 
La Fayette, Ind., which was their home for some 
time. Later they removed to Johnson County, 
Mo., where they remained until the close of the 
Civil War, when they came to La Fayette County 
and settled near the present site of Higginsville, 
though at that time the town had not been organ- 
ized. The decease of the head of the family oc- 
curred December 6, 1884, the mother following 
him a few days later, her death taking place on 
the 18th of the same month. 

Of the family of children horn to our subject's 
parents, the following survive: John, Frederick, 
Henry, Ernst, August, Minnie (the wife of W. W. 
Hertman) and Emma (Mrs. Henry Kuhlmann). 
The children have been reared in the faith of the 
Baptist Church. Their home life was pleasant 
and they enjoyed many comforts, as their father 
was a successful farmer, lie was much interested 
in the politics of his adopted land, favoring the 
Republican party. 

Ernst Hader was reared to manhood's estate in 
Missouri, and has devoted his whole attention to 
fanning. He has had very few educational advan- 
tages, having attended school only about six 
months during his life, but has managed to pickup 
a great deal of useful information and knowl- 
edge of business affairs. March 18, 1875, he was 
united in marriage with Miss Sarah Brand. The 
home which was then established has been blessed 
by the advent of five children, whose names are 
Lillie, William, Laura, Wallie and Mamie. Mi. 
Hader is the owner of one hundred and ninety- 
six acres of land, which he has fed with the ex- 
pectation that it would feed him in return, lie is 
much respected in the community and has held 
several local offices. He is now serving as Direc- 



tor of the Scl I District, and while he himself 

has had hut few advantages he knows better how 
to appreciate those which the younger generation 
are enjoying. 

Our subject and his wife are worshipers with 
the Baptist denomination, lie has served as 
Trustee of the church for a number of years and 
is a liberal contributor to the support of the 
same. In politics he is a Republican. Mr. Hader 
is one of the substantial men of the district, whose 
worth takes on a most practical aspect. 




USTAV II. FREITAG, the efficient manager 
and book-keeper for the lumber firm of 
V_>J Temple, Schoppenhorst iV' Co., is one of the 
best business men in the city of Higginsville, 
where he is an honored citizen. Mr. Freitag is a 
native son of the soil, having been born in Warren 
County, near Hopewell, August 9, 1864. His fa- 
ther, Herman, was born in Lippe-Detmold, Ger- 
many, where he engaged in farming, as did his fa- 
ther, Henry. 

In his native land, Herman Freitag married Miss 
Fredericka Starke, who was born in Germany. In 
1857 he brought his family, consisting of his wife 
and three children, to Warren Count3-, Mo., where 
he purchased a farm of eighty acres. That place 
he operated until 1871, when he sold it and located 
in Higginsville. He bought one hundred and 
seventy-four acres on section 21, two miles north- 
east of the city, and also purchased one hundred 
and sixty acres near Mayview, which he operated, 
until he retired from active life in 1889, and re- 
moved to Higginsville, where he is enjoying the 
fruits of his labors. Mr. and Mrs. Freitag are 
prominent members of the Evangelical Church. 
Seven children were born to the union of this 
worthy couple, six of whom are still living. 

Our subject was reared in La Fayette County, 
where he received his primary education in the 
district school. In 1887, he entered the Wesleyan 




: : : '. 




PORTRAIT A.ND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



235 



University at Bloomington, 111., where lie remained 
one term, and then became a student .-it the Wes- 
levan College a( Warrenton, Mo., where he carried 
on iiis studies for two terms. His next place of 
learning \\ :i> the Gem City Business College, from 
which In' was graduated in the spring of 1889. 
After completing his studies, he began to utilize 
the knowledge thus acquired by acting as book- 
keeper for O.V.Thornton, of l-Iigginsville. Mr. 
Freitag remained with Mr. Thornton until the 1st 
of January, 1800, when he started on .1 trip 
through Kansas and Nebraska, remaining four 
months. On his return, he entered the employ of 
Messrs. Hawkins & Smith, with whom he remained 
until February, 1891, when he formed the present 
partnership and bought out his employer's lumber 
business. 

The lumber yards of the present firm are located 
<>ii Russell & Patrick Streets, with one hundred 
feet frontage on Russell Street. The firm carries 
the most complete stock of lumber and building 
material in the city, and the yards, which extend 
back the entire block, are the most extensive here. 
Mr. Freitag is of a social nature and affiliates with 
the Knights of Pythias and the Uniformed Rank, 
in which he is an important member. He espouses 
the principles of the party that upheld the Union, 
abolished slavery and has brought the country to 
its present state of prosperity, — the great Republi- 
can party. A young man of sterling traits of 
character, the success of the business is largely due 
to his efforts, and he also aids in whatever meas- 
ures will promote the welfare of the city. 



=3, 



i.**+*L 



•!"i"J"i-^l?'*-H"!'F 




OX. JOHN T. STOUFFER, Judge of Saline 
County, combines agricultural pursuits with 
those of a professional nature, and owns a 
line piece of property, consisting of one 
hundred and seventy-live acres of land, on section 
3, township 49, range 20, Saline County. He 
does an extensive business, having managed for a 
time the Smith and Wm. Berkeley estates in addi- 
tion to the supervision of his own farm. 



Judge Stouffer was born in Frederick County. 
Md., June 27, 1838, and in his childhood accom- 
panied his parents to Augusta County, Va., where 
he resided up to the age of eighteen. He then 
came to Saline County, whither he was followed 
by his parents cue year later. At that time he 
was a carpenter and builder, and after coming to 
Missouri worked at his trade until the date of his 
marriage. December 19, 1858, at which time he 
was married to Miss Elizabeth Jane Adkisson. 
Twelve children were born to them, six boys and 
six girls, all but one of whom reached mature 
years. They were as follows: Laura Y.. who mar- 
ried J. M. Buntin, of this county; John M., de- 
ceased, a graduate of the St. Louis Medical Col- 
lege; Sophia, who died in infancy; Ella, wife of 
Charles Clough; Katie 1)., Kssie L., and Mary 1!., 
all three deceased; ('. Lester, Robert W., Leon- 
ard T., George E. and Carroll C. W. 

The Judge's parents, Daniel and Sophia (Derr) 
Stouffer, were both born in Frederick County, 
Md., in the year 1800. They reared eight chil- 
dren, of whom the Judge was the sixth, all but 
one of whom came to Missouri. The3' were: Ann, 
new the widow of EnOS Dull, of Kansas City; 
Elizabeth; Jane R., of Virginia; Edward A., of 
Saline County: Freddie, who died in infancy; 
John T.; William II.; and Leah. John T.'s pa- 
ternal grandfather, Jacob Stouffer, was born in 
Pennsylvania in 17.");") and served in the Revolu- 
tion, afterward removing t<> Maryland. The fam- 
ily is of German descent, and has had representa- 
tives in America for several generations. 

In the fall of 1888 our subject was elected to 
the office of County Judge ami served two terms 
with such success that he was re-elected in 1892. 
This fact tells the story and proclaims him a pop- 
ular man. He is a stanch Democrat, and has 
been true to his party all his life. A man of 
clear insight and sound judgment, he (ills with 
dignity and success the high position to which he 
has been called b\ the will of the people of his 
county. Socially, he i^ identified with the Masonic 
fraternity. In their religious connections he and 
his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church South. 

In tins connection it will be interesting to 



11 



236 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



touch more fully upon Mrs. Stouffer's family. 
Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Walker Adkisson, reared 
seven children, all of whom lived to have families 
of their own, namely: William, who died in Henry 
County, Mo.; Warren, of Marshall; Sarah, wife of 
B. G. Doyle, of Shelbyville; Maiy, who became 
the wife of J. M. Smith and is now deceased; 
Milton, of Lebanon, a minister of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church South, in which he has labored 
since the fall of 1855; Mrs. Stouffer; and John, 
who is now President of the Methodist Episcopal 
School at Ft. Worth, Tex. Mr. Adkisson was a 
successful business man. 

Not only at Napton and throughout Saline 
County, but elsewhere in Missouri is Judge Stouffer 
well known as a man of ability, an enterprising 
farmer and a wise judge. It is interesting to 
trace the career of men who have made their way 
up, as he has done, from small beginnings to where 
they have a decisive voice in settling the affairs 
of their fellow-men, and it is axiomatic that those 
who have had the most to do for themselves are, 
as a rule, better fitted in later life to direct others. 
The latent power that makes possible an upward 
growth against difficulties, and the determination 
that presses forward to overcome all obstacles, 
are sure to result in the attainment of success. 



'. % f k ? i p fc r 



-t-ta 



f \ ' l * \ * " ^ 




ILMON A. H. CAMERON. The gift of life 
is so mysterious, that when that other mys- 
tery which we call death interrupts the 
current of human hopes and aspirations, we know 
not into what new channel the spirit may be 
turned; but if the life has been characterized by 
strength and vigor, everything that it has touched 
in its onward passage must have received a benefi- 
cent inspiration. Thus was it with the man whose 
history we shall attempt to sketch in outline, and 
whose every act in his everyday communication 
both with his family and the business community 
was characterized by honesty and uprightness that 
made him esteemed and loved by all. After a 



long life of usefulness and growth in the most de- 
sirable directions, he died at his family residence 
on section (i. township 51 and range 20, Saline 
County, March 8, 1 X88. The honors that were 
paid him in those last sad rites showed that he 
held a firm hold on the affections of the people. 

Mr. Cameron was born in Tennessee, October 
14, 1822. He was the son of Joseph and Susannah 
(Lowery) Cameron. His name suggests the heroic 
strain which for many generations (lowed through 
the ancestral veins. The American members of the 
Cameron family have never been slow in giving 
of their best to their adopted country in times of 
need. Our subject was one of a family of twelve 
children, in which there were four sisters, seven 
brothers and a half-brother, lie received his edu- 
cation in Tennessee, and came to Saline County at 
the age of nineteen years. When twenty-two years 
of age he settled at Am >w Rock. November 7, 1 84 1 , 
Mr. Cameron married Miss Nancy Thorn ton, a na- 
tive of this county, who was born March 5, 1824. 
She was a daughter of Daniel Thornton, a native 
of East Tennessee, and oneof the earliest settlers in 
Saline County, being indeed the first, man that 
settled in Ridge Prairie. He brought his family 
up the Missouri River in boats, and for the first 
year they made their home at the fort, so protected 
because of the incursions of the Indians. Grand- 
father Thornton was a Revolutionary soldier. 

Mrs. Cameron was one of a family of four 
brothers and eight sisters, of whom there are only 
five now living. Our subject soon after marriage 
purchased a tract of land from the Government, 
and thereafter bent every energy to improving it 
thoroughly. He added to it until at the time of 
his decease he owned one thousand acres of land. 
He was a carpenter by trade, and built his own 
residence and outbuildings. 

Mr. and Mrs. Cameron became the parents of 
seven children, live boys and two girls, named as 
follows: Jerome II. , John. Daniel, Newton J. 
Robert E., Mary E. and Leona K. The eld- 
dot. Jerome II.. was born in the year 1845, and 
on reaching manhood married Mary Reynolds; 
they are residents of this county, and the parents 
of eight children, carrying on quite extensive 
farming interests. The natal year of John was 1849. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



237 



He married Mis-; Virginia Reynolds, and is now 

a farmer in Nebraska, and the father of four chil- 
dren. Daniel L., who was born in 1851, married 
Miss Cunningham, by whom he has four children; 
he is a farmer in Saline County. Newton J., 
born in 1853, married Miss Hawkins, and they 
have live children; the3 f live in Slater, where he 
is a merchant. Robert, born in 1856, makes his 
home with his mother. The eldest daughter, born 
in I: S58, is now Mrs. J. P. Brown, of Slater, and 
has five children. Leona K.. who was born in 
1861, lives with her mother. The children were 
educated for the most part in the common schools 
in the vicinity of home, although two of them 
were collegians of Jacksonville, 111., and Ilunts- 
ville, Mo., three sons were at Fairville, and the 
youngest finished his education at Sunnyside. 

Mr. Cameron never united with a church, but 
was always a liberal supporter of Gospel teaching. 
His wife is a member of the Christian Church, of 
Slater. Fraternally, our subject was a Mason. 
Politically, he favored the views of the Democratic 
party, but had no aspirations to fill public office. 
Few, if any, men in the same county have lived 
a more reserved and honest life than he of whom 
we write. He was a kind and loving father and 
husband, and a tender and true friend, and in his 
decease the locality lost a good and upright man. 



^., 



JAMES R. EDWARDS is one of the most 
potent of the public educators in Saline 
County. The town of Slater is fortunate 
in possessing a sheet such as the Slater 
Hustler, edited by so pure-minded a man as Mr. 
Edwards. Before touching upon the paper with 
whose fortunes he is so closely associated, we will 
here give a short sketch of the personal history of 
our subject. He is a son of the late Cornelius Ed- 
wards, who was born in Fauquier County, Ya., in 
1810, and removed to Missouri in 1833. lie was 
a wagon and carriage maker by trade, which busi- 



ness he followed until al t thirty-seven years of 

age. He afterward devoted himself to farming in 
Missouri. 

Soon after coming to Missouri, Cornelius Ed- 
wards went to old Mexico, where he remained for 
four years. At the end of that time he returned to 
Missouri, and married in Cooper County, in 1849, 
Miss Mary A., a daughter of Robert Scott. The 
young couple settled in Cooper County and en- 
gaged in farming, remaining there until the death 
of Mr. Edwards, which occurred July 5, 1887. 
Mrs. Cornelius Edwards still survives. 

The family of seven children born to the couple 
whose history we have outlined consisted of three 
sons and four daughters. Our subject was the 
fourth in order of birth in the family, and he 
made his entrance into this world in Cooper 
County, Mo., November .">, 1859. He was reared 
on his father's farm, and was educated in the com- 
mon schools in the vicinity of the home. Later, 
he spent one year at the Pilot Grove Collegiate 
Institute, in Cooper County. 

On returning after his boarding-school experi- 
ence, our subject contributed his labor to the farm 
development with his father, and remained with 
the family until 1885, when he came to Slater, in 
company with .Mr. C. Whit Williams, and estab- 
lished the Slate Rustler. They continued together 
until the year 1887, when Mr. Williams sold 
out his interest to Ralord Layton. The partner- 
ship with Mr. Layton lasted for three months, 
when Mr. Edwards sold his interest and entered 
upon the duties of a clerkship m the State 
Legislature, to which he had been appointed in 
the spring of 1887. The session that followed 
was an extra session, and when the Legislature 
adjourned he returned to Slater and re-purchased 
the entire interest in the Rustler. Since that time 
he has been sole editor and proprietor, and the 
paper has greatly prospered under his manage- 
ment. It now has a circulation of very nearly one 
thousand, and receives "illy good word.- from its 
patrons. It is newsy, well written and contains a 
good digest of the political aspect of the country 
at large. 

Mr. Edwards has always taken an interested and 
active part in the local affairs of the State. Fratcr- 



238 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Dally, lie belongs to Cambridge Post No. 63, G. A. 
P.; to the Blue Lodge of the Masons; and to Chap- 
ter No. 1 12, of Marshall, and Marion Commandery 
No. .'ill, and the Shrine of Kansas City. The Rust- 
Icr was the first newspaper in Central Missouri run 
by electric power. 



*& 



•{&» 




I i;s. SUSANNAH McELROY. The poet 
Wordsworth tells us of "an age serene and 
bright," and of this we are reminded when 
we meet the subject of the present notice, 
who i> affectionately known as "Grandma" Me- 
Rlroy. For seventy-six years she has battled cheer- 
fully with life. and now stands a representative pio- 
neer woman, commanding the respect due to a 
good and worthy wife and mother, as well as the 
reverence which beautiful old age inspires. She is 
the widow of John A. McElroy, and a daughter of 
a Virginia planter of English descent. She was 
reared until her seventeenth year in the Old Do- 
minion, and is now passing her declining years 
amid relatives and dear friends. 

.Mis. McElroy, now residing upon section 8, 
range 26, township 49, La B\yette County, Mo., 
was born in Grayson County, Va., July 25, 1816. 
She was the daughter of John and Eve (Houk) 
Pool, the former a native of North Carolina, who 
removed later in life into Virginia, where he mar- 
ried the mother of our subject, who was a lady of 
German descent. Mis. McElroy was reared in her 
pleasant Virginia home until the death of her 
father in 1829. This caused many changes, and 
resulted m the removal of the family to Missouri, 
where they located in La Payette County, in town- 
ship I'.), upon the farm now 'occupied by Charles 

Pool. 

At the place above named, the family resided for 
a number of years. Mrs. McElroy had enjoyed 
limited educational advantages in a little log school- 
house in her native State, and after settlement in 
Missouri she attended school for a short time, but 
did not have the chance for advancement that 



the children of the present time have. In 1845 
she lost her mother, and, although at this time she 
had been a wife for ten years, the demise of this 
parent was no less a great grief. In 183."), our sub- 
ject had married John A. McElroy, a sturdy young 
Tennesseean. born June 12, 181 1. 

The family of Mr. McElroy came originally from 
Ireland. When he was about seven years of age, 
the family came to the State of Missouri, and set- 
tled in La- Payette County, upon the farm in town- 
ship 49 which is now occupied by his grandson, 
Benjamin F. McElroy, and there he and his wife 
lived, and there their days ended, she having died 
in 1832, and he in 1853. He had been a prominent 
man in the county, one of the first settlers, and had 
become a successful farmer. John A., the husband 
of the subject of this sketch, was reared among the 
Mines of pioneer life. Like other youths reared in 
the far West, away from older civilizations, Mr. Mc- 
Elroy early developed a practical knowledge which 
enabled him to provide for the needs of his family, 
and taught him how to combat the difficulties of 
their surroundings. His learning was not that ob- 
tained from books, but he became well posted 
upon general topics, and served acceptably for 
many years after his marriage as Justice of the 
Peace. Until 1846 the residence of Mr. and Mrs. 
McElroy was upon the old home farm, but at this 
time a removal was made to the place where she 
now lives. 

LJpon the fine farm which Mr. and Mrs. McElroy 
obtained, he passed the last days of his life, and 
died August 26, 1855, leaving a record of which 
his wife and children may well be proud. His pub- 
lic-spirited character was well known, and the ex- 
pressions of esteem at the time of his death were 
many and sincere. At his demise the Baptist 
Church lost one of its most devout members and 
the county one of her best citizens. The family 
of five children, the survivors of the nine born to 
Mr. and Mrs. Mc Elroy, grieved with their mother 
over his loss. They are as follows: Benjamin F.; 
Elizabeth E., who is the wife of Morris Roche; 
Hugh L.; Margaret A., who is the wife of James T. 
Jennings; and Mary A., who is the wife of William 
Klapp. 

Mrs. McElroy owns sixty acres of land, which is 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



239 



a portion of the estate that she and her husband 
worked hard to obtain. She lives in the family of 
In T ilc\ oted daughter F.li/.abeth, and takes great 
interest in her two little grandchildren, John M. 
and Chester Roche. Her life has been lilk'd with 

good deeds. In the Baptist Church she is a Mother 
in Israel, dearly heloved by old and young. The 
quiet, unostentatious life of our subject possesses 
interest lo all who realize that the best prosperity 
of a community is derived from the influences 
which go out from good and pious homes. 



1 KYVIS A. SMITH is engaged in the business 
I i@. of stock-raising, and there is probably not 
J' 1 — ^, a man in the county of Saline, Mo., who is 
better known than he. His home is situated on 
section 29, township 52, range 20. His birth took 
place in Clark County, Va., on the I5th of April, 
1844, a son of W. O. and Marion (Adams) Smith, 
both of the State of Virginia. Lewis A. Smith was 
his paternal grandfather, and Capt. Peter Adams 
bore the same relationship on the maternal side. 
The latter was a captain in the Revolutionary 
War, and both were natives of Virginia. Our 
subject was the second son in a family of two sons 
and one daughter. Edward W. Smith was born in 
Virginia in 1842, married Miss McBride and re- 
sided in the town of Slater, Mo., where he prac- 
ticed medicine up to the time of his death in 1888. 
The sister, Harriet 15., was born in Virginia in 
1816, and married Samuel Rogers, and now resides 
in Saline County. 

Our subject was educated in what was known 
in his neighborhood as the old Bethel School, and 
there he remained until the breaking out of the 
war, which time found him a lad of seventeen years. 
Enthused with the Confederate cause, our subject, 
with several young men of his vicinity, joined the 
army under Gen. Price. His war record, however. 
was short, for scarcely had he and his companions 
donned the gray, when all of Price's command 
were made prisoners. Succeeding in liberating 



himself, he immediately made his way to the State 
of Illinois and wisely remained until he was a 
little older and more able to stand the life of a 
soldier. In 1863 he entered the command of Gen. 
Joe Shelby, where he remained until the close of 
the war. 

Like many of the youths of that unhappy time, 
Mr. Smith found himself in almost destitute cir- 
cumstances, but this was the fortune of war. The 
question of what he should do was settled by his 
contracting with a Mr. Booker of his neighborhood 
for the cutting and marketing of a field of twenty 
acres of wheat. First lie was fortunate enough to 
secure a horse, perhaps not a Bucephalus, and from 
another source an ancient mule, and with this well- 
matched team, hitched to one of the first binders 
that was ever patented, together with the as- 
sistance of a stray negro woman and her boys, 
he succeeded in fulfilling his contract. After he 
had marketed his share of the wheat he realized 
quite a neat little sum, and with this money he 
purchased a span of mules, together with a plow 
and a set of harness, and thus equipped he rented 
a tract of land from Reuben McDaniel and com- 
menced farming for himself. At the expiration 
of two years, such had been his thrift and energy, 
he was able to purchase for himself sixty acres of 
land, for which he paid *•'!."> per acre. 

In 1872 our subject moved upon the tract of 
land where he now lives, and there he remained a 
bachelor until 1*77, when he married and built for 
himself a snug house of seven rooms at a cost of 
$1,700. Here he lived with his congenial wife, 
who in after years proved such a blessing to him, 
in the two rooms which their limited means made 
it necessary to con line themselves to; and while they 
planned together their future prosperity, she worked 
upon the carpets which were to adorn the lloors. 

Mr. Smith had a natural love for fine stock, 
and took an interest in them before he owned any. 
and his instinct pointed out the way in which he 
could and has succeeded. He has placed upon the 
market some of the choicest of fat cattle which the 
State of .Missouri has ever produced. His last fall 
shipment was purchased by one of the finest restaur- 
ants of Philadelphia at the fancy [nice of $6.50 
per hundred, which was $1 above the market 



240 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



price. Twelve of these cattle in this shipment 
weighed two thousand pounds apiece, and he is 
to-da\ engaged in feeding a herd of thirty-eight 
head of Polled-Angus cattle which are, without 
exception, the finest herd it has ever been the 
pleasure of the writer to look upon. Twenty head 
of these have been estimated by expert cattlemen 
to weigh from nineteen hundred to two thousand 
pounds each. 

Our subject is the owner of a well-improved 
farm of four hundred and sixty acres of land, 
which is valued at $65 per acre. Socially, he is a 
Ma>on and a member of Cambridge Lodge No. 
63, of Slater. Mr. Smith was married in 1877 to 
Miss Martha M., a daughter of Junius Graves, who 
was born in Jackson County, Mo., in 185!'. She 
was a lady of rare tact and judgment and proved 
to be a great helpmate while her life was spared. 
Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Smith, as 
follows: Anna, born in Saline County, Mo., in 
1878, resides at home, pursuing her educational 
course at the town of Slater; Junius B., named for 
his grandfather, born in 1880; Twyman, born in 
1884, and Lewis A. in 1886, are all at home. The 
mother of these children was removed by death in 
1892. 

In his political opinions lie belongs to the great 
Democratic party and rejoices at the late success 
of Democratic principles. November 17, 1892, 
Mr. Smith married Mrs. Susie E. Saxton, a daugh- 
ter of Lilburn P. and Louesa Agnes (Garnett) Ar- 
nold. Her father lives in Boone County, Ky., but 
the mother is deceased. 



c=1 



#+£{ 



~s 



^^ EORGE QUISENBERRY, for many years one 
||( __ of the most enterprising, able and energetic 
^Jj[ citizens of Saline County, Mo., and a late 
resident of section 25, township 52, range 20, was 
a man of high charactei and unblemished reputa- 
tion. As President of the Farmers' Savings Bank 
of Marshall, and as President of the Citizens' Bank 
Of Slater, his business methods and kindliness of 



mannei gained him the esteem and confidence of 
all with whom he came in contact. Ever inter- 
ested in public improvements, and a leader in be- 
nevolent and religious organizations, the death of 
Mr. Quisenberry, which occurred on the 25th of 
April, 1889, was a public loss, and one deplored 
by the entire community. 

Our subject was born in Orange County, Va., in 
1813. His family were of Scotch descent, but 
his father was a native Virginian, and served 
bravely in the War of 1812, for which his family 
afterward received a pension. The Quisenberry 
family were well represented during the days of 
the Revolutionary War, and did their duty nobly 
on the field, participating in the decisive battles 
of that struggle for liberty. Daniel and Mary 
(Khoades) Quisenberry were the parents of seven 
children, our subject being the eldest of the three 
brothers and four sisters. Richard H. was born in 
Virginia in 1816, and married Miss Mary Monroe, 
who died; her husband was again married, and 
the second wife is also dead. This son is a suc- 
cessful agriculturist, and resides in Carroll County. 
Thomas was born in the Old Dominion, married 
and lost his wife by death in Tennessee. Daniel, 
born in Virginia in 1826, married Miss Owens. 
He made his home in Saline County, where he was 
prospered, and after a life of usefuli ess, passed 
away in 1887. Anna R., born in Virginia, was 
united in marriage with E. D. Garrett, and made 
her home in Saline County until her death in 
1847, surviving her husband, a successful farmer, 
who died in 1845, two years. Elizabeth, born in 
1822, was the wife of William McDaniel, and re- 
sided in Carroll County, where she died in 1849. 
Mary S., born in 1831, married George Norvell, 
who died in 1870. He was engaged in farming 
in Saline County at the time of his death. 

George Quisenberry was educated in the sub- 
scription schools of Virginia, and while a mere 
boy was working as an overseer of a plantation, 
whose owner was a large slave-holder. He re- 
ceived for his services $58 per month, and con- 
tinued in tlits employment until in 1837 he 
ambitiously set forth witli his mother and 
brother for a long and wearisome journey to Mis- 
souri, traveling by that sure but slow conveyance, 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



241 



a (Mil, and oxen. Arriving in Saline County with 

a small a unt of money but a large capital of 

energy, hope and self-reliance, George invested 
his sayings in Government land, still known as 
the old Quisenberry homestead, and his mother 
added to his one hundred and sixty acres a like 
amount of land, making their united farm three 
hundred and twenty acres in extent. In a brief 
time a primitive log house afforded the family 
comfortable shelter, and the improvement of the 
land was pursued with ardor. 

In 181!), Mi-. Quisenberry, attracted by the glit- 
tering gold of California, went to the Paeitic 
Coast, but only experienced suffering and disap- 
pointment, and was glad to return to his home in 
1851. Entering again into the duties of agricul- 
ture, it was but comparatively a brief time before 
Mr. Quisenberry had made good his losses occa- 
sioned by his trio, and from this date forward en- 
joyed prosperity, and became one of the most ex- 
tensive growers of hemp and tobacco, and was 
especially successful in raising and fattening cattle 
and other stock. Meantime, our subject had long 
since married Miss Martha Kinnear. who was born 
in Virginia, in 1811. .Mr. and Mrs. Quisenberry 
were blessed with the birth of five children, of 
whom but two survive. William Quisenberry, born 
in Saline County, Mo., in 1812, served four years 
in the army of the South, and died in 1878; 
George, born in Saline County, in 1844, remains 
upon the home place engaged in farming; Daniel, 
born in Saline County, in 1818, remained at home 
until his death; John, born in 1852, in Saline 
County, married Miss Rose Wright, and follows 
the pursuit of agriculture; < iusteen, born in 1850, 
died in 1862. 

Our subject was deprived by death of his first 
wife, who died in 1872, and in 1871 he married 
Miss Sarah E. Reynolds, who was born in Jefferson 
County, Kv., in 1838. There were three children 
bom of this union, two of whom are yet living: 
Thomas E. Quisenberry, born in Saline County,in 
1875, was educated in the common schools of the 
town of Cambridge, and having there completed 
his preparatory studies, is now (1893) attending 
the William Jewell College; Betty Quisenberry, 
bom in 1878, is an accomplished musician, and is 



yet studying [in the home schools. Mr. Quisen- 
berry and hisfamily have been important factors 
in the social and religious world of their immediate 
home and neighborhood. Our subject was a mem- 
ber, and at the time of his death filled the position 
of Treasurer, of the Baptist Church of Good Hope, 
which sustained a severe loss in the decease of so 
capable and upright a man and devoted Christian 
citizen. He was a member of the Independent 
Order of Odd Fellows, and politically, was a Dem- 
ocrat, but always favored the best man for the of- 
fice. At times, in early days, unfortunate in busi- 
ness experience, the latter part of his life was full 
of honor and continued prosperity. As President 
of two flourishing banking institutions he com- 
manded a leading position in the county, and was 
numbered among the prominent and thoroughly 
reliable business men of the State. Always the 
same energetic, faithful, efficient and courteous 
gentleman, ready at all times with word and deed 
to help others on their upward way, his memory 
will long endure. 



+=*i 



_y 




AMTJEL P. BASCOM. The old aphorism 
"that blood will tell" is applicable to man 
as well as the lower creatures. The quali- 
ties, physical, mental and moral, are handed 
down from one generation to another, giving bias 
to the thought and action of the individual man. 
The subject of our sketch is happy in his ancestors, 
he having come from a good old stock of sturdy, 
worthy and intelligent men and women. I lis 
father was Alpheus Hascom, a native of New York 
State. The family of Bascom is descended from 
Huguenot stock, and came from England to Amer- 
ica in 1650, settling in Massachusetts. The mother 
of our subject was Cassandra (Cruet) Bascom, a 
native of Brown County, Ohio, she being the third 
wife of Alpheus Bascom. 

The first wife of the latter was Hannah (Honk) 
Bascom, by whom he had eight children, the sec- 



242 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ond child being Bishop Henry Biddleman Bascom, i 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, one of 
the most eloquent divines that ever lived in 
America, who died i n the year 1850. The second 
wife bore the maiden name of Rachel Ellis, and 
by her he had one child, now deceased. Three 
children were the product of the third marriage, 
two of them living, .lames C, in California, and 
our subject. Samuel's parents were members of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church, the father being 
an earnest worker in the same. They were mar- 
ried in Ohio, where they lived for many years. 
Upon the death of the husband, in 1834, Bishop 
Bascom took the widow and fatherless children to 
Kentucky, where she died in 1842. Of the large 
family, but two are now living. 

Our subject was born August 27, 1*27, in 
Brown County, Ohio, and accompanied his mother 
and Bishop Ba scom to Kentucky. In the follow- 
ing year he went to Lexington. Ky.. the Bishop 
having been elected President of Transylvania 
University. Here he had excellent opportunities 
for instruction, but, as he says, did not always im- 
prove them. At the beginning of the Mexican 
War he enlisted in Capt. Beard's Company, First 
Regiment Kentucky Cavalry, under Humphrey 
Marshall. The company received arms at Louis- 
ville and was then sent to Memphis, to Little 
Rock, to Fulton (on the Red River), to Port Luxika 
and on to Monterey. Mr. Bascom was taken sick 
in Arkansas and sent back to Lexington, Ky., to 
await further orders, lie remained in the service one 
year and was honorably discharged at the expira- 
tion of that time. Kentucky continued to be his 
home until 1851, when he came to La Fayette 
County. He raised one crop in Clay County, 
then bought a farm one mile south of lligginsville, 
in Davis Township, and lived in the latter place 
about fifteen years. 

Mr. Bascom has lived in nearly every township 
in La Fayette County. In the year 1883, he made 
final choice and settled upon a farm of his pur- 
chase in section 22. township 49, range 28, and 
has resided there ever since. In 18(iM he entered 
the mercantile business at Aullville, opening the 
first box of goods ever displayed there, keeping 
the first railroad supply store in the village, and 



maintaining it three years, when he retired to the 
farm. It seems to be manifest that Mr. Bascom 's 
forte lies in farming and stock-raising. 

( lur subject was married in December, 1850, to 
Letitia Dinwiddie, a native of Lincoln County, 
Ky.. and daughter of John Simpson Dinwiddie, a 
native of the same county and State, and a son of 
John Dinwiddie, a native of Virginia, and a de- 
scendant of Governor Dinwiddie, of the latter 
State. The mothei of Mrs. Bascom was Elizabeth 
(Walker) Dinwiddie, a native of Lincoln County, 
Ky.. and a daughter of Jesse Walker, an early 
settler of that State. Jesse Walker married in 
Kentucky and resided there all of his days; he was 
a farmer and a soldier in the War of 1812, being 
present at the massacre in the River Basin. Of 
the four children of her parents, Mrs. Bascom is 
the only survivor. She was born January 6, 1827, 
in Lincoln County, where she received an excel- 
lent education in the private schools. Her father 
departed this life in 1830, while her mother lived 
until 1845. 

Mr. and Mrs. Bascom became the parents of nine 
children, eight of whom are living, as follows: 
Walker, Cassandra, Belle. Jennie, Frank Dinwid- 
die, Lee, Samuel, Jr., and Charles Andrew. All of 
the children have received excellent educational 
advantages. Walker is a graduate of the Uni- 
versity of Michigan and also of the law depart- 
ment of the same and is now practicing at Odessa. 
Frank graduated at Westminster College and is 
now in the senior year at the McCormick Theo- 
logical Institute, at Chicago. Belle is a graduate 
of the Normal School at Warrensburgh. Two of 
the daughters of Mr. Bascom are teachers. Mrs. 
Bascom is a devout member of the Old-school 
Presbyterian Church. 

Our subject was an old-line Whig before the 
war, but became a Democrat and has always been 
very active in politics, being strong in his opin- 
ions and having the courage to give expression to 
them. He was elected County Assessor of La Fay- 
ette County in 18<;o. receiving the highly compli- 
mentary popular expression of twenty-seven hun- 
dred majority. At the breaking out of the war 
he enlisted in Capt. Bowman's Company, Missouri 
State Guards, was made Commissary with the rank 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



243 



of Captain, served -ix months, and was discharged 
in Arkansas because i>f illness. Mr. and Mrs. Has 
com are peculiarly fortunate in this, thai they bave 
reared eight children, the youngest of whom is 
twenty-four years of age, and there lias nol been 
a death in their family for forty years, nor lias 
there been a marriage. They have en joyed almost 
absolute immunity from sickness, every member 
at the home gathering last summer, when all were 
present, appearing tip in- the picture of absolutely 
perfect health. 



^m>^r<\ 




«..-- 



i IK >MAS A. IK )( i AX, a representative citizen 
and prominent business man, now control- 
ling the extensive livery, feed, sale and 
training stables in Slater, Saline County, Mo., 
has been Kir many years an eye-witness of the 
development of Missouri, and intimately associ- 
ated with the business growth and progress of 
his present home. He was born in Boone County, 
Ky.. near Burlington, December 20, IS I I. His 
paternal grandfather Hogan came from North Caro- 
lina to Kentucky in a very early day . and settled 
upon a farm, where he followed the pursuit of 
agriculture. 

David Hogan, the father of Thomas A., was born 
in Kentucky, but in 1851 journeyed to Missouri, 
coming b\ boat to Old Cambridge; he bought a 
farm in Miami Township, and devoted himself to 
farming, which in that locality then consisted 
mostly in raising hemp. In later days he engaged 
in general farming and stock-raising. In 1862, 
he returned to Boone County. Ky.. and remained 
there till the close of the war. lie afterward re- 
turned to Burlington and ran a grocery business. 
lb- was a good citizen, and an honest, upright man, 
and passed away after a useful life in 1891, aged 
seventy-nine years. 

The mother of Mr. Hogan was a native of Ken- 
tucky, and died there in 1863. Her maiden 
name was Virginia Watts, and her grandfather 
was a pioneer Virginia farmer. She was the de- 



voted mother of five children, but two of whom 
are now living. The daughter, Malvina, now Mrs. 

Whittaker, resides near Miami. Our subject re- 
mained upon his father's farm from 1857 to 1862, 
and attended the district school, which was lo- 
cated on the homestead. In 18G5 he engaged in 
farming in Kentucky, and continued there until 
1867, when he came back to Missouri and settled 
near Miami. From sixteen years of age Mr. Hogan 
has given much time to the training of horses for 
the saddle, and has been especially skillful in break- 
ing and training the most spirited and fiery ani- 
mals. Many of the handsomest and finest step- 
ping horses of the State owe their gait and general 
carriage to his careful handling of them when 
they were only colts. 

In 1M75 Mr. Hogan was united in marriage with 
Miss Martha Wheeler, who was born in Saline 
County, a daughter of Stephen Wheeler, an old 
settler and farmer of this locality. Our subject 
owned two hundred and thirty acres of valuable 
land about four miles eastof Miami, and cultivated 
his farm until 1888, when he sold out and moved 
to Miami, was there two months, and in the follow- 
ing fall came to Slater and opened a fine livery 
and sale stable, and has since conducted the busi- 
ness successfully, and there as in the past he has 
given the mostof his time to the training of valu- 
able saddle horses. Mr. Hogan's first partner in 
the business was George Dyer, who remained in 
the firm until the mouth of August, 1890, when 
our subject became sole owner and managed the 
entire business himself, and, energetic and ambi- 
tious, and thoroughly understanding his work, 
prospered, and built a handsome and commodious 
barn. 35x190 feet, intended solely for the accom- 
modation and training of saddle horses. 

Mr. and Mrs. Hogan and their estimable family 
are well-known residents of Slater, and enjoy a 
large acquaintance. Of the six children born to 
them, four bright and promising sons and daugh- 
ters survive, as follows: Ethel, the eldest, a charm- 
ing girl; Wheeler, Charles and Lucy. Mrs. Hogan 
i- a member of the Baptist Church, and both she 
and her husband are ready to assist in the good 
work of that organization, and also take an active 
part in all enterprises of general interest, whether 



244 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD, 



they be benevolent, religious or social. Our sub- 
ject is a Knight of Pythias, and a valued member 
of that well-known organization. In political affili- 
ations he endorses the views held by the Demo- 
crats. He has never been an office-seeker, but is 
interested in the management of public affairs, and 
never shirks his duty as an American citizen, and 
has served with ability on the petit jury. Our sub- 
ject is an expert in his business, and trains more 
horses than any other man in his section of the 
country, and has had the satisfaction of seeing 
numberless horses he has trained take the first 
prizes at the fairs in different portions of the 
State. 



WA. REYNOLDS, assistant cashier in the 
Slater Savings Bank, is distinguished as 
being the youngest bank official in the 
county. His shrewdness and ability in business, as 
well as his reliability and activity, make him one 
of the best men for the position that it would be 
possible to procure. He is one of those young 
men whom it is good to have in a growing town, 
and the citizens of Slater recognize that fact. 

Mr. Reynolds' ancestry is given elsewhere in 
this volume in connection with that of his brother, 
R. M. Reynolds, of Marshall. We will state here 
that he was born December 25, 1868, near Sulphur 
Springs, Saline County, Mo. He is a son of P. T. 
and Mattie Reynolds, the former of whom was 
born near Blackwater, in Saline County. W. A. 
passed his childhood at Arrow Rock, receiving his 
education in the public schools. In 1883, he be- 
came a student at the Slater High School, com- 
pleting the course there; at the same time he spent 
the hours out of school in assisting his father in 
the store which the latter conducted. At the age 
of eighteen, he became book-keeper and teller in 
the Savings Bank, remaining there four years. He 
was also a stockholder in the institution. In 1890, 
he became assistant cashier, which position he has 
ever since held. 

Mr. Reynolds has been agent for the Standard 



Oil Company, the main office of which is in 
Kansas City, and has the eastern part of Saline 
County in his charge. He was one of the organizers 
of the Missouri Guarantee Savings and Building 
Association, of which he has been Secretary since 
its incorporation. This is a branch of the main 
association, which was established at Hannibal. 
Our subject is the owner of the finest residence in 
East Slater, the plans of which were his own. 

February 3, 1892, at Marshall, Mr. Reynolds was 
united in marriage to Miss RenaSappington, great- 
granddaughter of Dr. William Sappington, one of 
the organizers of Saline County. She is a daugh- 
ter of William B. Sappington, Jr., now deceased, 
and was reared at Marshall, receiving her educa- 
tion at the St. Savior Academy. Mr. Reynolds is 
a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, hold- 
ing the office of Junior Warden; he is also a Royal 
Arch Mason and belongs to the Knights of Pythias, 
being Master of the Exchequer. He is the Treas- 
urer of the National Union. In politics, he is a 
Democrat. 

It is indeed seldom that we find so younga man 
occupying a position of so much responsibility as 
that rilled by Mr. Reynolds, and the citizens of 
Slater have good reason to feel proud of him, not 
alone because he has been able to attain such a 
place, but because he holds as a solemn trust the 
interests of all concerned. He has proved himself 
a thoroughly capable, keen, clear-sighted business 
man, and it requires no great prophetic ability to 
predict for him a brilliant career, and all who 
know him feel sure that it will be as honorable as 
it already is promising. 



-O 



AMUEL M. GREENE, a druggist and lead- 
ing business man of Grand Pass, Saline 
County, Mo., has spent his entire life in 
this county, where he was born February 
1850. The family is of Irish descent. The 
grandfather removed from Virginia to Kentucky, 




16, 



PORTRAIT AM) BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



•245 



where he spent the remainder of his days. The 
father of our subject, Alexander Greene, was born 
in New Kent, Va., March 30, 1813, and with his 
parents removed to Kentucky :it the age of eight 
years, and located near Bowling Green. He had 
two brothers. Fay and Edward, both now de- 
ceased, and a sister, Julia, now the wife of James 
Ilocker, of Cass County, Mo. 

Alexander Greene left Kentucky at the age of 
thirteen years, and in 1837 came to this State and 
located in St. Louis County, where lie followed 
fanning until 1840, when he came to LaFayctte 
County. He was married March 20, l845,to Miss 
Elizabeth, daughter of Robert and Elizabeth 
Owens. Soon afterward he enlisted for the Mexi- 
can War and served until its close. At the time 
of his death he was drawing a pension as a Mexi- 
can veteran. He also received a laud warrant, 
which he located near what is now Blackburn, Sa- 
line County. He afterward removed to what is 
now Sweet Springs and built one of the first houses 
of that place, but subsequently removed to Black- 
burn, where he resided for a quarter of a century, 
lie owned considerable land in this county, and 
dealt quite extensively in real estate. In March, 
1890, he removed to Grand Pass, where he died 
February 19, 1892. His wife died in April, 1888, 
and they were laid side by side in the family ceme- 
tery near Blackburn. 

In politics, Mr. Greene was a Democrat and 
sympathized with the South during the late war. 
In 1819, he went to California in search of a for- 
tune, but after a few months returned. From a 
financial standpoint his life was successful, for he 
accumulated considerable property. He had an 
extensive circle of acquaintances, with whom his 
genial nature rendered him popular. He was kind- 
hearted and true, and for thirty-five years was a 
faithful member of the Christian Church. Mr. 
and Mrs. Greene had a family of ten children, of 
whom two died in infancy: John A. is now de- 
ceased; Julia A. is the wife of I). W. Small, of 
Blackburn; William T. is deceased; Mary; Robert 
E. resides in Grand Pass; Samuel M., our subject; 
Elizabeth M. is now deceased; and Maggie is the 
wife of Dr. T. M. Bridges, of Blackburn. 

Samuel M. Greene was educated in the public 



schools and the State Normal at Warrensburgli, Mo., 
and for about eight years followed the profession 
of teaching in the public schools of this county; 
but desiring to enter a commercial life, he em- 
barked in the drug business, which he carried on 
for five years in Blackburn. In 1889, he came to 
Grand Pass and established a drug store, which he 
still owns. He also has a warehouse at this place 
and is engaged in grain dealing and in the sale of 
agricultural implements. He is a man of good 
business ability, sagacious and far-sighted, and has 
built up an excellent trade, receiving a liberal pat- 
ronage from the best citizens of the surrounding 
country. 

In May, 1886, Mr. Greene married Miss Odie, 
daughter of Carroll and Mary (Wilds) Logsden, 
now of Marshall, Mo. Four children grace their 
union: Georgie, Minnie, Mabel and Guy A. In 
politics, Air. Greene is a stalwart supporter of the 
Democratic party, and in his social relations is a 
member of the United Workmen. He came to 
Grand Pass about one year after the town was 
started, and is one of its energetic young business 
men and a valued citizen, who has contributed 
largely to the growth and prosperity of the place. 









JROF. OLIVER GUTHRIE, the efficient 
I) and experienced Commissioner of Public 
Schools of Saline County, and one of the 
oldest ministers of the Gospel in the State 
of Missouri, was also one of the pioneer instructors 
of the Southwest, and has been a teacher of teachers, 
carefully laying a broad foundation for the educa- 
tional advancement of the coming generation. A 
scholar of high attainments, earnest purpose, and 
happy method- of instruction, he has successfully 
guided many of the prominent and leading men 
and women of Virginia, Alabama, Mississippi and 
Missouri into the paths of wisdom and knowledge, 
and with ready hand lifted them upward in their 
search for knowledge. With old friends and ac- 
quaintances in almost every quarter of the South, 



246 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



lie especially has a firm and sure abiding-place in 
the hearts of the residents of Marshall, his pres- 
ent home. 

Oliver Guthrie was born in Virginia, seven miles 

northeast of Lynchburg, Amherst County, Septem- 
ber 26, 1818. His paternal grandfather, William 
Guthrie, was of Scotch-Irish descent, and was a 
native of either the North of Ireland or the South 
of Scotland. William Guthrie, the father of our 
subject, was a native of Hanover County, Va., and 
was a fanner by occupation, but also owned a line 
of boats on the James River, carrying freight from 
Lynchburg to Richmond, and conducting a pros- 
perous business. He was killed by his horse run- 
ning away and dragging him by the stirrup. He 
w as an excellent husband and father, and as a good 
citi/.en was mourned sincerely when his untimely 
death occurred at the age of tifty-two years. His 
wife, Elizabeth (Winkfield) Guthrie, was born in 
Albemarle County, and was a daughter of Dr. John 
Winkfield. a physician and surgeon, also of the ( >ld 
Dominion. She passed away in Amherst County, 
Ya., September 26, 1828. 

( )ui' subject was next to the youngest of fourteen 
children, of whom thirteen grew to mature years, 
but only two are now living. During the early years 
of his life Oliver Guthrie was a pupil in the log 
schoolhouse, later receiving the benefit of a course 
of instruction in the Lynchburg High School. At 
nineteen years of age he began his life work by 
teaching in Amherst County, Ya.,and for the next 
live years taught there and in the adjacent coun- 
ties. At the expiration of that time, he went to 
Winston County, Miss., where he taught for two 
years and was connected with Sharon College, un- 
der Dr. Heard. He next taught in Alabama. In 
1841, he returned to Virginia, where he taught for 
five years. In 1846, he came West to Saline 
County, located in Cambridge, and as Principal 
took charge of a boarding-school in September, and 
remained in that position for one year. He then 
went to Monticello as Principal of a similar insti- 
tution there, and in 1848 established a female 
school in Lexington, which he controlled for two 
years. 

In 1850, accompanied by a party, Prof. Guthrie 
started overland for California, journeyed on 



horseback via Sante Fe, and helped to drive one 
hundred head of milch cows thither. During the 
trip he was thrown from his horse and slightly in- 
jured. The company disbanded at Santa Fe, he 
returned by train, and in September began teach- 
ing at Westport, founding another female semi- 
naiy, and successful^ conducting the institution 
five years. Then having permanently established 
another well-known institution of learning, he sold 
out his interest and moved to a new field of work. 
The select school which he opened in Harrisonville 
prospered, but in two years his health failed him, 
and lie was forced to abandon the pursuit of edu- 
cation for a time. His next occupation was that of 
merchandising at Morristown, at which he was en- 
gaged for three years, when the war broke out and 
injured the commerce of that locality. 

Returning to this county, Prof. Guthrie located 
near Cambridge, where he taught school, and after- 
ward was Principal of the Men's Frankfort School 
in Saline County for three years. In 1873 he set- 
tled in Miami and for sixteen years remained as 
instructor there. In 1884, after forty-five years of 
untiring devotion to his profession, this prominent 
educational promoter retired from the active duties 
of a teacher, and in 188i> made his home in Mar- 
shall. At nineteen years of age, while in Missis- 
sippi, our subject was licensed to preach the Gospel, 
and entered the ministry of the Methodist Episco- 
pal Church, in which he remained one .year; af- 
terward he entered the Cumberland Presbyterian 
Church, with which he has been connected for five 
years. He had charge of the Mt. Horeb Church 
for six years, and built the Presbyterian Church at 
Harmony. 

In 1872 Prof. Guthrie was elected Superinten- 
dent of the County Schools, and in 1874, when the 
law changed the title to Commissioner of Public 
Schools, he was elected to that office. Each suc- 
ceeding two years, he has been the choice of the 
people for the position, whose duties he so thor- 
oughly understands and so efficiently discharges. 
For the past score of years he has been the popular 
and successful nominee of the Democratic party, 
and holds grade certificates, testifying to the merit 
and ability of their possessor. 

In Amherst County, Ya., September 20, 1842, 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



247 



Prof. Guthrie married Miss Frances J., daughter of 
Rev. Stephen Mead, of Virginia, a member of the 
Methodist Episcopal Conference. Mrs. Guthrie, a 
lady <>f great worth and fine character, passed away 
in Miami in 1889. She was the mother of eight chil- 
dren: William M. was wounded in the late war by 
Montgomery's men, of the Kansas Fifth Regiment, 
while Standing in his father's yard, and after seven 
\ ears of suffering, died from the effects of the barbar- 
ous deed; Anne E. II., now Mrs. Dolan, resides in 
(ass County; Lucy V. died in Lexington; Mary F., 
Mrs. A. ('. Burnham, lives in Marshall; Charles A. 
is in the Asylum in Nevada; Walter S. is deceased; 
Prudence 0. is Mrs. W. A. Marshall; and Ida M. is 
at home. Prof. Guthrie has for years been a mem- 
ber of the State Teachers' Association, and is Pres- 
ident of the Teachers' Reading Circle. After years 
Of arduous labor ill the educational field, he still 
continues the honored incumbent of a most re- 
sponsible position, to which he has been elected 
continuously by his fellow-citizens. 



***** fc » * - 



' i ' 



KA ILTON M( DANIELS, for the past sixty- 
/// \V n ' ne .Y eai ' s a prominent and successful 
ill lis agriculturist of LaFayette County, Mo., 
* whose excellent farm, all under high cul- 

tivation, is located upon section 5, township 50, 
range 20, Dover Township, is one of the most sub- 
stantial and thoroughly upright men in the State. 
His ancestors were Scotchmen, thrifty and prudent, 
and withal possessed an excellent judgment which 
led them to bid their native land farewell, and 
leaving behind them the shores of a monarchy, 
seek in the broad field of America a home for 
their descendants in the Land of the Free. Indus- 
trious, frugal and honest, they early won the re- 
spect of their fellow-citizens, and soon became in 
heart and spirit true Americans. 

Our subject was born in Brown County, Ohio, 
in November. 1823. 1 1 is parents, John and Sylvia 
(Trichett) McDaniels, were Southern born, and 
both native Virginians. The paternal grandfather, 



Samuel McDaniels. was well known in the Old 
Dominion, and was a man of earnest purpose, 
strong in his opinions, and clear in his judgment. 
Milton passed the early days of his youth in the 
Buckeye State, and attended the common schools 
there, also working diligently as occasion de- 
manded upon his father's farm. He remained at 
home until twenty-three years of age, when he de- 
termined to begin the work of life for himself, and 
entered into the full control of a homestead, which 
he cultivated for a number of years. 

The home which our subject made upon this 
farm was shared by another, Mr. McDaniels mar- 
rying, in 184(5, Miss Ellen, daughter of John Wal- 
lace, of Ohio. This estimable lady did not sur- 
vive her marriage many \ ears, and upon her death 
our subject was left comparatively alone in the 
world. In 18;">4. he removed to La Fayette County, 
Mo., and at once located upon his present farm 
of seventy-five acres, which, under his excel- 
lent management, yield him bounteous returns. 
Although devoting his time and care to the pur- 
suit of general agriculture, our subject has raised 
some fine cattle and other live-stock, prospering 
in the operation of the various interests which 
center on his acres. 

Six years after his arrival in Missouri, Mr. Mc- 
Daniels married the second time, uniting his for- 
tunes with Miss Michell E. Greer, of La Fayette 
County, a lady possessing here a large circle of 
friends. Mr. and Mrs. McDaniels are the parents 
of two children, a son and a daughter. Thomas 
is the eldest, and was born in La Fayette County; 
Ellen, the wife of William White, was also a native 
of La Fayette County. Mr. and Mrs. McDaniels 
are highly valued members of the Christian Church, 
and are ever active in the religious work of that 
organization. During the thirty-two years of 
their union our subject and his worthy wife have 
been a unit in the promotion of good works, and, 
liberal in sentiment, are foremost in aiding all local 
enterprises, whether social, religious or purely 
benevolent. 

Mr. McDaniels has never experienced any desire 
to occupy political positions of trust, but he is de- 
termined to do his duty as a Christian citizen by 
intelligently casting his vole in behalf of the can- 



2-18 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



didate who is fitted by training and natural at- 
tainments for the responsible duties of office. < >ur 
subject affiliates with the party which he believes 
to be the sterling representative of honor and jus- 
tice, and clings closely to the doctrines of the 
Democrats. 



JULIUS G. COE is the editor of the Odessa 
Moon. He was born in Rockingham County, 
N. C, September 24, 1859, and is a son 
of .loseph P. and Nancy (Pearson) Coe, 
both natives of the Tar Heel State. The father 
was a carriage manufacturer at Warsaw, and the 
grandfather, the Rev. John Coe, was a minister 
of the Protestant Episcopal Church, and was well 
known as one of the founders and promulgators 
of the doctrines of that church in his day. He 
was also a soldier in the Revolutionary War. 

Our subject's parents were married in North 
Carolina, where the father died at the age of fifty- 
five years. His widow came to Missouri in 1882, 
and died in this city at the age of sixty-seven 
years. She was the mother of six children, there 
being one daughter and five sons; two of these, how- 
ever, died in infancy. The children were as follows: 
William, Pinkney, Mary A., John F., Thomas and 
Julius G. As will be seen, our subject is the 
youngest of the family. His first school days were 
passed in the district schools of North Carolina, 
in the vicinity of his home, and he completed his 
education at Reidsville (N. C.) College, securing 
his certificate at the early age of seventeen. 

In 1876, Mr. Coe engaged in the printing busi- 
ness at Reidsville, having a position on Web- 
ster's Dollar Weekly, lie remained on that paper 
for four years, and then came to Missouri, locat- 
ing at Warrensburgh. There he started a paper 
which is now conducted as the Johnson County 
Star, but was then known as the Warrensburgh 
Star. Disposing of his plant there, our subject 
came to Odessa in 1881. He was at first employed 



as one of the reportorial staff, but later bought a 
half-interest and ran the paper known as the 
Odessa Democrat for two years. At the end 
of that time he sold out and began to publish 
another sheet, which he christened in February, 
1891, the Odessa Moon. This has had all the suc- 
cess that a paper published by so able an editor 
as Mr. Coe would be assured of. 

The original of this sketch was united in mar- 
riage August 9, 1885, with Miss Eva A., daughter 
of the Rev. T. P. Cobb. She was born and reared 
in La Fayette County. Mr. and Mrs. Coe are the 
parents of three children: Melvin, Bessie and 
Mabel. Our subject is a member of Triple Alli- 
ance No. 17. of this city. 



4€h 




-— -■ •••3j> 



[JGH <i. ALLEN is the Recorder of Deeds 
for Saline County, to which office he was 
appointed to fill an unexpired term May 
6, 1891. He was born in Jessamine County. 
Ky., April 10, 1844. and is a son of George W. 
and Eliza (Sals) Allen. Both of the parents were 
born in Virginia, their removal to Kentucky tak- 
ing place when they were children. There they 
were married and engaged in farming, living in 
that State until 1860, when they removed to a 
place near Slater, in Saline County. The father 
resided upon the farm where he then located until 
the time of his death, and, although he himself was 
not an active worker, he was an ideal superin- 
tendent. 

Our subject was one of a family of ten chil- 
dren: Thomas Jefferson, James W., Elizabeth, 
Sarah, John, Richard M., our subject, Samuel P., 
George W.. Jr., and L. R. Elizabeth is the wife 
of G. E. Darnaby; and Sarah is Mrs. James R. 
Soper. The decease of the father took place in 
January, 1876, and the mother died in April, 
1878. They were both members of the Christian 
Church. 

Hugh G. Allen acquired his education in Ken- 
tucky and Missouri. After he had finished his 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



249 



own course he began teaching, and alternated 
that work with farming for seven years, and 
then launched into the mercantile business al 
Marshall, conducting it for seven or eight years. 

He sold mil his interest in this business in 1884, 
when he made a set of new and complete ab- 
stract books and engaged in the real-estate busi- 
ness, both buying and selling for himself and 
other parties. 

At first -Mr. Allen worked with a partner under 
the linn name of Allen & Graham, but for the past 
few years has been alone and has carried on the 
business in his own name, lie has the best set of 
abstract books in the county, every transfer occur- 
ring from the Government down being recorded, 
and in consequence he has a very good patronage. 
1 1 is real-estate business he now leaves largely in 
the hands of other persons, and since his appoint- 
ment he has devoted his entire time to the busi- 
ness relating to his office, and so satisfactorily lias 
he discharged the various duties that he has gained 
the approbation of all the best people. 

Our subject was married to Miss Virginia 
Adams, of Lexington, Kv., February 9, 1871. She 
has made him a delightful home, and has ever 
been his cheering companion and helpmate. They 
have but one child, a daughter, Minnie L. They 
are members of the Christian Church. ( hir subject 
is united fraternally with the Ancient, Order of 
United Workmen. 






TTNICIIAUI) W. NICOLDS, a well-known and 
Inl res P ecte(1 citizen of Marshall, was born 
JUV April 21, 18.35, upon the site of the present 
town of (ihvsgow. Mo., where his parents 
had located after their marriage. They were na- 
tives of the Old Dominion and bore the names of 
John F. and Elizabeth M. (Woodson) Nicolds. 
The former was born in Henry County, in Febru- 
ary of 1807, and was a descendant of Scotch-Irish 
ancestors. 
In Virginia, John F. Nieoldsgrew to manhood 



and was very liberally educated. In those days 
the young heirs of cultured Southern homes were 
very fortunate individuals. Education wasalmost 
universal, and few were the sons of wealthy Vir- 
ginia planters who did not see the inside of col- 
lege walls. When John was ready to start out in 
life for himself, the great West offered such at- 
tractions that he located in Missouri. Here he en- 
gaged in manufacturing tobacco and in farming, 
in both of which he showed good management 
and business ability. 

There was a time when the great State of Mis- 
souri suffered from a disgrace which no Southern 
gentleman could brook. The Mormons had settled 
there, and gave promise of so thoroughly estab- 
lishing themselves as to defy legislation for their 
removal. When soldiers were ordered to remove 
the unwelcome settlers by force, Mr. Nicolds was 
made Captain of a company and assisted very ma- 
terially in the good work. 

In 1833, Mr. Nicolds married Elizabeth M. 
Woodson, the daughter of a pioneer family who 
had settled in the State as early as 1820. He be- 
came one of the leading men in the county where 
he resided, and took part in every enterprise which 
promised good for his section. For many years 
he was active in the Methodist Episcopal Church 
South, and assisted it with his purse and presence. 
Until the close of that party, he was an old-line 
Whig in his politics. Twelve children were born 
into the family, four sons and eight daughters, and 
seven of the children are yet living. 

Our subject grew to manhood in Howard County. 
and when the Civil War broke out he enlisted in 
the Howard Grays, and was at the surrender of 
Shrevesport, La. At that time he held a commis- 
sion as Major of the Thirteenth Missouri Cavalry, 
and took part in the battles of the Central South- 
ern States under the command of Gen. Price. 
After the unhappy struggle was over, our subject 
bravely took up the lines which had fallen when 
he entered the army, lie is a man of education, 
having inherited his father's scholarly tastes, and 
was graduated from Central College, in Howard 
County. 

In 18. r )7, Mr. Nicolds was united in marriage 
with Miss Sallie A., the accomplished daughter of 



250 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Judge O. Hurt, and to them have been born six 
children: Edward F.. who now is a resident of St. 
Marcus, Tex., is a lawyer by profession and a tal- 
ented young man; Fannie is the wife of Thomas 
F. Montgomery, who has charge of the Brinker- 
hoff & Farris Loan and Investment Company, 
at Dallas, Tex.; Lorena B. is the wife of Joe James, 
of Sedalia; Mary M. married Lee Wagner, of Mar- 
shall; lone and Richard are at home. The chil- 
dren have enjoyed exceptional educational ad- 
vantages, graduating from good colleges. 

Mr. Nicolds and his family are members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church South. Socially he, 
like his father, holds membership in the Masonic 
order. He devotes his time to farming on his 
land, which joins Marshall and lies but a short 
distance from the city. He owns half a section 
of valuable land in Saline County, besides farms in 
the surrounding counties. In manner and ap- 
pearance, he recalls the days of courtly Southern 
chivalry. He is a man most highly respected in 
his locality as a citizen, neighbor and friend. Al- 
though not particularly active in politics, he be- 
lieves in the principles of Democracy. 



r^ 



-*~si 



^+^ 



,^\\ ARTIN A. GAULDIN, one of the substan- 
tial citizens of Saline County, residing in 
Marshall, comes of an old family of Eng- 
lish origin, which was established in Vir- 
ginia in early days. Ilis father, Jacob Gauldin, was 
born and reared in Buckingham County, Ya., and 
died in Campbell County. He served as a soldier 
in the War of 1812. By trade he was a wheel- 
wright and manufactured cotton and flax wheels. 
He was twice married, and by the first union had 
three children, but all are now deceased. He after- 
ward wedded Rachel Martin, daughter of Thomas 
Martin, who was of Scotch descent. They became 
parents of one son and four daughters, namely: 
Martin: Sarah, who became the wife of Joseph Self 
ami died in Missouri; Theresa, deceased, wife of Al- 
len England; Mary A., who wedded James Wilson 



and died in Bath County, Ky.; and Adeliza.who was 
married and died in Kentucky. The mother of 
this family died in 1837, and the father in 1838. 

Our subject was born in Campbell County, Ya., 
March 22, 1818, and remained at home until the 
death of his parents, when he removed to Mont- 
gomery County, Mo., and there worked for about 
a month. He next spent a year in Lexington, em- 
ployed at carpentering, after which he came to 
Saline County and worked at his trade for several 
years. In 1847 he built the Grand Pass Chapel, a 
Methodist Church, which was rebuilt in L891. On 
the breaking out of the late war he enlisted in the 
Confederate service, but while his regiment was 
on the way to join Oen. Price, he was captured at 
Black Water and sent as a prisoner to St. Louis, 
whence he was transferred to Alton, III., and was 
released in March, 1862. The following winter, 
while in his own home, he was again made a prisoner 
and his captors look some horses and stock belong- 
ing to an estate of which he was administrator. 
Mr. Gauldin was sent to Jefferson City, where he 
was incarcerated for two months. 

On the 9th of July, 1846, our subject was united 
in marriage with Nancy Riser, who was born in 
Rockingham County. Ya.. and is a daughter of 
Daniel Riser, of that State. Her father located in 
Saline County, Mo., in 1828, accumulated a large 
landed property here, and died in November, I860. 
He had served as a soldier in the War of 1812. 
Religiously, he was a member of the Presbyterian 
Church. The Riser family numbered ten children, 
but all are deceased with the exception of William 
and Mrs. Gauldin. 

Unto our subject and his wife were born twelve 
children, nine of whom are yet living. Edmund 
married Fannie Moore; Giles died in 1881; Adeliza 
is the wife of Charles Carver; Mary Ann is the 
wife of John Miner; Marcellus wedded Sarah Mc- 
Keever; Joshua married Minnie Chrisman; Robert 
married Maggie Clemens; Bettie is the wife of 
Quincy Blosser; Martin resides in Sacramento, 
Cal.; and Callie is a student in Hardin College, of 
Mexico, Mo. The children, with the exception of 
Martin, all reside in this county upon lands given 
them by their father. 

When Mr. Gauldin first came to this county the 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



253 



tax upon his property was about forty-one cents. 
By liis energy and enterprise, he steadily in- 
creased his possessions until he became the owner of 
almost twelve hundred acres of land, and his taxes 
amounted to between $300 and $400. On account 
of his increasing years, and not wishing to be bur- 
dened with the responsibilities that his possesions 
brought him, he recently divided one thousand 
acres of his land among his children, retaining 
only a farm of two hundred acres for himself. His 
entire possessions have been acquired through his 
own efforts except about one hundred and sixty 
acres inherited by his wife and a legacy of $800. 
He may truly be called a self-made man and his 
success is certainl}' well deserved. 






r 



=*^=* 




THOMAS O'CONNELL. The Chicago & Al- 
ton Road is conspicuous for having among 
its employes clever, manly men. One of 
the most genial on the Kansas City Division is 
the subject of this sketch, a passenger engineer lo- 
cated at Slater. He was born in La Salle County, 
111., near Ottawa, February 18, 1847, and is a son 
of John and Elizabeth (Malloy) O'Connell, the 
former a native of County Limerick, Ireland, and 
the latter of Maine. 

Our subject's grandfather brought his family to 
America when his son John was a young man. He 
first located in Maine, where our subject's father 
was married, and then located in Kentucky, where 
he had a pleasant residence near Frankfort, and 
where he died. John O'Connell went to La Salle 
County, 111., in 1844, and purchased some canal 
land in Grundy County. This he improved and 
lived upon until his decease, which occurred in 
1853. His wife followed him one week later. 
They were the parents of eight children, six of 
whom are now living. One of our subject's broth- 
ers, Daniel, is Treasurer of Grundy County, and 
another brother is an engineer on the Chicago ,V- 
Alton Road, and located at Springfield, 111. 
12 



Thomas O'Connell was reared in Grundy County 
and his earliesl efforts were in the way of farming. 
He attended the district school, but his advantages 
in this direction were limited, as the school was a 
distance of two miles from his home. On becom- 
ing orphaned he went to live with his brother 
Daniel, who gave to him the tender care of a fa- 
ther. In 1864, our subject enlisted in Company 
H, One Hundred and Thirty-eighth Infantry. He 
was mustered in at Ottawa, and his regiment was 
sent to Ft. Leavenworth, Kan. After remaining 
there for five months, they went to Western Mis- 
souri, and Mr. O'Connell was finally mustered out 
at Springfield, 111. 

On returning to his brother's home, our subject 
was variously engaged until 1866. He spent con- 
siderable time in bridge-building, and_then went 
South and spent a year in Louisiana and Missis- 
sippi. In 1871 he accepted a position with the 
Chicago & Alton Road as fireman, having a run 
between Alton and Springfield. In 1877, he was 
promoted to the engineer's position, running be- 
tween Bloomington and Chicago. He was sta- 
tioned at Mexico and St. Louis until 1880, when he 
was placed upon the Kansas City Division, and in 
1882 he located his family at slater. He has been 
a passenger engineer for eight years. During his 
long career as a railroad man, he has had several 
serious accidents. In one at Docksey Bridges his 
engine was demolished and he was thrown down 
a forty-foot embankment. Again, his engine ran 
over a horse, and was thrown oft' the track. He 
was laid up for two months as the result of this 
casualty. He has run engine No. 226 for seven 
years, and the five years pre] ions had engine No. 
21)4. 

Mr. O'Connell is a member of the Sedalia Build- 
ing ^ Loan Association. He has accumulated a 
nice little property, and owns a pleasant resi- 
dence in Slater, lie was first married in Alton to 
Miss Mary A. Graham, who was born in Schenec- 
tady. N. V. She died at Alton, leaving her 
husband one son. whose name is Frank G. Jan- 
uary 1, l*8.'i, Mr. O'Connell was again married, 
in Springfield, 111., the lady of his choice being 
Miss Mary A. Kelly, who was born in Cincinnati. 
Ohio. She was a daughter of Henry Kelly, a native 



254 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



of Ireland, and a prominent boot and shoe dealer 
in Ohio. For ten years previous to her marriage 
she was head saleswoman in two of the leading 
millinery stores of Springfield, 111., namely: Kim- 
ber, RagsdaleA- Co., and R. F. Ilerndon & Co., she 
having in charge the purchasing of goods for both 
firms in that line. Mr. and Mrs. O'Connell are the 
parents of seven children: Annie M., Alice R. L., 
Daniel Parnell, Jerome T. lI.,Emeline and Evaline 
(twins) and Luella Agnes. Evaline is deceased. 
( tm subject belongs to the Brotherhood of Loeomo- 
tive Engineers, and has been Chief for some time, 
lie also belongs to the Ancient Order of United 
Workmen and to the Knights of Pythias. In 
their church relations he and his family are at- 
tendants and members of the St. Joseph's Catholic 
Church. Politically, he is a Democrat. 



=§>*<§= 



ffi OHN KRANZ. Among the most intelligent 
and typical German-American citizens of 
La Fayette County, Mo., we take pleasure 
^i/ 1 in introducing the subject of the present 
sketch to the interested readers of this Record. 
Not only upon this side of the ocean is oursubject 
known, but before his foot trod American soil he 
had won laurels in the army of his native land, 
lie was one of the brave and valiant soldiers of 
King William who took part in the historic wars 
known as the Austro-l'russian and Franco-Prus- 
sian. These great struggles left so marked a result 
upon Europe that their influence has reached every 
shore of the globe. 

John Kranz, now located upon section 4, town- 
ship 49, range 26, was born July 20, 1835. He was 
the son of Anton and Barbara Kranz, worthy and 
honest natives of Germany. Their son was sent 
to the best schools of his neighborhood, and read- 
ily absorbed all of the learning there obtainable. 
At the age of manhood he entered the regu- 
lar army, where he continued for seven years, en- 
gaged in active warfare against the enemies of his 
country. Hi* was the Brandenburg Regiment, Num- 



ber 2, Dragoons, which made a name at the great 
battle of Koniggratz, in the Austro-Prussian war, 
and continued to win fame in other engagements. 

Our subject was an under officer at the battle of 
Sadowa, and when the Franco-Prussian war came 
on he was also at his post in the front rank, ready 
for battle, taking part in the siege of Strasburg, 
and that of several other fortified towns. He was 
mobilized into the army with the Landwehr vet- 
eran commander, Gen. Von Treskow, who was 
commander of his division. The regiment saw 
much hard service in that war, and many brave 
men went out never to return. During his resi- 
dence in Germany, in 1869, oursubject married 
Miss Augusta Rassmann, and one son was born of 
this marriage, to whom the name of Luza was 
given. 

In 1 K72 after the close of the war with the French, 
Mr. Kranz, with his dear ones, made his way to 
Stettin, and crossed to Hull, England, going from 
there to Liverpool, England, by rail. Upon reaching 
there the little family took passage upon the steamer 
"England" and landed in New York City after a 
voyage of about three weeks. For some three 
months Mr. Kranz found employment upon a farm 
in the State of New York, near Sing Sing, but later 
removed to Wisconsin, in the lumber regions, where 
he first obtained employment in chopping logs, 
and then in a saw-mill. At this work he continued 
for about a year. His army life had made him 
stout and strong, and this hard labor did not at all 
frighten him. 

However, for various reasons, he removed the 
next year to the town of Higginsville, Fa Fayette 
County, Mo., where he remained for several years, 
working on the Chicago ife Alton and Missouri Pa- 
cific Railroads as a section hand, and for a short 
time was boss of a section on the latter road. Mrs. 
Kranz died in 1M74. and Mr. Kranz was united in 
marriage in 1882 with Mrs. Louisa Schimdt, widow 
of Christopher J. Schimdt, who was a soldier in 
the late war. The following children have been 
born of this marriage: John, Minnie, Emma, Lou- 
ise. Cornelius and Flora. By her first marriage his 
last wife had six living children, as follows: Annie, 
Chris toph, Louis, William, Lizzie and Mary. 

In 1882 Mr. Kranz came to his present farm, 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



255 



which contains two hundred and twenty-six acres 
of land, under good cultivation. In his politics 
our subject is a Republican, one of the progressive 
men of the county, and much esteemed by all. His 
German neighbors are very proud of his record 
in the wars, and he has three medals which were 
presented to him for meritorious conduct. As a 
neighbor he enjoys the friendship of all, and as a 
man of business his word is unquestioned. 



^Mif 



;b> 



m\ 



ii^ 



WJOHN H. C. FULTON was formerly one of 
I the best-known and most extensive dealers 
in cattle in the neighborhood of Malta Bend. 
Vsg^' He was born in Loudoun County, Va., in 
1828, of Irish descent. When about seven years 
of age he accompanied the other members of the 
family to Adams County. Ohio, where his boyhood 
days were passed, attending the public school and 
assisting in the labors suited to his age upon the 
home farm. Later he had the advantages offered 
by the High School in Greenfield, where he carried 
on his studies for a period of two years. 

Following his school life in Greenfield, our sub- 
ject finished his education in one of the excellent 
institutions of learning at Delaware. Ohio, thus 
obtaining a thorough knowledge of books. 1 1 is 
marriage occurred February 13, 1851, with Miss \. 
I). Silcott, a daughter of Craven anil Elizabeth 
(Taventer) Silcott. The young couple began their 
domestic life upon the farm belonging to the father 
of our subject, but which was afterward purchased 
by the latter and sold by him prior to his removal 
to .Missouri in the spring of 1869. 

In October, 1868, our subject came to Missouri 
with the intention of purchasing land, and subse- 
quently bought a farm in Saline County: soon af- 
terward he brought his family West and located 
here March 15, 18011. At once he began to make 
improvements, and the majority of the buildings 
and other embellishments which now make tin' 
place SO attractive, with the exception of tin- house, 
were put here by him. He was of a very at ti ve ami 



energetic nature, and he possessed good business 
ability. SO that while he had his own way to make 
unaided in the world, his land amounted to as 
much as six hundred and forty acres at the time of 
his death, lie had received a part of the estate of 
his father, but this was a small part of his posses- 
sions. During the war, Mr. Fulton was a Union 
man. and responded in Ohio to the call for men 
for one hundred days. Politically, he was a Re- 
publican. 

The death of Mr. Fulton was most distressing to 
his familjr, occurring suddenly from heart disease, 
December 20, 1886. Hisconnection with the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church dated from his twentieth 
year, he having been always a consistent follower of 
the principles of Christianity. In business his ven- 
tures proved profitable, managed as they were with 

g 1 judgment, and his position in the county was 

that of a man of means, favoring all matters of 
public weal. His place is vacant and cannot be 
filled, either in the family or community. Besides 
his bereaved wife, Mr. Fulton left the follow- 
ing children: Laura Belle, the wife of Frank 
Wright, of Saline County; Clarence K., who lives 
upon a part of the farm; Nora, the wife of John 
Houston, of Saline County; Charles I-].; Frances 
Virginia. Mrs. Albert Payne, of Malta Rend; 
Craven E., a student at college in Ada, Ohio; 
Ashton, and Jessie Beatrice. Albert, the eldest 
child, died at the age of thirty-one years. 

The father of our subject was David Fulton, the 
son of a Virginia planter. He was a farmer in Ohio 
for many years, but in L851 he embarked in the 
mercantile business at Loudon, Adams Countv, 
that State, and continued thus e imaged until within 
a few years before his death, which occurred in the 
fall of 187."). The mother of our subject, Phoebe 
(Gibson) Fulton, was a native of Virginia, and 
died in 1853. She had seven children: Thomas 
Dorsey, who lives in Illinois; George Gibson, who 
resides in Ohio; Alfred; Sarah Frances, and Rebecca 
Jane, the others dying in infancy. David Fulton 
was a Kepubliian and a Union man. ami hi- son 
Alfred was in the Union army for about three 
\ ear-. 

The family history of Mrs. Fulton goes back to 
English ancestors. Grandfather Jacob Silcott re- 



256 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



moved from Loudoun County ,Va., to Ohio, in High- 
land County, where lie died. His wife was named 
Tabitha Cogel. The father of Mrs. Fulton, Craven 
Silcott, was born in 1806 in Loudoun County, Va., 
where lie married, removing in 1834 with his family 
into Adams County, Ohio, where Mrs. Fulton was 
born. Mr. Silcott was a farmer and died in July, 
1868. During his residence in Virginia he engaged 
in school teaching and taught the first school that 
John II. C. Fulton ever attended. When Mrs. 
Fulton was about twelve years of age she lost her 
mother. Her brothers and sisters are as follows: 
Ulysses, who lives in Adams County, Ohio, a mer- 
chant at Youngsville; Victoria, the wife of William 
Hoge, who lives in Morris, 111.; Craven E.; and 
Virginia, the wife of Hendley Hoge, of Grundy 
County, 111. 



-SHOMAS G. GIBBS. The independence of 
s>, the farmer's life and the possibilities of 
fy comforts and enjoyment are aptly illus- 
trated at the home of our subject. His farm is 
situated on section 25, township 49, range 28, La 
Fayette County, and is well improved and care- 
fully cultivated. The father of our subject was 
Pascal A. Gibbs, a native of Bedford Count}', Va., 
born in 1808, and a farmer. The grandfather of 
Thomas ('.. was Bird Gibbs, a native of the same 
county and State, the son of one of three bro- 
thers who came to America from Scotland and 
settled in Virginia. The mother of our subject 
was Cassie N. (Creasey) Gibbs, a native of the same 
county as her husband and son, born in 1809, and 
a daughter of Thomas Creasey, a native of the 
same county as his daughter, his ancestors also be- 
ing from Virginia. 

The parents of our subject were married in the 
county "f their nativity, resided there until 1838, 
and then came to La Fayette County, journeying 
across the country in a wagon. At this time set- 
tlers were few in number, the country was wild, 
and. Indians and wild animals abounded. The 



father was a famous hunter, and killed large num- 
bers of deer, wolves, wild turkeys, etc. He made 
permanent settlement at once and diligently 
cleared the land. He was the father of four chil- 
dren, of whom two are living, our subject and 
Mrs. Col. Ben. Elliott. They were members of the 
Old-school Baptist Church, in which the husband 
held an official position. He was a live, progress- 
ive man and a hard worker, being known far and 
wide as a very successful farmer. In politics he 
was an avowed Democrat. Death removed him in 
1883, his wife having preceded him three years. 

Our subject was born November 30, 1843, on 
the old home place, where he attended the com- 
mon schools of the neighborhood, and grew up 
to manhood. His education was interrupted by 
the breaking out of the war, in which he took a 
very active part, enlisting in 1861 in Capt. 
Wether's Company, Missouri State Guards, as a 
private, and participating in the battles of Spring- 
field and Lexington, with the surrender of Col. 
Mulligan. In February, 1862, he was transferred 
to Company B, Capt. Sam Taylor, Sixth Missouri 
Infantry, where he took part in the following 
battles: Elkhorn, Ark., Corinth and Port Gibson. 
He was made prisoner at the latter place and 
taken to Alton, 111., and placed in the old peniten- 
tiary building. His capture was effected May 4th, 
and he was exchanged July 4lh following. 

Again as private Mr. Gibbs was mustered into a 
company of Independents under Capt. AVoodson, 
at Richmond, Va., which was placed on scout duty 
in the Shenandoah Valley and parts of Virginia. 
He did duty as picket scout and as advance and rear 
guard, operating chiefly inside the enemy's line. 
While in this service he took part in the following 
battles: Newmarket, Winchester and Martinsburgh, 
and fought Sheridan up the valley. His company 
was engaged in skirmishing nearly every day in 
the Shenandoah Valley and Blue Ridge Mountains. 
Altogether he was a soldier for four years and 
was never badly wounded, although he was hit by 
a spent ball, and a six-pound cannon ball once 
passed between his legs; he was always on duty 
and never surrendered. He remained at home 
with his father, after his return from the war, for 
three years. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



257 



Mr. Gibbs was married September 10, 1865, to 
Fannie W. Lee, daughter of William Lee, of Vir- 
ginia, who came to Missouri in 1840 and settled near 
Lexington. She is a native of this county, and 
was born in June, 1841. Our subject settled upon 
his present farm of one hundred and sixty-nine 
acres, which at that time was in a wild state, in 
1868. He is the father of eight children, five now 
living, the youngest of whom is sixteen years old. 
They are: Ellie. Lillia, Samuel, Cassie and Sadie. 
Mrs. Gibbs is a member in good standing of the 
Baptist Church. Our subject has been a member 
of the School Board for twelve years, and has 
given all his children a good education. In pol- 
itics he is a Democrat, prominent in the councils of 
the party and a delegate to most of its conven- 
tions. He had a brother to whom he was warmly 
attached who was killed in the battle of Corinth. 






^f.'AMES DRAPER, the popular and efficient 
City Marshal of Slater, Saline County, 
Mo., has for many years been a prominent 
' and leading business man of the city, and 
ever since his first location in the county has 
identified himself witli the growing interests and 
progress of his immediate neighborhood and vi- 
cinity, and has been an important factor in the 
completion of many needed and most desirable 
improvements. Energetic and enterprising, he 
gives to the duties of his position the earnest at- 
tention and wise management which have charac- 
terized his business. 

The paternal grandfather of our subject was a 
native of Virginia, and a very early settler in Mt. 
Vernon, Ind., removing to the West when it was 
little more than a wilderness. Capt. James Draper, 
the father of our City Marshal, was born in Indi- 
ana, and was a miller of Mt. Vernon, and was also 
an attorney in the office of Judge Price. After 
a time he started in the grocery business in Indi- 
anapolis, and later engaged in manufacturing sash, 
doors and blinds, and, an able and industrious busi- 



ness man, prospered accordingty. In 1862 he en- 
listed in Company K, Twenty-first Indiana In- 
fantry, and as Captain served with gallantry for 
three years, and then was honorably discharged 
and came home. 

In 1870 the Captain removed to Missouri and 
located in Macon City, and there engaged in the 
manufacture of sash, doors and blinds; he later 
settled in Shannon County, where he died. He 
filled various positions of trust during his useful 
life, and served as Justice of the Peace most ac- 
ceptably. The mother of our subject was born in 
North Carolina, and died when her children were 
all quite young. She left two sons and two 
daughters, of whom three are now living. Mr. 
Draper was the youngest of the family, born in 
Mt. Vernon, Ind., March 6, 1852, and was reared 
in the city of Indianapolis, and there attended the 
public schools, and when he was old enough as- 
sisted his father in his shop. 

In 1872, he came to Macon City, and aided in 
the manufacture of sash, doors and blinds, and 
thus became familiar with the machinery and the 
business. In 1873 he began the work of a carpen- 
ter, and soon found himself exceedingly apt in 
the use of tools, and continued in the business of 
building in Salisbury until 1878, when lie came 
to Slater, and, working at the carpenter's trade, 
was busy all the time. Industrious, energetic and 
an excellent workman, he found no idle time, but 
was constantly at work, week in and week out. 
He was one of the very earliest of the carpenters 
and builders who established themselves in Slater. 

Mr. Draper was elected Marshal of Slater in 
April, 1892, and immediately entered upon the 
discharge of the duties of his office, and has proved 
the wisdom of the people who voted him into the 
position. Our subject was united in marriage in 
1882 with Miss Mary Comer, a native of Ireland, 
who emigrated to America with her parents 
when she was but six years old, and has littie re- 
membrance of any other home except the one in 
which her parents settled in the New World. 
Three intelligent, bright and promising children 
bless the pleasant home of Mr. and Mrs. Draper. 
Edith, Blanche and Anna are the trio of young 
sisters, who are now enjoying the excellent educa- 



258 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



tioual advantages of the Slater schools. The at- 
tractive and commodious residence of our subject 
is in the northern part of the city. Mr. Draper is a 
member of the Slater I. nan and Building Associa- 
tion, and is fraternally connected with the Inde- 
pendent Order of < )dd Fellows, and is a valued 
member of thai social and benevolent organiza- 
tion. In politics, our subject is a stalwart Repub- 
lican , and an earnest advocate of the party plat- 
form and principles, but is liberal in sentiment, 
and, essentially a self-made man, is always earnest 
in his endeavors to uplift and assist others less 
fortunate than himself. 



ftjOEL SCOTT, deceased, for many years a 
prominent agriculturist and energetic and 
progressive citizen of Saline County, Mil, 
' was a man of exemplary character, upright 
and honorable in all his business dealings, and 
when upon December 21. 1884, he passed from 
earth to the better world beyond, his death was 
mourned by friends and neighbors as a loss to the 
community. Born in Georgetown, Scott County, 
Ivy., on the 28lh of February. 1829, our subject, 
was but a very little lad when, in 1832, he came 
with his parents to Missouri. The trip was made 
overland by wagons, and was long and tedious. 
The Scotts arc of Scotch-Irish descent. Ezekiel 
Scott, the father of our subject, was a native of 
Scott County, Ky., and his wife, Dorothy, a 
daughter of Nicholas Hawkins, of Madison 
County, Ky., was also a native of the State. 

Ezekiel Scott in 1833 purchased a tract of six 
hundred and fifty acres near Arrow Rock, Saline 
County, Mo., upon which homestead his son Joel 
afterward died, and where the widow, the son Joel 
B., and other members of the family still reside. 
Mi. Scott received his education in the schoois of 
Arrow Rock and Jonesboro, and at an early age 
undertook t lie management of his father's large 
farm, and was successful in all the details of agri- 
cultural work. In 1 850 our subject, in company 



with friends and neighbors and thousands of seek- 
ers after sold, adventurously crossed the plains 
to the far distant State of California. He engaged 
in the Golden State first in mining, and then traded 
between the camps and Sacramento, thus accumu- 
lating several thousands of dollars. After some 
time Mr. Scott returned to the Southeast by the 
way of the Isthmus and New York, and settled on 
the old homestead, where he afterward resided 
until his death from paralysis. 

Mr. Scott was a prosperous farmer and a most 
successful stock-raiser. He added to the original 
Scott homestead until the acreage exceeded one 
thousand. In political affiliations he was a Demo- 
crat, and during the Civil "War he sympathized 
with the Southern cause. He had four brothers 
in Missouri, all older than he. They were Samuel 
B., Nicholas II., William R. and John C. There 
wire also three sisters: Ilulda C, who married Da- 
vid Gordon, of Boone County; Dollie P., now the 
widow of II. S. Mills, and who resides in Kansas 
City; and Hester, who married Henry Cook and 
also makes her home in Kansas City. 

November 3, 1857, Joel Scott and Miss Nannie 
M. C. Townsend, daughter of Sanders W. Towns- 
end, of Cooper County, were united in marriage. 
Six children gladdened with their presence the 
hearth and home of Mr. and Mrs. Scott. William 
R., of St. Louis, married Miss Mo Hie Gibson, of 
Cooper County. This young and estimable lady- 
died in 1887, leaving one child, a son, Gibson 
Scott. John C, the eldest son of our subject, 
married Miss Annie, a daughter of James Wright, 
and they have two daughters, Ethlene and Lil- 
lian, and live near Marshall. Nellie, the third 
child, is married to S. W. Wilkinson. Hettie Viola 
married D. A. Hancock. Cynthia E. is also mar- 
ried, and her husband is G. II. Amsbury. Joel B. 
was united in marriage with Miss E valine Mar- 
shall, daughter of Joseph Marshall, of Saline 
County, in the month of June, 1891. They are 
now residing upon the old Scott homestead, and 
have one little daughter, Mabel. 

Mrs. Joel Scott was born in Cooper County, 
Mo. Her father, Sanders Ward Townsend, was 
the son of Benjamin Townsend, a Virginian, and a 
Revolutionary soldier, in which patriotic service 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



259 



he was wounded and crippled for life. lie after- 
ward removed from Virginia to South Carolina. 
The Townsends are of Scotch-Irish descent, and 
the great-grandfather of Mrs. Scott came from 
"old Scotia" to Virginia. Sanders Ward Towns- 
end was a native of Virginia, and moved with his 
parents to South Carolina, and when seventeen 
years old went to Logan County, Ky. He there 
married Susan Xowlin, daughter of Peyton Now- 
lin, who subsequently removed to Missouri, and 
was the first ordained minister who preached in 
Saline County. S. W. Townsend moved from 
Kentucky to Cooper County, Mo., in 1818, and 
died in 1878, at the age of eighty-seven years. 
He was a successful farmer; he reared a family of 
thirteen children, of whom the surviving are Will- 
iam, Sanders, Nathaniel, Permelia (wife of Dr. 
Hardeman, of Franklin County, Mo.) and Mrs. 
Scott, the wife of the subject of this sketch. A na- 
tive of the State where she yet resides, Mrs. Scott 
has been an eye-witness of the wonderful growth 
and rapid advancement of her life-time home, and, 
closely identified with its progress, she is widely 
known and highly esteemed as one of the pio- 
neers who shared the privations of early days that 
their descendants miyht inherit the land. 



xfcgsHARLES N. BEALE. Life in the camp 

( • f jL seems to have served but as a stimulus to 
^^7 renewed energies in other lines in most of 
the soldiers of the late war, it being undeniably 
true that Americans are lovers of peace and haters 
of strife. Our subject, although a brave and gal- 
lant soldier, has shown himself since the war a 
skilled and most successful farmer. His father, 
John Beale, was horn in Virginia in 1801, and was 
the son of Charles Beale, also of that State, in 
which section the family is an old and representa- 
tive one. 

The mother of our subject, Ophelia (Wood) 
Beale, born in Virginia in 1801, afterward re- 



moved to Kentucky, but was married in her native 
State, and then settled with her husband on a farm 
in West Virginia. In the fall of 1843 thej came 
to Lexington, Mo., lived in (ireenton two years, 
and later settled upon the present farm of our 
subject, which was then unimproved, the entire 
locality, in fact, being in a wild state and ver\ 
sparsely settled. Hard work soon brought the 
acres in condition, and when the father died in 
1878, he had the satisfaction of leaving a finely 
improved property. His wife, who died in 1867, 
bore him two children: Mrs. Tidball, residing at 
Wellington, this county, and our subject. The fa- 
ther, as well as his wife, was a member of the Pres- 
byterian Church, in which body both were active 
and influential. He had been named :\ Justice of 
the Peace in Virginia and served in that capacity 
for several years, and at (ireenton served effici- 
ently and to the public satisfaction as Post- 
master. 

Our subject was born October 4, 1S.">2, in Poca- 
hontas County, W. Va., attended district schools in 
that State, as well as in Missouri, and was eleven 
years old when he accompanied his parents to tin- 
latter State, lie supplemented his public-school 
instruction with attendance one session at Chapel 
Hill College and two years at the State University, 
with a course in Prof. Jonathan Jones' Commer- 
cial College at St. Louis. He graduated from this 
latter institution March 2, 1851, with the degree of 
Master of Accounts. Following this, he took 
charge of his father's farm, having been given a 
half-interest in it. At the outbreak of the war 
he enlisted in ('apt. Withers' Company, Price's 
army; he took part in the siege of Lexington, and 
was present at the surrender of Col. Mulligan; was 
then taken sick and returned home, having re- 
ceived his discharge. 

In the spring of 1863, our subject went to Illi- 
nois, thence to Iowa in the fall, remaining until 
May, 1861, then home for a short visit, and after- 
ward to California by a steamer from New York. 
His return journey in November, 1865, was by way 
of Nicaragua, since which time he has given bis 
undivided attention to the management of the 
farm. The latter consists of three hundred acres, 
all under cultivation except twenty acres in tim- 



260 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ber, and with excellent improvements. The resi- 
dence was built by bis father, while the barn which 
he erected in 1883 cost him $600. He believes it to 
be beneficial to the land to vary the crops, although 
wheat and corn are his principal products. lie 
was married in 1870 to Miss Jennie, daughter of 
Thomas Lee, an early settler here. She was born in 
Kentucky in 1830, and became the mother of three 
children, only one living, Arthur L., a student at 
Odessa College. Mr. and Mrs. lleale are members 
of the Presbyterian Church, in which body he is 
an ettieient Deacon. Our subject is a member and 
Vice-President of the Central Protective Associa- 
tion, and was for a number of years a member of 
the Grange. Politically, he is a Democrat and is 
faithful to the principles of that party. 



*€j- 



ylLLIAM II. SWAN is one of the most pop- 
ular and best-known railroad men in this 
section of the country. He has for many 
years held the responsible position of foreman of 
the Chicago & Alton roundhouse at Slater, and is 
esteemed for his genial good-nature and manly 
characteristics. 

Mr. Swan was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on the 
21st of September, 1858. His father was Charles 
A. Swan, a natives of Lowell, Mass., where he was 
engaged in the iron business, but after removing 
West he accepted a position as foreman in the 
round-house there for the road now operated by 
the Lake Shore it Michigan Southern. 

In the year 1861), Charles A. Swan moved from 
Cleveland to Jacksonville, 111., where he held the 
position of roundhouse foreman until 1871, when he 
was removed to Roodhouse, 1 11., where he occupied 
a similar position for eight years. Mr. Swan has 
now retired from active life and is enjoying the 
fruits of his active years in Roodhouse, where, at 
the age of sixty-five, he is still active and in pos- 
session of all his faculties. The mother of our 
subject was Maria Hill, also a native of Massachu- 
setts, who died in Jacksonville, 111. She was the 



mother of six children, of whom our subject is the 
youngest. 

William II. Swan, of whose life we here give a 
brief sketch, was eleven years old when his parents 
removed to Jacksonville, 111., and after graduating 
at the common school he entered the High School. 
When only fifteen years of age, he accepted a po- 
sition as machinist in the roundhouse of which his 
father was foreman, and worked m this capacity 
for a year, then entered the Illinois College at 
Jacksonville, where he completed his freshman year 
but left the year following to return to his trade 
at Roodhouse. 

In the year 1882, our subject came to Slater and 
commenced work as a mechanic in the roundhouse. 
After occupying this position four years, lie was 
promoted to the position of foreman. In 1889, 
Mr. Swan went to Jacksonville, 111., where he 
worked at his trade one year, after which he as- 
sumed his old place as foreman of the roundhouse 
at Slater. 

Those acquainted with the details of railroad 
work when emanating from that center of mechan- 
ism known as a roundhouse can form some idea of 
the responsibility assumed by one who undertakes 
to direct the workings of so responsible an adjunct 
to the railroad service, and when it is taken into 
consideration that the subject of this sketch has 
seventy engines to oversee, it can be taken for 
granted that his work is labor requiring no in- 
ferior skill. 

In 1880, Mr. Swan obtained the consent of Miss 
Annie Scruby, of Carroll ton, 111., to be his life 
partner. This lady was born in Sparta, VV r is., but 
received her education in Carrollton, where she 
made many friends in the years spent there pre- 
vious to her marriage. She is the mother of six 
childen: Gracie, Minnie, Harry, Carrie, Nellie and 
Lillian. Socially, Mr. Swan is a member of the 
Knights of Pythias, in which body he held the 
position of Past Chancellor. Politically, ho stands 
by the Republican banner in weal and woe. He 
is a man of sterling principles and has attained his 
present position, both socially and in his business 
life, by the qualities of heart and mind which have 
endeared him to his associates and brought him 
the. love and good-will of his fellow-citizens. A 





/" 



ijZ^yifisUi 




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



■jr,:\ 



bright, keen, intelligent and broad-minded man, 

it is hardly necessary to add thai subject 

keeps posted on the leading subjects of the day, 
and for a man in his position has contributed his 
full quota toward the growth and advancement of 
the town in which he has made his home for so 
many years. 



s:;ss!R^X'-2- 



§zi®m&&WMm. 



.■/ 



ENRY BLOSSER, an extensive and pros- 
^- perous agriculturist, residing in township 
51, range 22, Saline County, is a progress- 
ive citizen, widely known throughout his 
section of the country and universally respected for 
his ability and integrity of character. Our subject 
was born in Virginia March 2 4, 1831. The Blos- 
sers are of Swiss descent, and at an early day set- 
tled in Virginia. Grandfather Jacob Blosser was 
born in Virginia January 13, 1756, and died Oc- 
tober 6, 1 842, in Shenandoah County. His wife, 
a Miss Beary, was a member of an old Virginia 
family. Joseph Blosser, the father of our subject, 
a native of Shenandoah County, was born at five 
o'clock in the morning of the 2d of March, 1795. 
lie spent the days of boyhood in Virginia, and be- 
came a miller, as had been his father before him. 
He owned and operated for many years a mill on 
the Hawksbill, a small stream emptying into the 
Shenandoah River. This mill he finally traded 
for three hundred and twenty acres of land, lo- 
cated in Pike County, Ohio. 

Removing with his family to this purchase in 
1831, they found the land almost an impenetrable 
forest, and were obliged to live in a rail pen until a 
log cabin could be erected. They wintered in a 
cabin without a door, but of these pioneer scenes 
our subject remembers nothing, as he was at the 
time but an infant six months old. The wife of 
Joseph Blosser was Sarah Jane Bacy, the daughter 
of Henry- Bacy, of Culpeper County, Va., The 
maternal grandfather of Henry Blosser was a vet- 
eran of the Revolutionary War, and a man of en- 
ergy and resolution. Joseph Blosser, after remov- 



ing to Ohio, did but little farming, but operated :i 
mill, and as the boys grew to manhood they cleared 
the land and unproved the farm. In politics, the 
father was a Whig. He died December 17, 1863, 
in Pike County, Ohio. His wife passed away in 
Mercer County, Ohio, November 7, 1876. Their 
children numbered nine: Elizabeth Ann, widow 
of Aaron Saylor, of Malta Bend, Mo.: Susan, de- 
ceased; Barbara, widow of Joseph Gee, of Ohio; 
Jacob, who lives in Ohio; Henry, our subject; 
Joseph, who resides in Kansas; John, deceased; 
Daniel, who lives in Kansas; and Mary, the wife 
of Valentine Roach, whose home is in Mercer 
County, Ohio. 

Our subject was but three months old when his 
parents moved to Ohio, traveling in an old cov- 
ered wagon, and camping out by night during the 
two months which the journey required. Mr. Blos- 
ser remained at home on the Pike County farm 
until twenty-one years of age, when he worked 
out for himself, first at farm work, earning $13 
per month, the first money he had ever received 
for himself. He next took a lease of fifty acresof 
bottom land, heavily timbered, belonging to his 
father. This he cleared and seeded to grass, and 
then sold his lease for $300, which sum gave him 
his first start in life, about the year 1856. 

Upon March 18, 1858, our subject was united in 
marriage with Miss Sarah Baker, a daughter of 
Josiah and Emma (Schooley) Baker, of Ross 
County, Ohio, and Virginians by birth. Mrs. Blos- 
ser was born in Ross County, Ohio, in 1839, and 
was one of seven children, four sons and three 
daughters, five of whom are living. A devoted 
wife, Mrs. Blosser has also by her refined and cul- 
tured manners, drawn a large circle of friends into 
an intimate acquaintance with the family. She is 
always ready to aid the needy, to comfort the sor- 
rowing and to sympathize with the distressed, and 
it is her delight to lend a helping hand to those 
who need assistance. 

In 1860, Mr. Blosser bought in Ross County, 
Ohio, two hundred and forty acres of land for 
$11,000, although at the time he had only $2,000 
of his own. After three years he exchanged the 
place for a smaller farm, receiving the difference, 
and selling the last purchase in 1865 for $11,000. 



264 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Having disposed of his property in Ohio, he at 
once departed for Saline County, Mo., with $5,500 
in his possession. At first lie bought two hundred 
and forty acres of land, which he industriously im- 
proved [or three years, adding other tracts mean- 
time, and finally selling all for ¥12,000. He then 
bought six hundred and forty acres where he now 
resides, paying therefor the sum of 814,400. 

The extensive acreage was then all prairie land 
unimproved, but has since received an addition, 
now making in the large and highly improved 
farm a total of nearly nine hundred acres. Mr. 
Blosser also owns in Republic County, Kan., live 
hundred acres of land, which he bought in 1883. 
At about the same time he purchased a tract of 
thirteen hundred acres of bottom land for about 
$14,000, and in the spring of 1884 he sold eight 
hundred acres of the same for $12,000. The re- 
maining five hundred acres he has since improved, 
and the land now yields from ten to fifteen 
thousand bushels of corn per year. 

Upon the home farm Mr. Blosser and his sons 
engage in general farming, raising wheat exten- 
sively, their acreage of that cereal sometimes pro- 
ducing ten thousand bushels per year. They use 
their own threshers, having on the place two steam 
threshing-machines of the most improved patented 
make. The intelligent family of our subject is 
composed of one daughter and six sons. Erskine, 
the eldest-born, married Annie Otte; Mary, the 
wife of Ward Ilaskett, lives in Saline County; 
Joseph is married to Ruby Sprague; Quincy mar- 
ried Elizabeth Gauldin; Henry I. married Clara 
Heskett; William and Louis are at school. Joseph 
has the management of the Kansas property, and 
the other sons are settled on the home lands. 

As a boj', Mr. Blosser had a passion for hunting, 
and he is yet an enthusiastic follower of that sport. 
When he first came to Missouri he found abund- 
ant use for his rifle, quantities of wild game being 
plentiful, but now he is obliged to go farther in 
their pursuit, and every August or September for 
the past five or six years he has gone to Wyom- 
ing or Colorado, remaining for two months at a 
time. In this health-renewing and delightful ex- 
cursion, he is accompanied by his wife and sons, 
who take with them a full camping outfit. As 



trophies, the hall of the commodious family resi- 
dence contains the head of an elk, and in the sit- 
ting-room is a specimen of the head and neck of a 
magnificent elk. In another room, the walls are 
decorated with the heads of blacktail deer, shot in 
Wyoming. The home dwelling is a large, artist- 
ically designed and finely finished mansion of 
three stories, including the mansard, which con- 
tains several rooms. The house, surrounded by 
beautiful foliage and stately old trees, makes a 
picture not easily forgotten. 

Mr. Blosser has accumulated his property by 
self-reliant industry and enterprise. lie is a man 
of strictly temperate habits and believes in the pro- 
hibition laws. In business transactions his word 
is considered as good as his bond. Mr. and Mrs. 
Blosser and their family are all members of the 
Christian Church, and are prominent in all good 
works of their locality. Our subject has been an 
Elder in the church for many years, and has been 
most liberal in the support of that religious or- 
ganization, and is also known as a generous giver 
to those less fortunate than himself. He and his 
sons are ardent Republicans. During the war he 
was a stanch Union man, and three of his brothers 
served in the Federal army. Although his in- 
vestments have all been most profitable, and incon- 
sequence of his excellent judgment and superior 
business ability, he has been exceedingly pros- 
pered, Mr. Blosser is unostentatious and genial, 
and exhibits in his mode of living the simplicity 
and kindness of heart which distinguish the true 
American citizen. 



"S 



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ira 



<'/fi^f IIARLES HOEFER, an influential and pros- 
(l(^-, perous citizen, well known throughout 
^^J/) Central Missouri as Cashier and one of the 
organizers of the Bank of Iligginsville, La Fayette 
County, is a man of sterling integrity and charac- 
ter, and has won his upward way by self-reliant 
energy and honest industry. A leader in business 
circles, our subject is also interested in benevolent 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



265 



and social enterprises, and enjoys the respect and 
confidence of the entire community among whom 
his busy life has been passed. 

lie is a native of the principality of Lippe-Det- 
mold, Germany, and was born August 25, 1840, 
the youngest of six children. Five of the sons 
and daughters grew to maturity, but of them onlj 
three now survive: Rev. Henry Hoefer, the es- 
teemed minister of the Evangelical Church of 
Higginsville; Charlotte, the widow of Mr. Adolph 
Wehrmann, residing in Higginsville; and Charles. 

Our subject received his early training and pri- 
mary education in the Fatherland, hut upon reach- 
ing his fifteenth year emigrated with his father to 
America. The family left Bremen on the sailing- 
vessel "New Orleans," and after tossing about the 
broad Atlantic nine weeks and three days, landed 
at New Orleans, La. From that city they steamed 
up the Mississippi to St. Louis, Mo., which jour- 
ney took another week. From St. Louis the weary 
travelers proceeded by rail to Washington, passing 
over the Missouri Pacific, the only road then com- 
pleted and in running order in the State. At 
Washington the family and their goods were 
loaded into teams ami wagons, and slowly wended 
their way to Warren County, where they made 
their home. 

The family were in comfortahle circumstances, 
the father Herman Hoefer, having sold his farm 
in Germany for the sum of $10,000. He was a na- 
tive of Lippe-Detmold, and there acquired a com- 
petence. From the date of his arrival in Warren 
County until his death in I860, live years later, be 
remained a constant resident of his first home 
here. The mother of our subject, whose maiden 
name was Wilhelmina Korsmeyer, was a native of 
the same vicinity as her husband, and died in 
( reman y in 1855. 

Charles Hoefer worked upon a farm in Warren 
County until 1859, and then entered the Evan- 
gelical College, where he pursued the course of 
study two years, afterward completing his educa- 
tion in the Methodist Episcopal College at Quincy, 
111., graduating with honor from that excellent 
institution of learning. Our subject then engaged 
in teaching at Hopewell, Warren County, where he 
was a most successful instructor for six years. 



He then experimented with merchandising in the 
same place, and continued in the business for two 
years. In 1870 Mr. Hoefer came to La Fayette 
County, and bought a farm of two hundred acres 
adjoining the land where Higginsville now stands, 
and which place had then only a few scattering 
houses. Here he was successfully engaged in the 
duties of general agriculture and stock-raising un- 
til 1878, when he located in Higginsville and be- 
came a stockholder and book-keeper of the Amer- 
ican Bank, as it is now known, then the Asbury- 
Catron Banking Company. 

In 1880 Mr. Hoefer severed his connection with 
this corporation and organized the Bank of Hig- 
ginsville, with a capital stock of «30,(>(i<>. and has 
ever since been its popular and efficient Cashier. 
The prosperity of the bank is attested by the divi- 
dends, which pay annually 10 per cent., besides 
which it has accumulated a surplus of $3,000. 
Our subject has been especially fortunate in hand- 
ling real-estate speculations, and owns much valu- 
able property acquired by energy and excellent 
judgment in investing. Mr. Hoefer was married 
in Warren County, in 1868, to Miss Levina Hack- 
niaiin, a native of the same county, and a daugh- 
ter of Hon. Henry Hackmann, a native of Ger- 
many, but an early settler of Warren County, and 
an extensive and successful farmer. He is a prom- 
inent Republican, having served in the State 
Legislature of Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Hoefer are 
the parents of nine children, of whom eight arc 
living. Daniel graduated from the .Methodist 
Episcopal College at Warrenton, and is a banker; 
Frank A., is a graduate of the same college, and is 
a book-keeper in the Bank of Higginsville; 
William is attending the Warrenton College ; 
Edward 1- is Deputy Postmaster at Higgins- 
ville ; Samuel, Benjamin, Oscar and Karl are 
attending school, and arc all bright and intelli- 
gent young people. One little one, Albert, died 
at three years of age. 

( lur subject is a church member and one of the 
most active supporters of the Evangelical Church 
of Higginsville. He was the first German settler 
of the place, and has ever been foremost in assist- 
ing his nationality, giving his services freely to aid 
them in any way, and proffering needed financial 



266 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



help or advice. Politically he is a Republican, 
and has been a popular delegate to various State 
and county conventions, discharging the duties re- 
posed in him in a most faithful and efficient man- 
ner, and is known far and wide as an enterprising 
and public-spirited citizen. 



r 



eAPT. JOSEPH P. ELLIOTT, the popular 
Sheriff of Saline County, Mo., from 1866 to 
1890, and a prosperous general agricultur- 
ist and stock-raiser, now residing in township 50, 
range 20, is widely known and highly respected 
as a citizen of courage, honor and integrity. Born 
in Richmond, Va., May 27, 1830, our subject is of 
English descent. His father, Benjamin Elliott, 
was a native of the Old Dominion, born in Hen- 
rico County, Va., and his demise occurred in Sa- 
line County, Mo., in 1844, at about forty years of 
age. He was mariied in Hanover County to Miss 
Angelina, a daughter of Walter A. Crenshaw and 
Elizabeth (Fretwell) Crenshaw. The mother of 
Capt. Elliott died at the age of sixty years in 
1864. 

The brothers and sisters of our subject were as 
follows: Cornelius, the first-born, now deceased; 
Capt. Elliott was the second child; Edmund V. is 
dead; and Benennais married to William McCros- 
key, of Cooke County, Tex. The three paternal 
uncles of Capt. Elliott were as follows: John Ell- 
iott, now President of a bank in Richmond; Sam- 
ple II. and William, now deceased. Our subject 
located in Saline County, Mo., with his parents 
when only three years of age, and has been a con- 
stant resident of this portion of the State ever 
since, having therefore been an eye-witness for the 
past three-score years of the growth and rapid 
upbuilding of his neighborhood and county. 
Capt. Elliott was educated in the common schools 
of Saline County, and has been a farmer, as was 
his father before him. 

Our subject served in the State Guard as a pri- 



vate under Capt. Brown in the late war, and then 
joined the Confederate army under Gen. Joseph 
Shelby, and was appointed First Lieutenant of his 
company upon its organization in August, 1862. 
Fearless by nature, our subject distinguished him- 
self by his brave and gallant bearing upon the 
field of war. Wounded at the battle of Spring- 
field while cheering his men on to victoiy, he was 
carried to Ilartsville, Wright Count}', where Capt. 
Garret of his company was wounded and died, our 
subject then being promoted to the position of 
Captain. Recovering from his wound, Capt. Ell- 
iott, in April, 1863, took command of his com- 
pany, which was E. Shelby's old regiment of cav- 
alry. Our subject remained in the service until 
June, 1865. when he was among those who surren- 
dered at Shreveport, La. 

Capt. Elliott participated in the following en- 
gagements and battles: Wilson's Creek, Booneville, 
Carthage, first and second engagements at Dry 
Wood, Lexington, Coon Creek, Cane Hill, Prairie 
Grove, Springfield, Helena, Osage, Independence, 
Westport, two fights at Ncwtonia and at Fay- 
etteville, Ark. Three times Capt. Elliott was 
wounded during the war, and three times he had 
his horse shot under him, and constantly and un- 
flinchingly faced danger and death. Since leav- 
ing the office of Sheriff in 1890, Capt. Elliott has 
devoted himself entirely to the peaceful avocation 
of farming his one hundred and forty acres of 
valuable land and raising fine graded stock. 

In December, 1869, our subject married Miss 
Mary T. Ross, daughter of James and Leah Ross, 
of Howard County, Mo. The pleasant and happy 
home of Capt. Elliott and his excellent wife has 
been blessed with the presence of two children. 
Mamie and Josie. Mrs. Elliott attended the com- 
mon schools of Howard County, and also received 
a course of instruction at Fayette College, in Fay- 
ette, Mo. Our subject and his wife are both mem- 
bers of the Christian Church, and always aid in 
its various social and benevolent enterprises, and 
are justly considered important factors in all the 
good work of their home locality and neighbor- 
hood. Capt. Elliott fraternally belongs to the 
Knights of the Maccabees, and he and Mrs. Elliott 
and the two daughters have a host of tried 



POETRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



267 



friends and true, and command the respect and 
esteem of all who know them. Our subject is a 
standi Democrat and a (inn adherent of the Jack- 
sonian party, which has now (1892) just enjoyed 
a signal victory. 



^*- 



— ^>-^<§ 



SP=^ 




RANKLIN C. M( REYNOLDS, a wide-awake 
(• and enterprising young agriculturist, was 
(1*> born March 11, 1853, on the farm which is 

still his home, and which adjoins the town of 
Grand Pass. The McReynolds family is of Irish 
descent. The grandfather, Joseph McReynolds, of 
Virginia, removed with his family to Tennessee 
and from there to Saline County, Mo., about 
1819, becoming one of its first settlers. He en- 
tered nine hundred acres of land from the Gov- 
ernment and gave his attention to farming. In 
Virginia he married Elizabeth Logan, and unto 
them were born five children: John, Allen, Logan, 
David, and Elizabeth, wife of Samuel Webb, of 
Saline County; all are now deceased. 

Allen McReynolds, father of our subject, was 
born in Tennessee in 1812, and with the family 
came to Missouri, the journey being made by 
wagon. He married Amanda A., daughter of 
AVilliam and Na*icy A. (Holt) Cooper, who were 
of Scotch descent, and in an early day immigrated 
with their family to La Fayette County, Mo. 
Mrs. Cooper, the grandmother of our subject, is 
still living at the advanced age of ninety-seven 
years and makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. 
Stark, in La Fayette County. 

After his marriage Allen McReynolds located 
on the farm where F. C. now resides and built the 
house which is still standing. In politics he was 
a Democrat, but was never in favor (if secession. 
On the 24th of December, 18(54, he was killed by a 
band of Kansas and Missouri militia under cir- 
cumstances peculiarly atrocious. Several men 
rode to his house, where he and his daughter were 
alone, the other members of the family being ab- 
sent at Waverly making Christinas purchases, as it 



was Christmas Eve. The men asked for dinner, 
which was supplied them, and after they had been 
thus hospitably entertained they rode away, but 
in a few moments some of them returned, and on 
pretext of having Mr. McReynolds show them the 
way, called him out. He went down the road a 
few rods with them and was shot dead. The 
daughter and a neighbor's girl, hearing the shots, 
hurried down the road, and meeting some of the 
murderers riding back were coolly told that the 
father was dead, and if they wanted his bod3 T they 
would find it beyond. Mr. McReynolds was 
known by all to be a peaceable and law-abiding cit- 
izen and this cruel deed caused wide-spread dis- 
approval, for all felt that if such men as Allen 
McReynolds were to be killed, no one was safe. 
He was a member of the Methodist Church and a 
man held in the highest regard throughout the 
community. His wife died in the spring of 1879. 

Unto this worthy couple were born ten children: 
Elizabeth, wife of John Robertson, of Kansas City; 
William, deceased; Angeline, wife of William 
Kennedy, of St. Clair County, Mo.; Samuel, of 
Carthage, Mo.: Samantha, wife of John Blanchard, 
of Saline County; Franklin O; Nannie, wife of 
O. M. Thompson, of Fresno, Cal.; Lulu, a school 
teacher of Carthage, Mo.: Charles, deceased; and 
Ida, wife of Abram Kimble, of Kansas City. 

We now take up the personal history of our 
subject, who spent the days of his boyhood and 
youth in the usual manner of farmer lads. His 
early education, acquired in the public schools, was 
supplemented by study in the State Normal School 
at Kirksville. He then returned to his home and 
has since engaged in agricultural pursuits. He now 
owns and operates two hundred and twenty acres 
of land, a valuable farm, the neat appearance of 
which indicates his thrift and enterprise. 

On the 19th of February, L880, Mr. McReynolds 
was united in marriage with Miss Alice, daughter 
of Charles Sill, of La Fayette County. Their 
union has been blessed with two children, Virgie 
and Lovie, the latter deceased. Their household 
is the abode of hospitality and in social circles 
they hold an enviable position. In his political 
affiliations, Mr. McReynolds is a Democrat, and in 
his religious belief is a member of the Christian 



268 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Church. His farm extends to the village of 
Grand Pass, and his home is pleasantly located on 
a bluff. He is a successful and enterprising farmer 
and is a worthy representative of one of the hon- 
ored pioneer families of the county. He well de- 
serves representation in this volume and with 
pleasure we present his sketch to our readers. 



^1 



m&m 



lf**M- 



\|(ACOB II. BURGAN, a popular citizen and 
prominent manufacturer of granite and 
marble monuments in Higginsville, has 
for the past twelve years been identified 
with his present business and intimately associ- 
ated with the best interests of the city. Upright 
in character, honest and industrious, he is highly 
respected. As a proof of his popularity, it, may 
be mentioned that in the spring election of 1891 
he was the only Republican elected on the city 
ticket to the responsible office of Alderman, the 
duties of -which position he is discharging to the 
utmost satisfaction of the general public, who ap- 
preciate his energetic and able service in their 
behalf. 

Our subject was born in Bluffton, Wells County. 
Ind., January 1, 1852. His paternal grandfather, 
Jacob Burgan, was a native of Westmoreland 
County, Pa., and when a young man settled in 
Wayne County, Ohio, and there improved a large 
farm and continued the pursuit of agriculture 
until his death at seventy-live years of age. He 
was a good citizen and an earnest, resolute man, 
of Welsh and German descent. His wife. Mary 
Brown, was a native of the Quaker State and a 
most worthy woman. Their son, George F., fa- 
ther of our subject, was the second in a family 
of nine children, and was born in Wayne County- 
Ohio, in 1820. He was reared in his native 
county, and afterward located in Wells County, 
Ind., in 1K48, purchasing a farm, upon which he 
resided many years, but finally retired to Bluff- 
ton, that county, where he still lives. He intro- 
duced the first sawmill used there, and planted 



the first shade trees in Bluffton. His wife, known 
in her maidenhood as Sarah Widmer, was a na- 
tive of Wooster, Wayne County, Ohio, and was 
the daughter of Frederick Widmer, a native of 
Switzerland-, and an early settler of Wooster, but 
later a resident of Orrville. lie died in VanWert 
County, Ohio, at a good old age. 

The mother of our subject, after a long life of 
usefulness, passed away in June, 1892. She and 
her husband were members of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church, and were highly respected. Of their 
nine children, seven are now living. The eldest 
son, Arthur, enlisted in the One Hundred and 
Thirtieth Indiana Regiment and served faithfully 
two years, remaining in active duty until the 
close of the war. He was only r fifteen years of 
age when he became a soldier, and was distin- 
guished by his courage and gallant bearing upon 
the field of battle. Jacob II., the fourth child in 
order of birth, was reared upon his father's farm and 
attended the public schools, completing his course 
of study in the Bluffton High School. He remained 
at home until he was nineteen years of age, and 
was then apprenticed to learn the marble business 
at Bluffton. He remained in the shop for three 
years and then worked in Ohio, Illinois, Iowa, 
Nebraska, Texas, and traveled through the South, 
spending his time principally in the large cities. 

In 1879, Mr. Burgan returned to Indiana, and 
was married there to Miss Rebecca Suter, a native 
of Bluffton and the daughter of Jacob Suter, who 
was born in Pennsylvania and was a farmer by 
occupation. Our subject resided in Bluffton until 
L88I, when he came to Missouri and engaged in 
business. Upon locating in Higginsville. he bought 
out L. M. llebner, and has continued in the 
marble business ever since. Beginning with a small 
capital, he has steadily increased his business, and 
has prospered accordingly. His stock is the larg- 
est in this section of the State. In 1889, he 
erected on Russell Street a handsome stone front 
block, 21x70 feet, and two stories in height, the 
upper story being a hall used by the Independent 
Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. 
Mr. Burgan superintends the business and keeps 
three workmen constantly employed, besides hav- 
ing two men on the road. He transacts the prin- 



PORTRAIT ANT) BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



269 



c-i pal business in that line in La Fayette, Johnson , 

Jackson and Saline Counties, and has the finest 
blocks of marble in this portion of the country. 

Mr. Burgan resides in a beautiful residence on 
Grand Avenue. He and his wife are the parents 
of seven children. Nettie !>., Fannie, George, 
William, Howard, Wade, and an infant unnamed, 
are the bright group who make sunshine in the 
happy home. Mrs. Burgan is a valued member 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Our subject 
is fraternally connected with the Independent 
Order of Odd Fellows, and is Past Grand. He 
is also Prelate of the Uniformed Rank of the 
Knights of Pythias, and is a Woodman of the 
World. Politically, he is a stalwart Republican, 
and has ably represented his constituents at vari- 
ous county and State conventions. As above 
stated, he was elected to the Board of Aldermen 
from the Third Ward, and is on some of its most 
important committees. He is numbered among 
those officials who spare themselves neither time 
nor expense to accomplish their public duties in 
an energetic and efficient manner. 



„ AMUEL II. JOHNSTON, a prominent resi- 
^^£ dent of Saline County, makes his home in 
li township 51, range 22. lie is of Irish de- 
scent, his grandfather, Samuel M.Johnston, 
having been born in Cork, Ireland. The latter 
emigrated to Virginia, from there went to Ohio, and 
after his sons had made homes for themselves in 
Missouri, in his old age he joined them, and died 
when eighty-three years old. By trade he was a 
shoemaker, and also engaged in contracting for 
making levees. 

The father of our subject, Thomas P., was born 
in Virginia, and his death occurred in April, 1872, 
at the age of fort3'-four years. At an early age he 

made his way to Ohio, and gained his livelih 1 

by working on a farm; in the fall of 185(3, he came 
as far West as Missouri, rented land near Marshall, 



and engaged in buying and selling stock. Later 
he removed to a farm near Malta Bend, which he 
first rented, and in the spring of 1 865 purchased 
the property, consisting of four hundred and 
eighty acres, where our subject now makes his 
home. Until his death Mr. Johnston carried on an 
extensive business in farming and stock-feeding. 
In polities, he was an ardent Democrat, having 
imbibed the principles of Democracy in his native 
State. He improved the place to a great extent 
during his life and built the comfortable home 
where our subject how resides. 

The mother of our subject was Eliza .1. llin- 
son, a daughter of Micajah and Elizabeth Ilinson, 
of Pike County, Ohio, where she married Mr. 
Johnston in June, 1868. Her ancestors were of 
Scotch origin, and the first representatives of the 
family in this country located in North Carolina. 
Mrs. Eliza Johnston died July 2, 1872, and both 
she and her husband now rest in the beautiful 
cemetery at Mount Olive, near Marshall, Mo. The 
parents of Thomas P., the father of our subject, 
had a family of four children, as follows: Thomas 
P., James S. and William B., all deceased; and Isa- 
bel A., wife of D. M. Baker, of Marshall. 

The Johnston brothers, Thomas and James, came 
together to Missouri, locating on land near Malta 
Bend, where they had everything in common and 
accumulated considerable property. They were 
good business men, successful in their operations, 
and made money rapidly. Subsequently their 
brother William came to the State and joined 
them. James died in January, 1876, unmarried; 
William died, leaving a family; and Thomas left 
but one son, our subject. The large and valuable 
Johnston property was divided among the children 
of William and Thomas. Our subject now owns 
the old homestead, upon which he has recently 
placed a great many modern improvements. 

Samuel Johnston was born June 1, DsG'.t, and 
was the only child of his parents. He attended 
the public school, and later an advanced school 
in Marshall, spending much of his time at his 
aunt's home. March 19, 1891, he married Miss 
Ada A. Day, a daughter of John Day, of Malta 
Bend, who came here from Ohio, and is of German 
ancestry. Immediately after his marriage Mr. 



270 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Johnston settled on the property which lie had in- 
herited, and now devotes his time to the cultiva- 
tion of its four hundred acres, upon which he car- 
ries on farming and stock-trading. He and his 
wife have one child, a son, Samuel T. In his po- 
litical opinions, Mr. Johnston is a Democrat, and 
is a very active worker in the party ranks. 



d-i"5"!"5* i 



^!»5"i»>r 



"*<-4-4- sS'S? •{••{••{••{•f 



< f^! RNST TEMPEL, a representative German- 
|is] American farmer of La Fayette County- 
J* — -5 Mo., located upon his Hue farm situated on 
section 29, range 26, township 49, is a_ self-made 
man, having carved out his own fortune, and 
beat's the reputation of being one whose word is as 
good as his bond. His beginning here was that of 
a poor man, but now he owns one hundred and 
twenty well-improved acres of land, which he has 
earned by his own perseverance and. energy. 

Our subject is of German birth and parentage, 
having been born in Prussia, Germany, July 25, 
1815. His parents were Germans and they have 
lived always in their native country. They bear 
tin' names of Herman and Minnie Tenipel, and 
are good and worthy people, who reared their son 
and sent him to the schools of his province, where 
he received a verj' fair German education. Since 
coming to this country he has adapted himself to 
our waj'S of speech, and thus has two languages at 
his command. 

In 1869, Mr. Tenipel emigrated to America. 
taking passage on a steamer at Bremen, and after 
a stormy voyage of fifteen days landed in New 
York City. His destination was the State of Mis- 
souri, and he shortly after reached Warren County. 
For three months he continued at work in Warren 
and there received $16 per month as a farm hand, 
but later came into La Fayette County, where he 
worked on a farm for about three years, receiving 
as wages 8200 per year with board. 

About this time Mr. Tenipel began to think of 
forming domestic ties and of having a home of 
his own. His choice of a companion was ;\li>> 



Frederica Tolle, a native of Germany, and their 
marriage took place August 1, 1872. Ten chil- 
dren have blessed this union, as follows: Minnie, 
Annie, Lena, May, Theodore, Gustavus, Fritz, 
Edward, and Louis. One child died young. Af- 
ter his marriage Mr. Tempel rented land for a 
number of years, gaining means and experience, 
but he finally purchased his present home and has 
lived upon it since 1882. 

At the present time our subject owns one hun- 
dred and twenty acres of well-improved land and 
has upon it some very good buildings. In relig- 
ion, he is a member of the German Evangelical 
Church, and is very highly esteemed in that con- 
nection at Mayview. As a politician, Mr. Tempel 
is ranked with the Republican party, in which he 
is an important factor in his neighborhood. His 
influence is always given in favor of educational 
matters, and in every way our subject is a man 
much esteemed by those who have his acquaintance. 
Any matter affecting the public weal is sure to en- 
list his interest, and he is credited by his neighbors 
with being governed by honest convictions in the 
side which he espouses. 



■ > ■ ii »j p t t t > ■ 




AVID ('. SLDSHER isa native and pioneer 
of La Fayette County, and was born April 
7, 1837. He is a son of Roland and Lockie 
(Trigg) SI usher, the latter a native of 
Tennessee. Roland Slusher moved with his par- 
ents to La Fayette County in an early day and 
they were among the earliest settlers in the county. 
( im subject's father died when David was a boy 
of but ten years of age. 

As is readily seen, the original of this sketch 
has acquired nearly all his ideas of life in the im- 
mediate neighborhood of his present place of resi- 
dence. He was reared amid scenes of pioneer 
life with all its hardships, and has done his share 
in the developing process of the county, both in 
the improvement of laud and in local political or- 
ganization, as well as in social interests, As a boy, 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



273 



he first learned his three R's in the log cabin school, 
which was conducted on the subscription plan. 
He cleared sixty acres of the farm on which he now 
lives, developing it from a heavily timbered forest 
strip to its present agricultural perfection. He 
has devoted himself throughout life to his farming 
interests and is an accepted authority on all mat- 
ters pertaining to his calling. 

In 188G, Mr. Slusher went to Wallace County, 
Kan., and was for a time engaged at the carpenter's 
trade there. He also ran a stationary engine for 
a railroad company and spent about three and a- 
half years there. He was some little time in Col- 
orado, although his place of residence remained in 
Kansas. 

The original of this sketch was married March 
25, 1861, his bride being Miss Rachael A. McCor- 
miek, a native of Covington, Ky., and a daughter 
of John H. and Mary McCormick. They have be- 
come the parentsof the following children: Roland 
F., Pearl M., Cora F. and Katie D. Mr. Slusher is 
the owner of one hundred acres of well-improved 
land. He is practically a self-made man, having 
had no advantages superior to those of the major- 
it}' of the youth of his day. For a number of 
years he has served as School Director, and favors 
any advance in educational methods. He is both 
public-spirited and enterprising and does not 
withhold his encouragement from any progressive 
plans. Politically, he is a Democrat and is num- 
bered among the most prominent native pioneers 
of the township. 



^p^REEN I). SATTERFIELD was born on the 
(If ^— Cumberland River, in Sumner County. 
%J$ Tenn., December 10, 1X22, and so has 
reached his three-score years and ten. Reared 
under the Southern sky and of Southern nativity, 
it is but natural that ease, versatility, chivalry, and 
love of the beautiful should be lii~. ami these <piali- 
ties distinguish him while even the snows of years 
have whitened his head. 

13 



In the spring of 1838 our subject moved with 
his parents to La Fayette County. Mo. His fa- 
ther and mother, .lames and Frances «). Satterfield. 
were both natives of North Carolina, who had 
moved to Tennessee in 1817. The family num- 
bered twelve children, as follows: Henry, Mary, 
John, Elizabeth. James II., Green 1).. William 15., 
Frank, II. ('., Sarah, Thomas and Amelia. James 
II., who was a soldier in the Mexican War under 
Gen. Sterling Price, was appointed Wagon-master, 
and in fulfilling his duties -ickened and died at 
Santa Fe. N. M. 

Our subject started out in life for himself at 
the age of twenty-four years. He was educated 
at Chapel Hill College, which was burned during 
the late war. After finishing his course, he was 
engaged for three years in teaching. In 1851, he 
married Miss Nane}' II. Joyce, a native of Virginia, 
and they soon after moved to Jackson County, 
Mo. On coming to La Fayette County, they set- 
tled on the farm where they now reside. Here 
they have reared a family of five children, an in- 
teresting group, who are as follows: Sarah. Vir- 
ginia, James A., Mary and Jessie F. Sarah mar- 
ried Jesse Cave in 187!), and James A. was 
married to Miss Maggie Long in 1881. Both live 
in Missouri. The other children are still at home. 

.Mr. Satterfield is the owner of two hundred 
acres of fine farming land, which he has im- 
proved himself. On locating here the place was 
a wilderness, and both large and small game still 
abounded. It was not rare to see deer following 
the streams, and wild turkeys kepi the larder of 
the family supplied with meat. The township 
had but thirty voters when our subject first be- 
came a citizen. It now has six hundred. The 
assessed value of the township was then between 
$50,000 and $60,000. II is now about $600,000, 
so that the rapid strides the locality has made in 
every way are so plain that he who runs may read. 

Mr. Satterfield held the office of Constable for 
two years, and was afterward elected Justice of 
the Peace. He was nexl appointed Deputy Sheriff 
of the county, and was Notary Public from 1x72 
to 1X7X. He was a Director and the Secretary 
of the Board of Directors of the old Lexing- 
ton Lake A- (iulf Railroad, and. as he had learned 



274 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



civil engineering, his service? were in requisi- 
tion the county over, and lie can say that lie 
has surveyed almost every tract of land in the 
county. lie laid out the city of Odessa and lo- 
cated the Lexington branch of the Missouri Pa- 
cific Railroad through the county. He is at the 
present time candidate for County Surveyor on 
the Republican and People's party ticket. Polit- 
ically, he was a Democrat until the breaking out 
of the late war, when he became a Republican. 
He is not connected with any church, but inclines 
to the Protestant faith, in which he was reared. 



*€?• 



t~z ••• c^m* 



<&% 



I ON. CI. MILLER. The man who has held 
public trusts and come out of them with the 
full confidence of his constituents merits 
the reputation of strict integrity, and this 
i- said of Squire Miller, a farmer living on section 
15, township 49, range 28, La Fayette County, 
lie is a son of John W. Miller, a native of Virginia, 
a harness-maker by trade, and a soldier of the War 
of 1812. The family is of old Virginia stock; 
its first representatives there emigrated from Ger- 
many as early as 1701. The mother of our subject, 
Julia Ann (Shafer) Miller, a native of Virginia, 
was the daughter of a Hessian soldier, who was 
captured at Trenton and afterward remained in 
this country. She was married in Virginia and 
died there in 1863, her husband following her in 
1869. They had eight children, five boys and three 
girls, all of the former living. 

Our subject was born August 17, 1820, in Fred- 
erick County, Va., where he grew to manhood and 
attended the common schools in all about nine 
months. He completed his studies at Frankfort 
under John P. Crothers. an undergraduate of Mi- 
ami University, qualifying himself for teaching. 
He entered the ranks and taught school fora num- 
ber of years. In the year 184 1, he went to La 
Porte, Ind., and made his home in that State until 
the close of the war, in 1865. He was married in 
1847 to Sarah Xoung, a native of Indiana, who 



bore him one child, Virginia, a widow. living in 

Texas and the mother of seven children. Mrs. Sa- 
rah Miller died in 1861, and Mr. Miller married 
again in May, 1862. his second wife being Mary 
Imlcr. a native of Pickaway County. Ohio. They 
became the parents of nine children, namely: Ada 
B.; George B. McC, now deceased; Andrew John- 
son. Lee Spcese, Fannie, Cornelius, Ina, Lida and 
Mabel Clare. 

During his residence in the Iloosier State, our 
subject worked at his trade of brick-laying and 
also owned a farm, which he managed. In 1865, 
he came to Missouri, and settled in La Fayette 
County in January, 1886. making his home on his 
present farm, which consists of eighty acres of cul- 
tivated land. He is a member of the Christian 
Church and frequently addresses congregations by 
expounding the Scriptures and exhorting his hear- 
ers. As a member of the Independent Order of 
Odd fellows, he has filled all the chairs in his lodge 
and has been a member of the Encampment. A 
friend of education, he has been made Director and 
Clerk of the School Board and has given his chil- 
dren good practical educations. He is unable to 
remember a time when he was not an all-round 
Democrat, and cast his first vote for James K. Polk. 
His first experience in politics began in Virginia, 
when he aided his party somewhat in the Van 
Buren-IIarrison campaign of 1840. and ever since 
that time he has never failed to take an active in- 
terest in every campaign. 

As soon as Mr. Miller settled in Indiana he be- 
gan to make public speeches, and gained a wide 
experience and reputation which enabled him to 
answer, in I860, a speech of the President of the 
United States. II is political career in that State 
extended over twenty years. At one tune he was 
Librarian of Clinton County. Ind., and in 1850 
waselected delegate to the Constitutional Conven- 
tion, which held a live-month session. In attend- 
ance upon it at Indianapolis, he became acquainted 
with Hendricks, Robert Dale Owen, Schuyler Col- 
fax, Jesse 1). Bright and others. The Thirteenth 
Article of the Constitution of Indiana originated 
with Mr. Miller, who aided in its adoption. After 
holding the position of Swamp Land Commissioner 
for some time, he resigned it. In 1852, he was 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



275 



elected Recorder of Clinton County, and later was 
re-elected to that position. 

In 1863, Mr. Miller was elected a member of the 
state Legislature and re-elected in 1865, when lie 
resigned his seat. In the Legislature, he was Chair- 
man of the committee on county and township bus- 
iness. Again and again he was elected delegate to 
county and State conventions. Since coming to 
Missouri, Squire Miller has stumped the county and 
aided in reorganizing the Democratic party here, 
and has taken part in all the Presidential campaigns; 
has also been a member of the Township Board of 
Education, and has been Township Treasurer and 
Collector of Clay Township. In 1869, he was 
elected to the Missouri Legislature. His scat was 
contested by Mark L. De Mott, but our subject held 
the place, being the only Democrat in that Legis- 
lature who, having his seat contested, held it. 
During the past twelve years, he has held the office 
of Justice of the Peace, and during the last cam- 
paign, although more than seventj'-two years of 
age, he took a very active part, making speeches 
and otherwise working to secure its triumphs. 



/^p\\ Y. FORI), a prosperous farmer residing in 
(l( township 49. range 28, La Fayette County, 

^^^7 was born in Boyle County, Ky., Apiil 12, 
L843. His father, John P. Ford, a native of the 
same county, was born in 1801, a son of Charles 
Ford, who settled in Kentucky at a very early day. 
The mother of our subject, Carrie (Foster) ford. 
was born in Mississippi in 1814, and was the daugh- 
ter of a soldier, a Colonel on the staff of Gen. Jack- 
son in the battle of New Orleans, and Postmaster 
at Natchez. Miss., during President Jackson's ad- 
ministration. 

The parents of our .subject were married at 
Natchez, where the father was a planter. Thence 
they went to Kentucky, where they lived upon a 
plantation, and afterward removed to Pettis 
County, Mo., in 1858. They finally came to Lex- 
ington Township, this county, where they still 



live, the father being an interested observer of all 
passing events and public affairs. He and his 
wife are members uf the 1 'i e-l iy tcrian Church, he 
having been an Elder in it for fifty years. They 
are the parents of nine children, eight of whom 
are living. Four of their sons served in the Civil 
War; one. John R., Jr., was accidentally killed in 

a skirmish near B leville, Miss., and another, 

James, was shot through both thighs in the battle 
of Gettysburg, while fighting under Gen. Long- 
street. 

When the war broke out our subject, who had 
received his education in the schools of Kentucky 
and Missouri, was then just eighteen years of age. 
On account of his youth, however, he did not re- 
main at home; on the contrary, he enlisted in May, 
1861, in Magoffin's company of independent cav- 
alry, under Gen. Price, and participated in the 
battles of Sugar Creek and Pea Ridge, Ark. The 
term of service of the company having expired, 
he re-enlisted in Company G, Second Missouri 
Cavalry, in Van Dorn's Division, and later served 
under Forrest. The four years in which he was 
in the army were spent in active service. He 
took part in the following engagements: Farming- 
ton, Tenn.; a Dumber of skirmishes before Corinth, 
Holly Springs, and Tallahatchie River; made raids 
under Armstrong in Northern Alabama, and took 
part in a sabre light; was in the battles of Iuka and 
Corinth, and fought against A.J. Smith in Missis- 
sippi. He was sent to Mobile on picket duty and 
from there to Columbus, Miss., and surrendered. 
Enlisting as a private, he was made Corporal and 
came home with the record of a brave and faithful 
soldier. 

Returning to I. a Fayette County after the war. 
Mr. Ford commenced active operations aa a 
farmer. In the month of October, 1870, he mar- 
ried Miss Sarah, daughter of Rochester Beatty. a 
native of Mason County. Ky., where he died. 
Mis. Ford was born September 5, 1848. The farm 
belonging to Mr. Ford consists of two hundred 
and forty acres, all under fence, and two hundred 
of it under cultivation, lie owns one of the finest 
barns in the township, which was recently erected 
at a eosl of $1,600, and he also has an interest in 
a cattle ranch in Wyoming. No children have 



276 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



been born to our subject and his wife. Their re- 
ligious convictions are in harmony with the teach- 
ings of the Christian Church and they hold 
membership with that church at Odessa, in which 
Mr. Ford is a Deacon. He is a member of the 
Masonic order and manifests much interest in 
the welfare of that fraternity. A lifelong Demo- 
crat, he is an active worker for that party and is 
frequently a delegate to its conventions. He has 
an abiding concern in all matters relating to the 
welfare of his community, where he is highly es- 
teemed. 



GEORGE W. WILSON, train dispatch 
. the Chicago & Alton Railroad, Kans: 
Division, at Slater, one of the most 



y^KOHOK \V. WILSON, train dispatcher for 

isas City 
can-fill 

and most successful operators, as well as one of 
the oldest as regards length of service, is a very 
agreeable and accommodating man, ready to do a 
favor without acting as if it were a favor, and al- 
together the kind of man that every one likes to 
know. He holds a very high position for his age, 
and fills it better than most older men would do, 
better, iudeed, than such positions are usually filled. 
He is a close observer, and attends strictly to his 
business. It is greatly to his credit that he can 
say he has never been the cause of an accident in 
all the time of his service. 

Mr. Wilson was born at La Fayette, Ind., August 
12, 1865. His father, Thomas K., was born in Can- 
ada, and was reared to the work of farming. W r hen 
fourteen years old, he went to the Lakes to buff as 
a cabin-boy. After a while he came to Ft. Wayne 
and learned the shoemaker's trade. Later he went 
to Logansport, Ind., where he was married. Still 
later we find him at La Fayette, Ind., working at 
his trade, and subsequent to this at State Line, in 
lupines;; for himself in a retail shoe store. While 
at La Fayette in 1*61, he enlisted in the Thirteenth 
Indiana Infantry as a private for three years. He 
was wounded in the service, in the calf of the leg, 
while with his regiment in battle. He was in the 
army three years and four H)pntl)S, 



In 188(1 Mr. Wilson, Sr., removed to Newport. 
Ark., and was engaged in business there till the 
fall of 1881, when he located in Mexico, Mo. lie 
is a Republican, a member of the Presbyterian 
Church, and of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
His father came from Ireland, and was a Scotch 
Presbyterian. The mother of our subject, Minna 
(l'funder) Wilson, was born at Baden-Baden, Ger- 
many, on the picturesque Rhine. Her father, George 
l'funder, emigrated with his family to America. 
and settled at Huntington, afterward moving to 
La Fayette, I nd. He was a farmer, and also a shoe- 
maker. His son, George W.. was killed in the 
Civil War, having been shot through the head. 
Another son, Fred, also served in the war. 

George W. Wilson is the eldest of nine children, 
seven of whom are still living, five boys and two 
girls. He was reared in La Fayette until four years 
of age, when the family removed to State Line. 
In 1880 they went to Arkansas, mid the following 
year located in Mexico, Mo. George was educated 
in the public schools, and clerked in a confection- 
ery store in Arkansas. In November, 1 <s M 1 , he be- 
gan to study telegraphy in Mexico with the Chi- 
cago A- Alton and Wabash Railroads. Nine months 
later he became assistant ticket agent in Moberly 
for the Wabash and Missouri. Kansas <V Texas 
Railroads. After three months thus spent, he went 
to St. Louis, and was at the coach yards for one 
month as operator, when he went to Mexico as 
operator for the W'abash Railroad; then to Clark, 
on the Chicago & Alton and Wabash, for fifteen 
months; then to Iluntsville, Mo., on the Wabash, 
for one year: again to Mexico as operator there for 
nine months; and finally to Slater in June, 1887, as 
dispatch ei and operator, remaining here about a 
year; after that to Roodhousein the same capacity 
for fifteen months, then back to Slater as dis- 
patcher, in which position he has remained ever 
since. He works on the day - trick, and has been 
train dispatcher for the longest period of time of 
any man here, with the exception of the chief 
dispatcher. He can be depended upon every time, 
and has the entire confidence of every one with 
whom he is in any way associated. 

Mr. Wilson has a fine residence in the North 
, Addition here, one of the prettiest homes in the 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



277 



city, and in an excellent locality. The house is 
very nicely arranged, and lias no superior in that 
respect in the city. He is interested in Slater prop- 
pert}', and is a member of the Building and Loan 
Association. The subject of this sketch was mar- 
ried in Perry, Halls County, Miss Cornelia Galla- 
gher becoming his wife. She was born near Perry, 
and is a daughter of James Gallagher, a pioneer 
farmer of Ralls County. There are two children, 
Lulu and James K. Mr. Wilson is a member of the 
Knights of Pythias, Uniformed Rank, also a Na- 
tional Unionist and a true-blue Republican. In his 
religious connections he is a member of the Cumber- 
laud Presbyterian Church, and served as Sunday- 
school Superintendent in Roodhouse. He is a 
popular man, and one who can be relied upon to 
do his duty faithfully and fully, than which no 
higher compliment could be given him. 



* 




LBERT C. BENNETT, residing on section 
13, township 51, Saline County, Mo., 
where he owns a fine farm of eighty acres 
of land, is the subject of this sketch. He 
was born in Northbridge, Mass., in November, 
1820. His parents, Rufus and Mary (Wood) Ben- 
nett, were also natives of the grand old State of 
Massachusetts, where they reared nine children, of 

wl i pur subject was the youngest, and one and 

all of these children grew to maturity and reared 
families. The grandfather of our subject was a 
seafaring man, who bravely aided the colonists in 
their struggle for independence by enlisting in 
the Colonial arm}-. He proved himself a brave 
soldier and did credit to the Irish ancestors from 
whom he sprang. 

Albert C. Bennett was reared in his native 
town to manhood, receiving only a limited educa- 
tion. He learned the trade of a boot and shoe 
maker and pursued that calling until about thirty- 
five years of age. When he reached the year 1858 
he decided to leave the East, and therefore emi- 
grated to the Prairie State, where he located in 



Hancock County and engaged in farming. As he 
knew nothing about agricultural pursuits he had 
much to learn, but has been so successful in it 
that he has followed that business ever since. 
Although a poor man when he began life, he has 
reared a large family, and now is the owner of 
eighty acres of land on which he resides. 

Mr. Bennett was married in 1847 to Hannah 
M., daughter of George Kempton, who bore her 
husband eight children, seven of whom they 
reared, one having died. The names of the chil- 
dren were as follows: Rufus, of Neosha County, 
Kan.; L}'dia, who died when sixteen; Lucina, wife 
of Hawey Mismore, of Montgomery County. Kan.; 
Sarah and Joanna (twins), the former Mrs. Mar- 
tin, the latter wife of William Southers; Albert 
N., Robert B., and Sarah, who died in infancy in 
Massachusetts. Both Mr. and Mrs. Bennett were 
members of the Union Baptist Church in Illinois. 
The parents of Mrs. Bennett, George V. and Han- 
nah (Andrews) Kempton, were natives of [p- 
bridge, Mass., and England, respectively. The 
grandfather of Mrs. Bennett, Ezra Kempton, was 
a native of Massachusetts, of Irish extraction. 

Mr. Bennett has been independent in politics 
all his life, not voting for party measures, but for 
the man he considers the best man for the posi- 
tion. He has always been an honest, upright 
man, and now enjoys the evening of a well-spent 
life, surrounded by the comforts his labors have 
procured for him. 



OlIN A. LEWIS, one of the prominent citi- 
zens of Saline County. Mo., is the subject 
! of the present sketch. He is a representa- 
^gir tive of an old and prominent family in 
America, who came to the country ui Colonial 
times, when they received large tracts of land 
from a grateful monarch in Rockingham, Augusta 
and Bath Counties, Ya. Later, in the historic list 
of valiant Revolutionary generals may be found 
the names of Charles and Andrew Lewis, near in 



278 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



command to their great chief, Washington, and 
one of these was the great-grandfather of our sub- 
ject. The military spirit descended to the next 
generation, for there, in the grandfather of our 
subject, we find another officer, Capt. John Lewis. 

One of the early settlers had brought with him 
a body of emigrants, whom lie settled upon the 
lands, and he built a fort for their protection from 
the Indians on a river in his territory, called the 
Cowpasture. This old building still shows to the 
lover of historic spots a part of the walls, and our 
subject has vivid recollections of seeing the an- 
cient fort with its loopholes in quite a good state 
of preservation. Grandfather Lewis was a farmer 
by occupation, and raised some stock upon the 
broad Virginia hillsides and rich meadows. He 
died in the old homestead at about the age of 
seventy-five or six years. This old home is lo- 
cated thirty miles from Staunton, and ten miles 
from Warm Spring, the county seat of Bath 
Count}', Va. 

The grandmother of our subject was a Miss 
Miller, a lady whose ancestors came over from 
Ireland. The father of our subject was one of 
twelve children. His life was passed on the old 
place in Rath County where he was born, and 
there he married Miss Eliza, a daughter of Col. 
Dickerson, of Bath County. The first settlement 
of the family was upon a plantation in Greenbrier 
County, Va., but later they returned to Bath 
County, where they remained a few years, and 
then, in 1836, removed to Saline County, Mo. 

The first settlement made here by Mr. Lewis 
was upon a place near what is now known as 
Fairville, but he sold this and found a fine piece 
of ground upon the Missouri River near Miami, 
where he remained until the death of his wife in 
1844. Later, John Lewis, our subject's father, 
went to Virginia to look after his property there, 
and decided to remain in the old State. There he 
remained until the close of the Civil War and re- 
married, the union being witli a Miss Jury, by 
whom he reared a family of four boys and one 
girl, namely: James, William, Henry, Marcus and 
Margaret. He was a Democrat in his political 
belief, always consistently supporting the princi- 
ples of that party. The family of John Lewis was 



brought up in the faith of the Presbyterian 
Church. The children born of the first marriage 
were as follows: Adam, deceased; John A., our 
subject; Charles S., residing in Pueblo, Colo.; and 
Mary, who was the wife of A. M. Francisco, but is 
now deceased. 

Our subject was born in Virginia, in 182G, and 
at about the age of ten years he accompanied his 
parents to Missouri, going overland to the Ohio 
River, thence by boat to St. Louis, and finally 
reaching Arrow Rock, Saline County, Mo. Sev- 
eral families were in this party, bringing along all 
of their household goods and chattels, including 
their slaves. Our subject received his education 
in the common schools of both Virginia and Mis- 
souri, remaining at home until the outbreak of the 
Mexican War in 1846. At that time he volun- 
teered at Marshall and was a member of the com- 
pany of Capt. John Kecd in Doniphan's regiment 
of mounted volunteers, scrying twelve months. 

After the close of this war our subject returned 
to Virginia on a visit for one and a-half years, 
Starting in 1848 and remaining until 1850, when 
he made a trip to California overland, in com- 
pany with fourteen others. Seven years were 
spent in that country, principally in raining, and 
the return trip was made by the way of the Isth- 
mus and New York. Mr. Lewis is a pensioner of 
the Mexican War, and a man of influence and re- 
spectability in the county where he has made his 
home since 1867. Here he located upon what is 
known as the Washington Lewis farm, near Grand 
Pass, which place he has improved. The marriage 
of Mr. Lewis took place in 1863 witli Miss Jos- 
ephine, a daughter of George Crutsinger, of Saline 
County, and seven children have blessed this mar- 
riage, as follows: Charles, George; Eliza, who is 
the wife of G. S. Smith, of Grand Pass; Mary, 
Clara, Annie and Josephine. The sons are happily 
married, one of them being Rev. Charles Lewis, 
pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, 
in Kansas City. George lives with his family in 
Oklahoma County. Our subject is a Democrat, 
and during the war was a Southern sympathizer. 
Ihs farm consists of one hundred and sixty acres, 
where is carried on a system of general farming. 
Mr. Lewis is a much respected member of the 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



279 



Methodist Episcopal Church South. The post- 
offlce address of the family is Malta Bund, a 
pleasant Little village of Missouri, where our sub- 
ject is well and favorably known. 



_ > E. RICI1ART, an energetic and extensive 
v^r/ agriculturist, and highly respected citizen 
of Saline County, Mo., resides upon his 
large farm near Napton, township 50, range 
20, where he owns seven hundred and fifty acres 
of land, mostly under a high state of cultivation. 
Our subject was born in the State of Kentucky, 
April 15, 1822. His paternal grandfather, James 
Richart, was of German descent, and bum in Penn- 
sylvania, and was seven years engaged in the Rev- 
olutionary struggles of our country, in which he 
faced all the privations and dangers of those 
troublous times. The veteran soldier afterward 
pursued the peaceful avocation of farming, and 
died in Rath County, Ky. 

The paternal grandmother, Jane (Oliphant) 
Richart, was born in Pennsylvania and died in 
Kentucky, and botli she and her venerable hus- 
band were buried from the Springfield Presbyte- 
rian Church, in Rath County. The children who 
had gathered together in the olden days at the 
fireside of this father and mother were ten in 
number. They were William, Andrew, James, 
John, Duncan, Martha, Ann, Jane. Lydia and 
Mary. These brothers and si.-ters were of adult 
age when they all, with one exception, removed 
with their parents to Kentucky; Martha, who 
married James Shannon, remained with her hus- 
band in Northumberland County, Pa. Duncan 
Oliphant Richart, the father of our subject, was 
born in Pennsylvania, and was about twenty-two 
years of aye when he came to Kentucky. He 
married Miss Martha, a daughter of Moses and 
Elizabeth Sharp, of Sharpsburgh, Bath County. 
Ky. The Sharps were an old Virginia family 
of distinction, and Grandfather Sharp had also 
fought bravely in the War of the Revolution, ac- 



tively remaining in the ranks for seven years, at 
the expiration of which time our independence 
was declared. 

The mother of our subject was the fourth of 
seven children, and had four brothers and two 
sisters, Mary and Elizabeth. The sons were 
Richard, William, Joseph and Thomas. The older 
brothers were prominent physicians of Rath 
County. The parents of our subject were married 
in Bath County, Ky., and when our subject was 
two years old they removed to Bourbon County, 
and there reared their family of eight children, 
who, with one exception, lived to mature age. 
John, the eldest, died in infancy; Joseph II. re- 
sides at Owensville, Batli County, Ky.; William S. 
lives at Mt. Sterling, Ky.; the fourth child is our 
subject; Elizabeth, wife of John A. Judy, of 
Mexico, Mo.; Martha died unmarried, at the 
age of twenty-seven; Dr. D. M. Richart, who 
died at Sharpsburg, Ky., was a surgeon in a 
regiment of J. C. P. Breckenridge and Morgan's 
Brigade; and Mary Ellen died in Kentucky, leaving 
two small children to the care of her husband. 
James Hazelrigg. 

Mr. Richart having attained years of maturity 
married a most estimable lady. Miss Sarah A., a 
daughter of Robert and Sarah (Davis) Meteer.and 
settled on his father's old farm in the eastern part 
of Bourbon County, Ky. In the spring of 18f>4 
he sold the homestead and came to Audrain 
County, Mo., where he remained with his family 
two years, and in the spring of 1866 purchased 
live hundred and ten acres of land in townships 
43 and 50, range 20, Saline County. Mo., and 
brought his family here in October. 1866. Our 
subject subsequently purchased land to the 
amount of ten hundred and forty acres, and 
now retains seven hundred and lift}'. The home 
has sheltered ten children: William Robert; Anna 
Bell; John, a resident of California; Elizabeth, 
married to Joseph Field, Jr., of Saline County ; Jo- 
seph I)., who died at the aye of seven years, seven 
months and seven days; Edwin, who died at the age 
of six years and six months; Thomas. who is in Cali- 
fornia; Mattie D., Sarah M.and Tobias complete the 
li.-t of the brothers and sisters, and of the survivors 
all are occupying positions of influence and honor. 



280 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Mr. Richart was during the Civil War an up- 
holder (if the National Government, which both 
his patriotic grandfathers had given so many 
years of their lives to sustain. 

Politically, our subject is independent, and 
gives his vote to the man he believes best adapted 
to the requirements of each office. Mr. Richart 
and his excellent wife are valued members of the 
Presbyterian Church, have ever been active in the 
good work of that religious organization, and 
materially aided in the extension of its influence. 
Upright in the daily walk of life, a kind friend 
and neighbor, Mr. Richart enjoys the high regard 
of the community among whom so many years of 
his life have been passed. 



EN 



llXiK HERMAN II. ELLING, one of the 

best-known and most distinguished men of 
La Fayette County, Mo., is the subject of 
this sketch. Although a District Judge of 
known ability, he .has not confined his attention 
to legal business. Since 1875 he has lived upon 
one of the Lot cultivated farms of the county, and 
there finds both pleasure and profit in the raising 
of fine stock, together with liis agricultural efforts. 
Judge Elling was born in far-off Prussia, June 6, 
1 845, and was the son of William and Mary El ling, 
Datives of Germany. He was reared in his native 
country until he was twelve yearsof age, attending 
the German schools, but at that time he and his 
brother, two years older, decided that they would 
emigrate to America. 

An older brother of our subject was then living 
in La Fayette County, and the brave lads thought 
it would be but a simple matter to find him if the}' 
could but get across the great ocean. Probably 
Judge Filing would hesitate quite a long time be- 
fore he would permit two of his own lads of twelve 
and fourteen to start alone upon that great journey, 
but, nevertheless, the two little German boys found 
their way to Bremen, where they took passage for 
America. One can imagine how their childish 



hearts swelled with pride as they realized that they 
were really on the way to that great country of 
which they had read and heard so much. The 
sailing-vessel, after a trip of seven weeks, safely 
deposited them in New Orleans, and from there 
they managed to reach St. Louis and communicate 
with their brother in La Fayette County. 

Our record tells us of the energy of our subject 
and of his determination to master the strange 
English language, also of his close application at 
night school, which he attended for a period of two 
months in St. Louis. For about one year Herman 
remained with his brother Henry in this county, 
and then began to learn the trade of a blacksmith. 
In 1858, he entered the shop of Julius Vogt, which 
was then located upon the site of the present town 
of Concordia, remaining with him for about eight 
months, when he went to Lexington. There he 
continued working until 1860, and in the fall of 
1861 he enlisted in the Home Guards, which com- 
mand was subsequently merged into Company E., 
Fourteenth Missouri Infantry. He was in the bat- 
tle of Lexington, where he was taken prisoner, but 
was soon released. 

Subsequently our subject slarted a blacksmith 
shop in Concordia, but at that time party feeling 
was running high, and he found himself obliged to 
change his location. At St. Louis he found em- 
ployment as a journeyman and worked thereuntil 
1861, after which he went to Nashville, Tenn., and 
worked there at his trade in the employ of the 
Government for six months. Then he came to 
La Fayette County, Mo., and here he started a shop 
within one and one-half miles of Concordia, which 
he conducted until he began farming upon his pres- 
ent place in 1874. This fine farm contains two hun- 
dred and fifty-five acres of as fine land as ever the 
little German lad could have pictured to himself 
in the old days in Germany, and it is well im- 
proved and well stocked. 

The marriage of Judge Filing took place in 1869. 
with Miss Martha Helms, who was born in La Fay- 
ette County, a daughter of George Helms, one of 
the early settlers of the county. To this union 
eleven children have been born, and their happy 
parents have given them the following names: 
David, Sophia, George, Samuel, Martin, William, 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



283 



Lottie, Rosa, Arthur, Clara and Mabel. Judge 
Elling is now serving lite third term as Judge of 
the Eastern District of the county with great credit 
to himself and to the entire satisfaction of his con- 
stituents. In his politics he is a Democrat, and lie 
has been very active in conducting the workings 
of Ins party through the county. He is a member 
of the Masonic order, of Aullville, and lias served 
as Treasurer of the lodge, and is also a member of 
the Grand Army of the Republic Post of Concor- 
dia, of which he has been Treasurer. 




HILLIP TUCKER, Jr., an enterprising cit- 
izen of Slater, and a prosperous merchant 
tailor located on Maine Street, is one of 
the leading business men in his section of 
the State. An expert cutter and fitter, thoroughly 
at home in all the details of his work, and withal 
a genial gentleman, he has rapidly extended his 
trade from a comparatively small beginning, until 
he now controls a valuable custom throughout the 
county. Energetic, ambitious and progressive in 
his business methods and ideas, he owns and man- 
ages one of the finest tailoring establishments in 
the Southwest, and carries a complete line of piece 
goods second to none in this part of the country. 
Our subject was born in the eastern part of 
Wales, April 9,1848. His father, Phillip Tucker, 
was a native of London, and in that noted city 
grew to manhood, and there for several years en- 
gaged in business as a merchant tailor. Having 
served a long apprenticeship, beginning when he 
was but nine years old, .he was successful in his trade, 
but finally decided to make a change of residence, 
and removed to Wales, in which portion of 
Great Britain his wife, Susan (Hope) Tucker, was 
born. In 1852, when Phillip, Jr., was but four years 
old, his parents emigrated to America, and landing 
safely in New York, journeyed thence to Keokuk, 
Iowa, and finally located in Hannibal, Mo. En- 
gaging immediately in business, the father soon be- 
came known as a thoroughly competent and reliable 
merchant tailor. 



The mother of our subject died in Hannibal, and 
his father afterward married a widow, Mrs. Mary 
Cooper. This good lady is a devoted Baptist, and 
spends most of her time in church work. Phillip 
Tucker, Si., is also a member of the Baptist denom- 
ination, and both he and his wife are much re- 
spected. She is a daily visitor to the poor and 
needy, and also while relieving their physical 
wants urges them to accept the Christian doctrine, 
and ministers to their spiritual needs. Our subject- 
is the oldest now living of seven children, and was 
reared in Hannibal, where he attended school. 

When a mere lad he enlisted in the Government 
service as a drummer, but his tender age unfitted 
him for the long marches and arduous duty, and 
his father brought the young patriot home. For 
the next two years our subject attended the col- 
lege at Columbia, Mo., and when his studies were 
ended he entered his father's shop and learned his 
trade, working with him until 187:5, when he 
began business for himself in Paris, Mo. The firm 
of which he was a member was known as McBride 
& Tucker, but our subject remained in Paris only 
one year, removing thence to Moberly, where he 
carried on business successfully for three years. In 
1877 he decided to try his fortunes in California, 
and in Lompoc, Santa Barbara County, started a 
newspaper, the Lompoc Record, published in the 
cause of temperance and the local interests of the 
valley. The venture, under the excellent manage- 
ment of our subject, was a prosperous one. and he 
continued to conduct the paper for four years. 

At the expiration of that time, Mr. Tucker en- 
gaged in the merchandise business fora while, and 
afterward was employed in Santa Barbara as book- 
keeper. The longing for his old home and early 
associations doubtless influenced him to return to 
Missouri, where he settled in Macon City, and oper- 
ated a merchant-tailoring house. In 1889 he came 
to Slater, and his success here has more than met 
his expectations. Through an unvarying course 
of fair and honest dealing he has won the confi- 
dence and esteem of the public, and annually in- 
creases his already extensive patronage. 

In 1870 Mr. Tucker was united in marriage with 
Miss Ella B. Hammer, a native of St. Louis, and a 
lady highly- esteemed in social circles. Mr and 



284 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Mrs. Tucker are the parents of one son, Clarence, 
who in connection with Ernest Paulson has an ele- 
gant merchant-tailoring establishment at Marshall, 
the only one of the kind earning a full line of 
goods in that city. The pleasant home of our sub- 
ject in the eastern part of the city is the scene of 
many social gatherings and the abode of hospital- 
ity. As members of the Cumberland Presbyterian 
Church, he and his wife activelj' engage in relig- 
ious enterprises, and are valued as ready aids in 
every good cause. Mr. Tucker is Past Chancellor 
of the Knights of Pythias, a member of the Inde- 
pendent Order of Odd Fellows, and is Past Grand. 
and also a member of the Encampment. Politi- 
cally he is no office-seeker, but votes the Republi- 
can ticket, and is interested in all that pertains to 
the growth and progress of the American nation. 



eHARLES K. ANDERS* >N. Whether as a cit- 
zen, quietly at work on his farm, or a sol- 
dier fighting for what lie considered to be 
the right, our subject has shown himself to be a 
wortln' man, entitled to the respect and confi- 
dence of his neighbors. Charles R. Anderson, a 
farmer on section 22, township 48, range 26, La 
Fayette County, Mo., is a son of William H. An- 
derson, a native of Warren County, Ky., who 
was born in 1806, a son of Abraham Anderson, 
a soldier in the War of 1812. The mother of our 
subject was Didama (Dyer) Anderson, a native 
of Warren County, Ky., born in 1807, a daugh- 
ter of Abner Dyer, also a soldier in the War of 
1812. She was married in Kentucky, and moved 
with her husband to this county in 1828, where 
they opened up the farm now owned by Mr. Hader, 
near Higginsville. 

After Mr. Anderson sold out, for several 3'ears 
they lived in various portions of La Fayette 
County. Pioneer settlers in that county, they re- 
mained here until their demise, Mr. Anderson's 
death having occurred in 1851, and his wife's in 



1883. They were the parents of nine children, 
those now living being our subject, James, Harri- 
son, and Theresa, now Mrs. Fox. The parents were 
members of the Christian Church, having joined it 
at a very early date. The father was an active 
man in politics, and an old-line Whig. He was 
captain in the State Militia in this county, and was 
a soldier in the Osage War against the Indians. 

Charles R. Anderson was born November 1, 1830, 
in La Fayette County, Mo., just two miles south 
of Higginsville. He was reared on the farm there 
and received a good district-school education. In 
1850 his father and he crossed the plains to Cali- 
fornia, striking out from Independence, Mo., with 
a party of twenty-one, consuming six months 
in their journey. They reached Sacramento, and 
from there went to the gold mines, where they re- 
mained for three and one-half years, and met with 
fairly good success. Returning home by way of 
Panama, our subject went to work on the farm, 
continuing at it until the beginning of the Civil 
War, when lie enlisted in Capt. Newton's Company. 
First Missouri Guards. He was present at, and 
participated in, the following battles: Carthage, 
Crane Creek, Wilson's Creek and Lexington, and 
the surrender of Mulligan. 

Discharged from the guards, Mr. Anderson en- 
listed in April, 18(12, in Company I, First Mis- 
souri Cavalry, under Col. Gates, and was com- 
missary for his company, lie fought in the bat- 
tles of Baton Rouge, Baker's Creek and Big Black, 
Miss., where he was taken prisoner and was con- 
fined twentj'-one months in Camp Morton, Ft. 
Delaware, Point Lookout and Elmira. before he was 
finally exchanged. Mr. Anderson, referring to 
this period of his life, says that while a prisoner he 
received rough treatment ami passed through all 
stages of suffering. After his release he joined his 
regiment at Mobile and took part in the battle of 
Blakeley, the last fight of the war. He was dis- 
charged in the spring of I860, after a severe ser- 
vice of four long years, and after a short stay in 
Alabama returned home. 

Mr. Anderson was married in 1872, to Mary E., 
daughter of Robert Mathews, born May 22, 1852, 
in this township. After their marriage the young 
couple settled on the farm they now occupy, hav- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



285 



ing lived there ever since. They are the parents 
of live children: L. Price, Didama T., N. 1011a, Rob- 
ert M. and Ernest G. Our subject opened up and 
improved his farm, which consists of two hundred 
and twenty-five acres, one hundred and eighty be- 
ing under cultivation. The residence was built in 
1881, at a cost of $1,500, and he has his farm well 
supplied with hams and other needful buildings. 
While raising grain largely, Mr. Anderson devotes 
considerable care to stock, especially Shorthorn 
cattle and Poland-China hogs. He is a Deacon iu 
the Christian Church, and himself, wife and chil- 
dren take an active part in the Sunday-school, the 
husband and wife being teachers. Mr. Anderson 
takes pride in giving his children a good education, 
Didama being now a student at the Normal School 
at Warrensburgh. He has been a member of the 
School Board; also of the Grange, of which he was 
Treasurer. Our subject is a Democrat, and always 
has been, his face being a very familiar one at the 
several conventions of his party. 



* 




HILIP MILLER GAW, a retired mer- 
y chant of Higginsville, is one of the oldest 



settlers of La Fayette County, lie has 
been an important factor in the devel- 
opment of his adopted home, and passed through 
many of the exciting incidents of the perilous times 
when Missouri was a border State. A sketch of 
his life will therefore be of unusual interest to his 
fellow-citizens and of value to posterity. 

Mr. Gaw was born in Woodstock, Shenandoah 
County, Va., on the lstof November, 1811. His fa- 
ther, John Gaw, a native of Ireland, emigrated to 
Virginia and settled in Woodstock, where he en- 
gaged in merchandising. In 1817, he made a 
trip to Missouri, and so much did the country 
please him, that in 1818 he removed his family to 
this State and opened a store at Old Franklin, 
where he continued in business until his death. 
His wife, Mary (Miller) Gaw, was born in Penn- 
sylvania and was a daughter of Philip Miller, also 



a native of the Keystone State, who engaged in 
farming in Virginia, and there died. Mrs. Caw 
died at Rocheport, Mo., at the advanced aye of 
ninety-one years. She and her husband reared a 
family of two sons and five daughters, only one 
of whom is now living. Two of the children died 
on the trip to the mountains. 

Our subject accompanied his parents to the 
State of Missouri in 1818, and during a large 
part of the two months which the overland trip 
consumed he walked and assisted in driving the 
stock. Upon his arrival in the new country, he 
found it very wild, with the exception of a fort 
here and there along the river, with the little 
clearing surrounding it. As wild game of all 
kinds abounded, he was accustomed to spend a 
great deal of his leisure time in hunting, and be- 
came a famous shot. Indians were numerous and. 
much care had to be exercised to guard the few 
possessions of the little family from their thieving 
fingers. 

While attending a private school in Franklin, 
our subject met Kit Carson, the famous trapper, 
and the acquaintance thus formed developed into 
a friendship that lasted until the death of the lat- 
ter. At an early age Mr. Gaw began to clerk in 
his father's store, which was then conducted by 
his brother. In 1832, he went to Rocheport and 
clerked for his brother, whom he afterward bought 
out and conducted business alone, procuring his 
goods from St. Louis. In 1839, he removed to 
Dover, this county, and rented a store from Judge 
Cox, in which he embarked in the mercantile busi- 
ness. The town of Dover was a new one, and 
Mr. Gaw prospered greatly. In 1850, receiving a 
good offer for his business, he sold out and there- 
after interested himself in farming and loaning 
money. 

In KHS0, Mr. (law located in Higginsville, where 
he bought property and built a line north-front 
residence on Fair Ground Avenue. He is a stock- 
holder in the American Lank. In 1833, while re- 
siding in Rocheport, Mr. (law was united in 
marriage with Miss Mary Harnett, who was born 
in Mercer County, Ky., the daughter of Zachus 
and Nancy (Jachman) Barnett, both natives of 
Kentucky. The father engaged in farming in 



286 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Mercer County until 1818, when he came to How- 
ard County, Mo., and improved a farm on the 
State road between Franklin and Columbia. He 
and his wife both died in Missouri. Mrs. Gaw 
was the second in a family of nine children, and 
is the only survivor. She was born February 15, 
1812, and was brought to Missouri in 1818 by her 
parents, who made the trip with team and wagon. 
Her childhood years were passed on a farm, where 
she received the training which has made her a 
capable wife and mother. Two children were born 
of this union: Eliza, a graduate of the Baptist 
Female College at Lexington, is the wife of Rev. G. 
W. Hyde, of Lexington, a Baptist minister; Ellen, 
a graduate of Chillicothe Academy, is the wife of 
Capt. Ai E. Asbury, President of the American 
Bank. 

In their religious conviction, Mr. and Mrs. 
Gaw are Baptists, and he was made a Deacon in 
that denomination about fifty years ago. In 
politics he is a stanch Democrat, and upholds the 
principles of his party upon every occasion. The 
various scenes through which he has passed have 
been so stirring, and his memory so good, that he 
has a fund of valuable information concerning 
pioneer days, and his friends find great pleasure 
in listening to the delightful stories and thrilling 
incidents which he narrates. 



m= 



\TP^ICIIARD SEWARD, or "Dick" Seward, as 
!u*i[ he is familiarly known, is one of the most 
(AS \\\ popular men in Slater, and that is saying 
\^) a great deal, for those who read these 
pages will find that our city boasts of many popu- 
lar men and does so with good cause. The sub- 
ject of this sketch is an Alderman from the Sec- 
ond Ward, and is a successful engineer. He has 
passed through some thrilling accidents and 
wrecks, for which, however, he was in no way to 
blame. He seems so far to bear a charmed life, 
and his friends most sincerely hope that this may 
continue to be true of him. Physically, he is a 



large, well-built, finely proportioned man, good 
looking, and with a personal magnetism that wins 
friends without effort on his part, these friends 
J being kept by the real worth of the man. He is 
an engineer on the Chicago & Alton Railroad, 
Kansas City Division, having held his position 
since March, 187H. He runs on the new exten- 
sion and is the oldest engineer in the division. 

Mr. Seward's native State is Ohio. He was born 
in Richland County, near Mansfield, August 3, 
1852. His father, Dennis Seward, was born in 
County Meath, Ireland, and was a stock-dealer 
and trader in graiu and other products in the Old 
Country. He was married there and came to this 
country in 1847, locating at Bridgeport, Conn., 
being for a time in the employ of P. T Barnum. 
In 1849 he moved to Ohio and located in Mt. 
Vernon, Knox County. At - that time he went 
into the employ of the Sandusk3', Mansfield & 
Newark Railroad as fireman, remaining in this po- 
sition till 18(51, when he changed to the Erie Rail- 
road, now the Atlantic & Great Western. He was 
engaged in work for the road under construction 
till 1864, when he bought a farm consisting of 
two hundred and ten acres of improved land 
three miles from Mansfield. He then engaged in 
farming and stock-raising and money-loaning, 
which he still continues. He is a Democrat in 
politics and is well off. His wife, who was before 
her marriage Miss Mary White, of Ireland, died in 
1865. 

Mr. Seward is the third of nine children, eight 
of whom grew to maturity, and six are still liv- 
ing. He was educated in the common schools, as 
have been so many of our ablest men, and re- 
mained at home until he reached the age of 
eighteen, when he went into the employ of the 
railroad, beginning as fireman on the Lake Shore 
& Michigan Southern, and continuing there till 
1873. Afterward he went to Canada as fireman 
on the Canada Southern Railroad, working in that 
capacity eight months. From there he came as 
far West as Chicago, engaging as fireman on the 
Baltimore & Ohio, between Chicago and Chicago 
Junction, Ohio, continuing there till July, 1877, 
at which time he participated in the strikes then 
in progress, leaving the road entirely. Subsequent 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



287 



to this lie took a trip through the Western States 
ami Territories. In March, 1878, lie entered the 
employ of the Chicago >V- Alton Railroad as fire- 
man on the new extension, taking care of the en- 
gines at the branch in Glasgow till fall, when he 
was made engineer, which position he has since 
held. 

In 1881, Mr. Seward came to Slater and has 
made his home here since then, with the exception 
of one summer in Kansas City. He has been 
through several accidents as before stated. Decem- 
ber 8, 1881, he had a collision on Independence 
Hill, with a freight coming up the hill. This de- 
molished both engines and wrecked eighteen cars, 
but no one on his train was killed. The cause of 
the accident was the fact that the other, train was 
out of its limits. Our engineer saved himself by 
jumping, but was hurt about the head and limbs 
and was laid up for two months. This was the 
worst wreck that he encountered. In 1883 he 
was running a passenger train and collided with a 
freight, which this time, also, was out of its own 
limits. The engine was jammed and the engineer 
on the other train badly hurt, but fortunately no 
one was killed. At one time he had an engine 
blow up, collapsing in the firebox. With all these 
accidents he is still safe and sound, seeming to 
bear a charmed life indeed. He has been running 
in the pool between Slater and Kansas City, Slater 
to Roodhouse, for eight years. One of his engines 
is No. 217. 

Mr. Seward is a member of the Mutual Home 
Building and Loan Association of Kansas City. 
He is interested in real estate in that cit^-, and 
owns his residence here and a farm of one hun- 
dred and sixty acres at Garden City. He is a 
member of the Knights of Pythias, also of the 
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, being 
Third Assistant Engineer of this Division, No. 8, 
and is on the Legislative Committee. In April, 
1891, he was elected Alderman for the Second 
Ward, and has been on the Sidewalk Committee 
and others. In politics he affiliates with the Dem- 
ocratic party. 

March 25, 1878, Mr. Seward and Miss Maggie 
Conner, of Mt. Vernon, Ohio, were married in Chi- 
cago. The lady is a daughter of John and Isa- 



bella (McBride) Conner, natives of Ireland. After 
coming to America and locating at Mt. Vernon, 
her father engaged as railroad foreman and con- 
tractor on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. He 
now lives at Whitley, Ind. His wife died in the 
fall of 1891. Mrs. Seward, the fourth of nine 
children, spent her childhood years at Mt. Vernon. 
Mr. and Mrs. Seward have five children: Harry, 
Mary, Lillie, Isabella, and F. Leo. Mrs. Seward is 
a member of the St. Joseph Catholic Church. It 
is a pleasure to write about men of whom so much 
good might be said as about the gentleman whose 
name heads this sketch; at the same time, he is so 
well and favorably known that an extended arti- 
cle under this head seems superfluous, as his 
friends are one and all ready to speak in his 
praise. 



^ OBERT K. THOMSON, a prosperous agri- 
■c cultunst and successful stock-raiser and 
lis \\\ breeder of Shorthorn cattle, also owner of 
the celebrated stallion, "Crane," who holds 
the race record of a three-year-old of Missouri, is 
one of the most enterprising and energetic resi- 
dents of Saline County, and makes his home upon 
section 36, township 52, range 20. He was born 
in 1829, his birthplace being almost within astone's- 
throw of his present home. His father, R. Y. 
Thomson, born in 1803, was a native Kentuckian 
and in 1821 came to Missouri. Two years later 
he located in Saline County, on one hundred and 
sixty acres of land, which he entered from the 
Government. Being prospered, he continued to 
add to his property until he possessed twenty-five 
hundred acres, fifteen hundred acres of which 
have been divided among the children. 

In addition to the daily duties of agriculture, 
the father of our subject was a Baptist minister, an 
earnest and convincing preacher of the Gospel, and 
a man of upright character, strong in argument, 
and wise in judgment. While not a politician, he 
was interested in public affairs and held the office 



288 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



of Justice of the Peace for a short time. His wife. 
an excellent helpmate and devoted companion, 
was born in 1809, and was the mother of ten chil- 
dren, of whom eight are yet living. Lucy A., born 
in Saline County, was married to William Thom- 
son and now resides in Texas; Elizabeth married 
Squire Jenkins, and lives in Slater, Mo.; Quincy 
A., who married Miss McDaniels, enlisted in the 
Confederate army, was taken prisoner in 1862 and 
confined in McDowell College, in St. Louis. Mo., 
where from exposure he contracted pneumonia and 
died. in 1862; Asa P., who married Miss Sal tonstall, 
enlisted in 1861, under Col. Brown, and was killed 
in Kansas, in the last battle attending Price's inva- 
sion of Missouri; Leona V. was born in Saline 
County, and is the widow of Col. William Brown, 
who was killed in the service of the Confederates 
in 1861; Mary E. married William G. Fowler and 
makes her home near Slater; Alvin W., born in 
Saline County, is a business man of Slater: Susie 
M. married Dr. Ford and resides near Slater; Zack 
T. lives on the old homestead. 

Robert K., our subject, was married in 1867, to 
Miss Mary M. Plant, who was born in 1844 and is 
the mother of eight children, all of whom are liv- 
ing: E. T., born in 1868; Ernest R.; V. V., born in 
L873; Y. P., in 1*76; Sue May. in 1878; Berta, in 
1879; G. Roy, in 1881; and Lillie, in 1886. Now, 
engaged in the peaceful pursuit of farming, and 
surrounded by a bright and interesting family, 
the time seems long in the past since our subject 
was actively devoted to the scenes and dangers of 
the battle-field. A mere boy completing his edu- 
cation in an excellent Kentucky school, he was 
among the first to respond to the call for Confed- 
erate volunteers. 

Enlisting in 1861 under Col. Brown, Mr. Thom- 
son gallantly served through the entire war, where 
he suffered great privations and was constantly in 
danger. He was captured at Boonville, in the 
first engagement in the State of Missouri. He was 
soon paroled by (Jen. Lyons, but at that critical 
juncture came near losing his life by an almost 
fatal blunder. Through some mistake he was 
thought to be a Camp Jackson prisoner and was 
sentenced to be shot, and it was only after a most 
thorough investigation that he was finally paroled. 



After a severe illness, he returned to the service 
and was again captured, near the close of the war, 
at Cane Hill, and was once more paroled, this 
time by Gen. Curtis. At that date he was First 
Lieutenant under Col. Gordon in Shelby's Brigade, 
and was distinguished for his courage and meri- 
torious conduct on the battle-field. 

I'pon the conclusion of the war, Mr. Thomson 
located in Lewis County, Mo., and taught school, 
and there met the lady destined to be his future 
wife. Soon returning to his old home he built a 
house and began industriously to improve three 
hundred and twenty acres of land, which have for 
many years yielded him an abundant harvest. 
Among the valuable horses upon his fine farm is 
a handsome Hambletonian mare. The record of 
the well-known stallion, "Crane," is 2:2'.)], and 
this noble animal is one of the most noted in the 
State. Our subject, like his father, is in religious 
belief a Baptist, and has been a member of the 
church ever since he was fourteen years old. 
While not a politician, he is a sturdy Democrat 
and deeply interested in the public conduct of af- 
fairs. He and his family are all well known and 
highly respected, and possess a large circle of sin- 
cere friends. 



t^^r- 



^^ 



.sss=& AMUEL J. KLEINSCHMIDT, an enter- 
^^^ prising citizen and well known as the ed- 
"^/^uj itor of the Advance, published regularly 
by the firm of Kleinschmidt & Schwartz, 
is also Secretary of the Home Building and Loan 
Association, and one of the prominent business 
men of Higginsville. He is a stockholder of the 
American Bank, and V ice-President of that flour- 
ishing institution. Connected with social and re- 
ligious enterprises, and interested in all that per- 
tains to educational advancement and local im- 
provements, he is progressive in his ideas, and, as 
a man of intelligence and culture, commands the 
respect and esteem of all who know him. 

Mr. Kleinschmidt is a native of Missouri, and 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



2* '.I 



was born near De Soto, Jefferson County, March 
15, I860. His father, Charles Kleinschmidt, was 
born in Germany, and there received his educa- 
tion, and was married. He was in the shoe busi- 
ness, and, being an energetic man. determined to 
try his fortunes in the United Males, which offers 
to her citizens so many mi paralleled advantages. 
Aboul L845, he emigrated to America, and lo- 
cated near St. Louis, but finally settled in DeSoto, 
and there engaged in the boot and shoe business, 
which he continued until his death in 1869. His 
wife, Mary Moehlman, was horn in Germany, and 
passed away in De Soto, leaving eight children, 
four sons and four daughters, all now living. 

Our subject is the youngest child, and was reared 
in De Soto, where he attended the public schools, 
lie further enjoyed the advantage of a thorough 
course of instruction in the Central Wesleyan Col- 
lege, at Warrenton, and was graduated with honor 
from that institution in 1881. lie then engaged 
as Principal of the Marthasville school, where he 
taught for two years, and was foi four years en- 
gaged as teacher in Hermann, Mo. In educational 
attainments and excellent method of instruction, 
he was peculiarly adapted for the duties of a 
teacher, and it was a matter of regret to those 
who had enjoyed the pleasure of his read} aid in 
the upward path of progress, when they knew he 
had abandoned the profession of teaching and was 
going into a new field of business. 

This decision Mr. Kleinschmidt made in the year 
1887, when he came to Higginsville, and at first 
engaged in the grocery business. His new occu- 
pation demanded his service one year, at the ex- 
piration of which time he disposed of his interest 
in the business. Then, in partnership with II. C. 
Schwartz, he purchased the Advance, and having 
reformed it politically by changing it from a 
Democratic paper to a Republican organ, has since 
most successfully conducted the editorial depart- 
ment of this well-known publication. .Mr. Klein- 
schmidt finds himself at, home in his new work. 
and is as facile in the use of his pen as he was 
gifted in making- explanations to his pupils of 
other days. The press is a great instructor of the 
day, and our subject ha-- now a broad field in which 
he can do much to educate Hie men and women of 



to-day up to a higher standard of work and duty. 
The Advance is an excellent weekly paper, a >i\- 
COlumn quarto, and furnishes much bright., read- 
able matter, and is constantly gaining in popularity 
and circulation. 

Mr. Kleinschmidt was married in St. Charles 
County, Mo., at New Melle, in August, 188.5, to 
Miss Lizzie A. Hiske, a native of Missouri, who 
was educated at the Central Wesleyan College, at 
Warrenton. Mr. and Mrs. Kleinschmidt are the 
parents of three children: Virgil, Edith M. and 
1. eland. Mr. and Mrs. Kleinschmidt attend the 
German Methodist Episcopal Church, and are 
among the active workersof the organization, ever 
ready to assist in its benevolent or social enter- 
prises. 

Mr. Kleinschmidt is a Knight of Pythias, Uni- 
formed Rank, and is also a mem her of the Ancient 
Order of United Workmen. When the General Con- 
ference was held at Omaha in 1892. our subject 
was the delegate of his church, and represented 
the organization with ability. Mr. Kleinschmidt 
is a straight Republican, is Chairman of the County 
Republican Central Committee, and has decided 
views with regard to the National and local con- 
duct of public affairs. He is a good citizen, and, 
thoroughly imbued with the spirit of the times, 
cannot fail to be an earnest and important factor 
in the uplifting and education of the masses. 




KOROK W. ROBERTS, a prominent grain 
merchant and leading citizen of Aullville, 
is the gentleman whose brief sketch we 
place before the public. His high character and 
hiisiness abilities have brought him prominently 
before the public, and he is considered one of 
the most enterprising citizens of the town. In 
this short notice we will he able to give but an 
outline of his career as a man of business and as a 
brave Confederate soldier. Mr. Roberts is a native 
of Johnson County. Mo., horn November 22, 
1839, and is the son of John and Sarah Roberts, 



2i)0 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



natives of Kentucky, who were among the early 
settlers of Johnson County. They had lived for 
a short time near Lexington, Mo., before locating 
in Johnson County. 

Our subject was the fourth son in 'his father's 
family, and was reared upon a farm in his native 
county. There he was educated in the common 
schools, where he gained the necessary rudiments 
of an education, and from that groundwork he 
educated himself by systematic reading and ob- 
servation. When the call came for troops, he put 
aside his temporary duties and discontinued farm- 
ing in order to do battle for his State. Joining 
Company F, First Missouri Cavalry, C. S. A., he 
took part in the battles of Cape Girardeau, Cane 
Hill, and others of minor importance, but which 
tried the courage of the volunteer as much as did 
the great struggles in which whole armies took 
part. At the battle of Springfield, Mo., he was 
wounded, and after a year and a-half of service 
was obliged to return home. 

The first marriage of Mr. Roberts was celebrated 
in 1874, when Miss Nannie Littlejohn became his 
wife. Four children were added to the family 
circle, three of whom are now living: Robert A., 
Pearl and Forrest. After the death of his wife, 
Mr. Roberts again married, this time espousing 
Miss Jennie Littlejohn, a cultured and estimable 
lady. In the fall of 1874, the family removed 
from Johnson to La Fayette County, where they 
Incited upon a farm near the village of Aullville, 
and later moved into the town, Mr. Roberts en- 
gaging in the hardware business here. 

Together with Messrs. Downing & Barnes, our 
subject embarked in the grain and hardware busi- 
ness, which he conducted for several months, rep- 
resenting the company in the firm. After a short 
time Mr. Downing, withdrew, and the firm name 
was changed to Barnes, Roberts A- Co., continuing 
thus for several years. Subsequently Mr. Roberts 
went into business for himself and is now engaged 
in a grain and mercantile trade. A stanch Demo- 
crat in his political convictions, he has been an ac- 
tive worker in the party, although he has not 
been desirous of office. His religious connection 
has been with the Christian Church, and there he 
is most highly regarded. Socially, he is connected 



with the Masonic fraternity, and is much inter- 
ested in everything which promises to be of ad- 
vantage to his count} 7 or State. He is the owner 
of ninety acres of fine land, and also a nice resi- 
dence property in Aullville, where he is esteemed 
very highly in all the relations of life. 



<ra~§=3H|H 



jJL^ENRY C. DUNCAN, a prominent farmer 
of Saline County, Mo., resides upon his 
fine farm located in township 51, range 19, 
near the town of Gilliam, lie is a native 
.of Saline County, Mo., born here July 22, 1860, 
and his parents were George and Charlotte (Shu- 
mate) Duncan. The paternal side of the family 
came from Virginia. Our subject was one of a 
family of eight, all but one living: William, born 
in Saline County, Mo., in 1858; James and Charles, 
all residing at home; Lena, born in this county in 
1866, married Mr. Cott, a farmer in the county; 
L. Alice, born here in 1868, died at the age of five 
years; George, born here in 1870, is a pupil at 
Quiney, 111.; and Ida, born in 1872 at this place, 
remains at home. 

Our subject was reared in the county of Saline, 
Mo., and had the advantages of the country 
schools. At the age of eighteen years he left 
school and engaged in farming, having a fine op- 
portunity right at home. Here he continued 
until he was four years older, and then changed 
to the drug business. This he was very success- 
ful in, but was obliged to resign it as he found 
there was some trouble with his lungs which the 
confinement of the store would aggravate. Hence 
he returned to his agricultural pursuits. 

From the Government our subject obtained his 
first land seven years ago, consisting of a farm of 
one hundred and sixty acres located in Kansas. 
Farming has agreed with him; the touch of the 
soil and the turning of the sod, with the fragrance 
of the growing grain, and the fresh air and exer- 
cise have restored him to health. The marriage of 
our subject to Miss A.Crosslin was celebrated Feb- 









■■■■mv' 



!fu^i/^^uz^r o. It?. fy()-l~UL^Tr 



Portrait and biographical record. 



295 



ruary 22, 1883. She was a native of Missouri, 
born in Saline County in 1864. Three children 
have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Duncan, as fol- 
lows: G. C, born June 27, 1885; Lillian, born in 
Saline Count}', March 20, 1889; and Julia, burn 
November 1, 1890. 

Mr. Duncan is not a member of any religious 
body, but his wife and family belong to the Bap- 
tist Church. Politically, our subject is a Demo- 
crat. He was elected to the office of (unstable in 
the First District in 1890, and in attendance on 
this he did a large collection business. In the 
contest our subject proved his popularity by re- 
ceiving a majority of two hundred and fifty 
votes. 



. o: ^; 



■ •;r 



§*^S$r-teS!^% 



55 



V 



I LI J AM II. ROBERTS, a prominent citizen 
not only of Saline County, but of Mis- 
souri, was born in Hartford, Conn., June 
25, 1810. His grandfather and father, both of 
whom bore the name of John Roberts, were natives 
of England, and the latter emigrating to America 
settled in Hartford, Conn., and served in the Rev- 
olutionary War. He married l'riscilla, daughter 
of John Henry, who was of Welsh descent. In 
1811 they removed from Hartford to New York 
City. Mr. Roberts was a coach-maker and is said 
to have made the first coach that ran between New 
York and Philadelphia. He died at the age of 
sixty years, and his wife died at the age of sixty- 
five. 

The subject of this sketch spent his boyhood 
days in New York, and was educated in the schools 
of that city and Brooklyn. In 1835, he went to 
Mobile, Ala., where he did business as acontractor 
and builder. In 1843, he went to St. Louis, and 
for a short time engaged in carpentering, but aban- 
doned that work to become Superintendent of the 
city hospitals, which office he held for nine years 
under the different political administrations, al- 
though he himself was a strong Democrat. He 
had charge of the hospitals during the cholera cpi- 

14 



demic, and for his care extended to the children 
of the Orphans' Home during the prevalence of 

that disease was presented with a beautiful Bible, 
winch he still has in his possession. 

While in New York and Mobile, Mr. Roberts 
was an active member of the lire brigades, and in 
the Fifth Ward in St. Louis he organized a fire 
company, which was called the Franklin Fire Com- 
pany after his old company in Mobile; of this he 
was made captain, and was prominently identified 
with it for some time, lie now belongs to the 
veterans of the Volunteer Fire Department of St. 
Louis. He has been a Mason for nearly fifty years, 
and is now connected with Mathtali Lodge No. 25, 
A. F. & A. M., of St. Louis. 

Mr. Roberts was married in Brooklyn, June 27, 
1831, to Miss Henrietta E. W. Hyde, of that city. 
She was born in Glencoe, L. I., October 2,1813, 
and was the eldest of twelve children. The Hyde 
family is of English descent, and the family 
records trace the genealogy back to Dudley Hyde, 
second son of the Earl of Clarendon, who was the 
great-great-grandfather of Mrs. Roberts. John 
Uyde emigrated from England to New York City, 
and built a fulling-mill at Glencoe. Of his seven 
children, William, the third son. was the grand- 
father of Mrs. Hyde, lie married a lad\ r of South 
Carolina, of French descent, and they had eleven 
children, of whom Peter B. was the third son. 

The father of Mrs. Roberts was bom at Glencoe, 
and in 1812 married Cornelia, daughter of Jacob 
Brower, who was one of the first settlers on Long 
Island. They had twelve children, of whom four 
arc yet living: Mrs. Roberts; Mary L., wife of Ed- 
ward Nilson,of Croton Lake, N. Y.; William; and 
Fannie, wife of Samuel Oser, of Croton Lake. Mr. 
Hyde was a veteran of the War of 1812. In early 
life he followed milling, but at a later period 
owned and operated a vessel on the Hudson River. 
After leaving the hospital in St. Louis, Mr. 
Roberts became general agent for the Mound City 
Fire and Marine Insurance Company, serving in 
that position for thirty years, when, in 1888, he 
and his wife came to Saline County in order to 
make their home with their daughter, Mrs. Thomas 
Edwards, the only surviving child. They had 
losl three children, one of whom. Cornelia 1'ris- 



296 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



cilia, wife of Prof. Lewis H. Freligh, of St. Louis, 
died in 1881. Edwardanna, the surviving daugh- 
ter, was married on the 20tli of May, 1850, in St. 
Louis, to Thomas J. Edwards, who was born in 
Northumberland County, Ya., in 1823. His fam- 
ily was of English and Welsh descent. The grand- 
father, Thomas Edwards, settled in Northumber- 
land County, at the mouth of the Potomac River, 
where was born Joseph C. Edwards, father of 

Tl las J. lie married Miss Elizabeth Harvey, 

and both died at an early age, leaving five young 
children: Thomas .1.; Americus A., who died in 
Baltimore; Marcellus Ball, who was resident phy- 
sician of the City Hospital in St. Louis in 1849, 
during the cholera epidemic, of which disease he 
died; Joseph I)., who is now Postmaster of Fair- 
ville, Mil; and Sarah Elizabeth, deceased wife of 
Granville Harvey. 

In 1836, with his uncle, Maj. T. II. Harvey, 
Thomas Edwards came to Saline County. In 1846, 
he enlisted for the Mexican War, leaving Leaven- 
worth under (Jen. Turney. At the capture of 
Santa Fe, his regiment was the first to enter the 
place. He participated in the battles of Brazito 
and Sacramento and the capture of Chihuahua, 
where the Mexican troops five times outnumbered 
the United States troops. After his return he lo- 
cated on the land which is still his home, receiv- 
ing a warrant from the Government in recognition 
of his services during the Mexican War. During 
the late war he was in sympathy with the South, 
and joined the regiment which intended to unite 
with Price, but was raptured at Black Water. 
The prisoners were sent to St. Louis, and in Decem- 
ber, 1862, were transferred to Alton, 111., where 
liny were released the following March. Mr. Ed- 
wards then spent three years in St. Louis on ac- 
count of the dangerous condition of the country 
in his part of the State. He now votes the Peo- 
ple's ticket, and he is a well-known and prominent 
farmer of Saline County. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Ed- 
wards was born a daughter, Isabel, who became 
the wife of ('. W. M. Randall, of Boston, Mass., 
and died July 1, 1 .s S 7 , in St. Louis, leaving three 
children: Clarence Walter, Lillian Irene, and an 
infant, who died at the age of five weeks. 

.Mr. and Mrs. Roberts of this sketch are now ad- 



vanced in years. They have witnessed much of 
the growth of this country. He has picked berries 
almost in the heart of New York City, and his wife 
remembers gathering (lowers from her aunt's gar- 
den, opposite Trinity Church. They were present 
at the celebration of the opening of the Erie Canal, 
and Mr. Roberts saw Chicago in the days of its 
earliest infancy, in fact he has witnessed the 
greater part of the country's advancement. On 
the 27th of June, 1891, Mr. and Mrs. Roberts cel- 
ebrated their sixtieth wedding anniversary, and 
many friends participated in the happy festivities 
on that occasion. This worthy couple now reside 
with their daughter and her husband. Mr. and Mrs. 
Edwards. Removing from St. Louis, they erected 
a handsome and commodious residence in citj 
style, and here, surrounded by the comforts of 
life and loving friends, they expect to spend their 
remaining days. 



—^51 



3H|HP*=-^ 



H. 15. ISII, a resident of section 2, town- 
Y ship 5 1 , range 20, near Slater, Saline County, 

sa*' Mo., is the subject of the present sketch. 
He was born February 15, 1839, in Saline Count}', 
Mo., the son of William L. and Mary L. (Wilhite) 
Ish. The father was born in Saline County, Mo., 
which was also the birthplace of the mother, both 
born in the year 1819. The grandfathers on both 
sides were soldiers of the War of 1812 and drew 
pensions. The ancestors of the Ish family were of 
German descent, mixed with a French line when 
the great-grandfather married a lady from that 
country. This is the oldest family in Missouri, 
and Grandfather Jacob Ish was the first white man 
to cross the La Mine River, which he did in 1816 
on a log raft, on his way to the rich bottom lands 
of the Missouri River. 

The father of our subject was born in Saline 
County, on the farm which was known as the 
Morrison Farm, near Glasgow, the family having 
been driven out of the low lands along the Mis- 
souri during the great overflow of 1844. The 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



297 



father came to what was then known as Santa IV. 
now the town of Slater. Here he purchased one 
hundred and sixty acres of land and from Other 
parties three hundred acres, and upon this line 
farm lie went into the business of stock-raising 
very extensively, making it profitable until the 
breaking out of the war. 

In 1862, Mr. William Ish and our subject en- 
listed in Capt. Garrett's company under Comman- 
der R obertson. of Miami, and marched from Grand 
Pass south, camping on the Blackwater at Horse 
Shoe Bend, which was on the main road from 
Sedalia to Warrensburgh, where they were taken 
prisoners by the Union troops. They were taken 
to McDowell College, and kept at St. Louis for 
six weeks, were then paroled and both came home, 
although the father was kept for some weeks longer 
because he would not take the oath of allegiance 
to the Government. Later our subject was out as 
an assistant to Dr. Alexander, of Marshall, who 
was an army surgeon. 

The education of our subject was obtained at 
McGee College, in Missouri, and after completing 
his collegiate course he took up the science of 
medicine under the wise guidance of Dr. L. M. 
Alexander, and completed his professional studies 
at the St. Louis Medical College in 1863. After 
this date, he practiced in Carroll County. Mo., and 
in Miami, this county, and continued until 1866. 
At that time occurred the marriage of Mr. Ish to 
Miss Margaret Ish, his half-cousin, and four chil- 
dren have been burn into the family from this un- 
ion, three of whom are living. 

The eldest child of the family was named Logan, 
born in Missouri July 13, 1867, but died August 
30, 1868. Margie was born August 30, 1868, 
upon the day of her brother's death. She grew to 
womanhood and married Allen B. Super, and re- 
sides in Saline County, where he is a farmer. 
Ernest J. was born in Saline County in I860, and 
resides at home; and Clarence, born in 1872, also 
lives at home. The\ were educated at the home 
schools. After marriage, our subject engaged in 
farming about two hundred acres of land given him 
by his father. Here he resided fur a time, then 
sold out and purchased a tract south of Slater. 
Afterward he sold again and moved to Slater. 



where he engaged in the agricultural implement 
business and remained at this a year or two and 
then went into the grocery business. Finding 
this not quite to his taste, he sold and moved 
upon a farm consisting of one hundred and sixty 
acres, which was turned over to luni by his father. 
Mr. Ish is a member of the Christian Church, as 
also is his estimable wife and two of the children. 
For years he has been an Elder in the church and 
has assisted it with his presence and means. In 
the Sunday-school, too. lie has been an active 
worker. Socially, he belongs to the Masonic order, 
and in his politics he is a Democrat, although he 
has never sought office. 



eONRAD OSER, one of the most popular 
and efficient officers of Saline County, is 
the subject of this brief notice. Since 1880 
he has been Superintendent of the Poor Farm, and 
under his charge the place has improved, and he 
has gained the commendation of all. His life 
affords an illustration of the power of self-help. 
and the force of courage and industry in enabling 
a man to surmount early difficulties of no ordinary 
kind. The paternal grandfather of our >ubject 
was a native of Germany, and near the beautiful 
city of Strasburg he first saw the light. There he 
married, and thence with his wife he came to 
America, and made settlement among the rich 
meadows of Pennsylvania, where people of his 
nationality have built up flourishing towns and 
prosperous industries. In the State where his 
parents found a home, Martin Oser, the father of 
our subject, was horn; there also he met and mar- 
ried .Miss Barbara Brown. 

Our subject was born at Ripley, hid., in 1845, 
and he was the fourth in a family of seven chil- 
dren. In his boyhood he gamed a practical coili- 
mon-school education, and when ready to choose 
an occupation learned the trade of a carpenter. 
In 1862 he went to Kentucky, and there remained 



298 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



until 186'J, when Miss Isadora Lowden, of that 
State, became his wife. After their marriage, the 
young couple came to Saline County, and there 
Mr. Oser engaged in fanning and also followed 
his trade. 

In 1880 the citizens of the county testified to 
their appreciation of Mr. Oser by making him the 
Superintendent of their Poor Farm. This is a 
position which requires many sterling traits of 
character, and in his wise administration of the 
affairs of the institution. Mr. Oser has shown that 
the confidence of his fellow-citizens has not been 
misplaced. He manages with good judgment the 
one hundred and eighty acres which are contained 
in the farm, anil has the land cultivated to the 
lust interests of the county and inmates of the 
Home. 

In his religious convictions, our subject is a 
member of the Roman Catholic Church. Politi- 
cally he is a firm Democrat, always ready and glad 
to uphold Jefferson ian principles. Six children 
have been born to Mr. and Mis. Oser: Emma, who 
is the wife of George Collier; Susie, Mattie, Will- 
iam. Lucy and Alberta. The children have been 
all well educated, and two of them are graduates 
of the convent in Marshall, Mo. 



•s^MI 



!!■*« 



y : A 



TJDGE ASHBURY F. BROWN, one of the 

prominent agriculturists of Saline County, 
has also served with ability as County 
Judge, and now retired from the bench, de- 
votes his time to agricultural pursuits. He owns 
a fine farm, located in township 51, range 22, near 
Malta Bend. Our subject was born in Bucking- 
ham County, Va.. in August, 1X2'J. His family is 
of English descent, Buckingham Brown having 
emigrated from England to Virginia in the early 
history of the colonies, and settled in what is 
now known as Buckingham County. Grandfather 
Brown was born and died in Virginia. The ma- 
ternal grandfather, Charles Palmore, was a Revo- 
lutionary soldier an d served in the Colonial army. 



James Brown, the father of our subject, was 
born in Buckingham County. Va., March L9, 1783, 
and died in Saline County, Mo., in 187."!, his home 
being near Malta Bend. lie was married in Vir- 
ginia to Miss Mary R., a daughter of Charles and 
Jane (Caldwell) Palmore. Immediately following 
his marriage he settled in Cumberland County, 
later removed to Buckingham County, and in 
1831 came to Saline County. Mo., making the 
long triii ' n wagons. They crossed into Ken- 
tucky at the mouth of the Big Sandy, at Louisville 
crossed the ( )hio. and at St. Louis reached the Mis- 
sissippi. Soon afterward they crossed the Mis- 
souri at St. Charles, and finally located in 1832 on 
thirteen hundred acres of land near what is now 
Malta Bend. 

Mr. Brown, Sr., brought with him his negroes, 
and though they could have escaped there were no 
desertions. He and his wife were members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church South, and were up- 
right and conscientious Christian people. Their 
children were all born in Virginia, viz: Sarah, 
Elizabeth, W. J., Mary S„ Royal F., Spencer W., 
Addison P. and Ashbury F. Rev. W. .T. Brown, 
who resides near Higginsville, Mo., has for fifty 
years been a preacher in the Methodist Episcopal 
Church South; Royal F. lives one and a-half miles 
southwest from Malta Bend, upon the old home- 
stead; Dr. Spencer Brown makes his home near 
Waverly, La Fayette County. The only other sur- 
vivor in the family is our subject, who resides 
upon his farm adjoining Malta Bend, his land ex- 
tending to the edge of the corporation. Addison 
P. Brown was in his life-time a practicing physi- 
cian of Malta Bend. These sons have all been dis- 
tinguished for lives of honor and usefulness, and 
well might it be written of each "He hath done 
what he could." 

Our subject came with his parents to Missouri 
when epiite young, and received his education in 
the primitive subscription schools of the county, 
which he attended dun Qg the winter months, while, 
in common with other farmer boys, he worked 
upon his father's farm during the busy time of 
summer. In 1855, he married Miss Ann Eliza- 
beth, daughter of Rev. John R. and Elizabeth 
(Langhonies) Bennett, of La Fayette County. Both 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



299 



the Bennetts and the Langhornes were old Vir- 
ginia families, and the Rev. John R. Bennett was 
a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
South, and for many years Presiding Elder. This 
worthy pastor and true Christian citizen spent his 
last days in Kansas and passed to liis rest in 1883. 

Judge Brown lived upon the old homestead 
until 1859, when his father divided up the land 
among the children, and in 1860 he moved upon 
that portion which was given to him, a tine farm 
of three hundred and forty acres, all under excel- 
lent cultivation and adjoining Malta Bend. In 
1874, our subjeel was elected County .ludue and 
served witli fidelity and efficiency for one term. 
Politically, he is a stanch Democrat. He is a con- 
sistent and faithful member of the Methodist 
Gpiscopal Chinch South, and for the past twenty 
years has been a Steward of the church, in all 
of whose good work he has ever liberally aided. 

The pleasant home of Judge Brown has been 
blessed with the presence of children. The eldest 
son, Dr. J. R., is a practicing physician at Malta 
Bend; Elizabeth and Mary are twins, the former be- 
ing married to J. E. Coleman, of Malta Bend; Wes- 
ley is the second son; Laura is a teacher in the Cen- 
tral Female College, at Lexington; Sarah, Addie, 
Anderson F. and Royal complete the list of the 
children who were wont to gather around the fam- 
ily table in days of yore. Active, energetic and 
intelligent, these sons and daughters take high 
place among their fellow-citizens, and self-reliantly 
win their way upward and onward. 



nhh^== =■; 



yll. C. Mc MAIIAX, a representative agri- 
culturist and large land-owner of Saline 
County, Mo., owns seven hundred and 
sixty acres of land located upon township 50, 
range 20, and all in one body, with the exception 
of about twenty acres. Ambitious and energetic, 
he has won his way steadily upward, and, a na- 
tive of the State, has been identified witli the 
growth and rapid advancement of Missouri his 



entire life. The paternal grandfather of Mr. Mc- 
Mahan was a native Virginian, who early removed 
to Kentucky, but finally settled in Cooper County, 
Mo. He was of Scotch descent, and — a wealthy 
man — was. in the early days, a slave-owner. 

The paternal grandmother's name Mas Jones, 
and presumably of German descent. Grandfather 
McMahan and his good wife were married in 
Kentucky and had six children. The eldest son, 
Samuel, was killed in the War of 1812 by the sav- 
age Indians. James, the second son. and Thomas, 
the father of our subject, were the other sons. 
There were also three daughters in the household. 
Thomas McMahan was born in Virginia, later re- 
moved with his parents to Kentucky, and finally 
located, in 1810, in Missouri, lie was an ardent 
and patriotic man who fought bravely in the War 
of 1812, and, engaging in various conflicts with 
the Indians, was present in the fort in Howard 
County when Col. Cooper was killed. He was 
married aftercoming to Missouri, and his wife, the 
mother of our subject, was also a native of 
Virginia. 

Our subject was the fifth child of the numerous 
sons and daughters, who were named in the order 
of their births as follows: Amelia, Jeannetta, La- 
menda, Samuel G., our subject. Susan. .Tames. 
Louisa, Jesse X. and Jane. Mr. McMahan is a na- 
tive of Cooper County, and was born in 1825. He 
received his education in the subscription schools 
of his early home, but when a young man was at- 
tracted by the glittering stories of the fabulous 
wealth easily attainable upon the Pacific Coast, and 
was among the thousands who, in 1852. journeyed 
to California, going overland and consuming four 
months upon the way. In 1856, he returned by 
the peninsula route, after a four-year absence 
from the familiar scenes. 

In 1858, he married Martha Ellen, a daughter 
of Rudolph and Ellen Hawpe. of Saline County, 
Mo. The father of Mrs. McMahan was born in 
Pennsylvania, while her mother was a native of 
Virginia. Mrs. McMahan was born in Saline 
( ounty, and enjoys the friendship of a host of old 
acquaintances. The happy home of our subject 
and his highly esteemed wife has been blessed 
by the birth of nine children, two of whom have 



300 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



passed away. The seven living sons and daugh- 
ters are Adelia, the widow of John Lawless; Har- 
vey, Edward, Hawpe, Margaret Lillian, Mattie 
Kate and Mary L. James and Cora arc the two 
little ones who died in infancy. The bright and 
earnest children of Mr. and Mrs. McMahan have 
lives of honored usefulness before them, and are 
universally respected by all who know them. Our 
subject is not an aspirant for public office, but he 
takes an active interest in all the national and lo- 
cal political events, and affiliates with the Demo- 
cratic party. For nearly two-score years a resi- 
dent of .his present home. Mr. McMahan has been 
actively identified with the many important inter- 
ests of his locality, and, ever ready to aid in local 
progress and improvements, is justly numbered 
among the leading and progressive citizens of 
Saline County. 



/ 



*==♦; 



=* 




, OBERT E. LEE SMITH, the affable and pop- 
ular druggist of Marshall, Saline County, 
Mo., is senior member in the firm of Smith 
V§) & Hardin, proprietors of the largest and 
most finely appointed pharmacy in this section of 
the State. Refined, courteous, and thoroughly 
skilled in the duties of his profession, our subject 
has made a success of business, and always actively 
interested in the current events of the day, and 
ever ready to assist in church, social and religious 
enterprise, has won the esteem and confidence of the 
general public. 

Our subject was born in Leesburg, Ya., January 
6, 1863. Ilis grandfather Burke was a merchant in 
Virginia, and died in his native State. His father, 
William P. Smith, was a native of Warren County, 
and was a mechanic, and engaged in the manufac- 
ture of wagons, and articles requiring similar skill, 
during the war in Leesburg. Afterward he held 
official positions of trust, serving as assessor, con- 
stable and public officer in discharge of various 
duties, and in the daily business of life was ever 



upright, energetic and efficient. In politics be 
was a Democrat, strong in his belief in Jackson ian 
principles, while in religious faith he clung firmly 
to the tenets and doctrines of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church South. lie passed away peacefully 
after a long and useful life. He was of English 
de>< ent, and clearly traced his ancestry back to the 
famous John Smith of Pocahontas fame. 

The mother of Robert E. Lee Smith was Annie V. 
Burke, a native of Virginia, and a daughter of Rich- 
ard S. Burke, who was of English descent, and who 
lived and died in Leesburg. Mrs. Smith died when 
our subject was young. She was the mother of 
nine children, of whom five are yet living. Rob- 
ert, the third in the large family, was raised in Lees- 
burg. and attended the excellent public schools of 
his native place. Having decided upon his future 
course in life, he entered a drug store at the age 
of sixteen years, and after four years" training in 
the practical duties of the profession, entered 
the Maryland College of Pharmacy in 1884, from 
which he graduated in 1885, with the degree of 
Ph.G. Our subject continued to clerk in the drug- 
house in Warrenton,Va.j until 1886, when he came 
to Marshall. 

Arrived in his new home. Mr. Smith found em- 
ployment with P. II. Franklin, and handled drugs 
there until 1888, in which year he started m busi- 
ness for himself in a new store with R. L.Bernard. 
This partnership lasted until February, 1891, when 
Dr. S. S. Hardin succeeded Mr. Bernard. The pres- 
ent firm are located in the finest business portion 
of the town, and, aside from drugs, carry a complete 
line of paints, oils. glass, etc. .also perfumeries, and 
a variety of handsome toilet articles. Upon Oc- 
tober 5, 1887, Mr. Smith was united in marriage 
with Miss Sail ie E. Goodwin, a charming lady, who 
was born in La Fayette County, Mo., and a daugh- 
ter of J. W. Goodwin, a large farmer and land-owner 
near Alma, La Fayette County, and President of 
the Bank of Saline. Mrs. Smith was educated in 
Lexington, Mo., and possessing many accomplish- 
ments and a genial disposition, is a favorite in the 
society of Marshall. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are the 
parents of three bright children : Robert Lee, James 
( ioodwin.and Virginia Lee. 

Mr. Smith is a member of the Ancient Free audi 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



301 



Accepted Masons, and Past Master of his lodge, 
and is also King of the Chapter <>f Royal Arch Ma- 
sons and Generalissimo of the Commandery, K. T. 
He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and 
an officer in thai religious organization, holding 
the position of Deacon, and discharging the duties 
which pertain to his office with the same ability 
which distinguishes his secular work. Mr. Smith 
is also an active member of the Missouri Pharma- 
ceutical Association. His political afliliations are 
with the party that is Democratic in both principle 
and name, and he is a firm believer in the justice 
of the broad platform reared by the patriots of 
the olden days. Liberal in sentiment, and gen- 
erous in thought and judgment, our subject is 
a fair-minded and progressive Christian citizen. 



^j| AMES E. BRUCEj one of the most successful 
farmers and stock-raisers of Saline County, 
Mo., is the pleasant gentleman to whom we 
^J/J call attention in this brief article. Mr. 
Bruce was born in Fredericksburg, Spottsylvania 
County, Va., in 1831, but was reared to maturity 
in Carolina County, the same State. His parents 
were William II. and Harriet (Gravatt) Bruce, 
both natives of Virginia, although the Bruce fam- 
ily in this country is descended from the old royal 
family of Scotland. This family is worthy of the 
good blood in its veins, and all the members of it 
have ever proved themselves true and good citi- 
zens, faithfully fulfilling all obligations to State 
and society. 

Our subject left the State of his nativity upon 
reaching manhood, and emigrated Westward to 
Platte County, Mo., making tbe trip in 1854. Here 
he remained for one year, when, in the fall of 1 .s.V>, 
he again traveled Westward, and this time made a 
settlement in Leavenworth County, Kan., and re- 
mained in that county and in Wyandotte County. 
the same State, until the fall of 1869, when he re- 
turned to Missouri and located on the farm where 
he now resides. His farm was mostly covered 



with brush when he located upon it, but he lias 
now developed it into a line farm, and at presi nt 
he is the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of 
good land, on which he has carried on general 
farming and cattle and hog raising to a large ex- 
tent. It affords him much pleasure to look over 
the acres of line land that his own unaided efforts 
have brought to such a state of perfection. He 
has worked very hard to bring about such a state 
of things, but is amply rewarded by the returns 
from his acres. 

In ]H.~><), Mr. Bruce decided that the married es- 
tate was the happiest, and that no man's home i- 
complete without a wife, and therefore married 
Miss Sarah E., daughter of George Brawner, of 
Brunswick, Sheridan County, Mo. Bight chil- 
dren were the result of their union, only two 
of whom are now living: Charles and Mollie. 
both of whom are at home with their parents. 
Politically, Mr. Bruce is a stanch Democrat, and 
in politics, as in business matters, is a straightfor- 
ward, honorable gentleman, who scorns to do any- 
thing unworthy of a descendant of the noble 
family of Bruce. He and his interesting family 
are prominent members of the Christian Church 
of Marshall. 



€<sr 



••• j) i (§^) ^ ••• i **^ bp i> 




^ ENRY F. KLEINSCHHIDT is a dealer in 

1 hardware, stoves, tinware and agricultural 
implements at ('order, and is an active ami 
energetic business man. He was born in 
St. Louis, December .'I. 1856, and is a son of Frank 
and Mary (Moeller) Kleinschmidt, both natives of 
Prussia. 

Our Subject is the eldest son of five children. lb- 
spent his boyhood in the cosmopolitan city of 'St. 
Louis and attended the common schools. After 
acquiring a good practical education, he learned 
the tinner'- trade, at which he worked for eight 

years. Ambitious to become > ething more than 

a journeyman workman, in 1878 he embarked for 
himself in the hardware business at Higginsville, 



302 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



having formed a partnership with H. L. Klein- 
Schmidt, his cousin. The firm continued doing 
business until 1880, when our subject removed to 
Colder and launched into the business of which he 
is now the head, and which is conducted with much 
ability and to the satisfaction of a large class of 
patrons. 

Our subject's marriage took place October 6, 
I8KH, when he united himself to Miss Louisa, a 
(laughter of Henry Rosen garn, a native of St. 
Louis. The institution of a pleasant home imme- 
diately followed their marriage, and into this has 
been welcomed four children, three sons and one 
daughter, as follows: Oliver II, Leila Lillian, 
Charles G. and Alvin A. Mr. Kleinschmidt is a 
Republican in politics and is ever loyal to the prin- 
ciples of his chosen party. In business his stock oc- 
cupies a large building which is "22x80 feet in dimen- 
sions and two stories in height, with a wareroom 
22x60 feet. The stock is carefully selected with a 
view to the needs of his patrons. Mr. Kleinschmidt 
is in his religious belief a member of the German 
Methodist Episcopal Church. The family residence 
is a comfortable and attractive place, centrally lo- 
cated in the town of Corder. 



*^OL. JOHN BROWN 

(I prominent men of Sal 

V_y his ability, kindness < 



JOHN BROWN was one of the most 
' Saline County, noted for 
of heart, and interest 
in every worthy enterprise. lie was just the kind 
of man needed to help build up a community, to 
interest others in its growth and prosperity, and 
to give it a basis of general solidit}-. He was 
ever ready to extend a helping hand to those in 
need, and justly stood high in the respect and re- 
gard of a host of friends and acquaintances. 

Col. Brown was a native of Hath County, Ya., 
having been born there in the year 1788. lie was 
a soldier in the War of 1812, his rank showing that 
then, as later, he was true to the duties devolving 
upon him, and that he fought for his country as a 



brave man should. There is ever an added inter- 
est attaching to the life of a soldier, if he has given 
himself freely for the saving of a cause in which 
he honestly believes, and all who have risked their 
lives for the salvation of Columbia have a warm 
place in the heart of every true American. 

(HI. Brown came to Saline County, Mo., some 
time in the '30s, and entered and purchased land 
until at one time he owned several sections, all 
of which he had accumulated himself. He had 
been a lawyer in Virginia, and after coming to 
Missouri served as County Judge, and also repre- 
sented the district in which he resided. 

The Colonel was twice married, having three 
children by his first wife, and four by the second. 
In this second marriage, he espoused Mrs. Julia A. 
Carthrae, widow of Charles Carthrae and daughter 
of Tyre Brown, of Virginia. The children of this 
marriage were: Kate, wife of Arthur C. Baldwin, 
of Sedalia; Charles 1)., Joe M., and May, deceased. 

Charles D. was born in 1854, in this county, and 
has resided here all his iifc. He received a com- 
mon school education, and in 1883 married Miss 
Lillie (waves, daughter of T. C. Graves. Mr. 
Brown owns a good farm of seventy acres, where 
he does a general farming business. His post-oltice 
is Fairville, this county. Mr. Brown is a man who 
understands his business and is successful in it. 
He is pleasant to converse with, and holds the 
memory of his father in reverence, which of itself 
is much in his favor, however justly it is held in 
these days of rapid and perhaps necessarily some- 
what selfish living. Both Mr. and Mrs. Brown are 
members of the Baptist Church. 

Col. Brown was a Whig before the war, and, in- 
deed, up to the time of his death, the latter event 
occurring in 1861. He was earnest in politics, as 
in everything else, but was willing to allow eveiy 
man his honest belief, knowing that others, al- 
though they differed with him, might be true at 
heart. He was a Royal Arch Mason, and perhaps 
no higher compliment can be paid him than to say 
that he endeavored faithfully to live up to the re- 
quirements and vows of that order; for all who 
are at all familiar with Masonry know that it re- 
quires a high manhood and strict observance of 
those virtues that are the foundation of a Christian 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



303 



life. Parity, charity, and faith in God, — these 
virtues lie at the foundation of all others, and 
when a man has pledged himself to these, and hon- 
estly tries to keep that pledge, he is on the broad 
road to the highest manhood possible in this exist- 
ence. 







ARTIN ZIMMERMAN, a successful far- 
mer and stock-raiser of Saline County, re- 
sides on section 36, township 51, range 
21. He was born in Beuren, Baden, Ger- 
many, November 8, 1831, and grew to manhood 
in his native land. His parents, Wendall and 
Chriscentia Zimmerman, were natives of Germany, 
and the father was a farmer and an honored citi- 
zen of that country. 

When Baden rebelled in 1846, our subject took 
part in the strife. At the age of twenty-three, 
he emigrated to America and made his first loca- 
tion in Kentucky, where he remained about three 
years. In the spring of 1857, he came to Saline 
County, Mo., and engaged in farming for a Mr. 
Willis. He was industrious and economical, and 
in 1859 felt justified in asking Rosetta Suppie to 
share his fortunes. The following spring, he 
rented land and engaged in farming for himself, 
which occupation he has successfully followed ever 
since. 

During the war, our subject, like many others, 
lost all he had accumulated, and at the close of 
hostilities had to begin over again. He now owns 
three hundred and seventy-three acres on sections 
25 and 26, beside nine hundred and sixty acres in 
Texas, which are managed by his son Frank W. 
Ten children have blessed the union of Mr. and 
Mrs. Zimmerman, namely: George W., who married 
Laura Scarrett; Thomas II., who married Emma 
Sheldon; Frank W.; Annie M., wife of John Sheer, 
residing near Slater; Wendall M., a resident of 
Riverside, Cal.; Willie F., Minnie C, Ernest R., 
Eddie II. and Lizzie N. All are industrious 
young people, of whom their parents may be justly 
proud. Mrs. Zimmerman is a kind-hearted, ami- 



able lady, and is the daughter of German parents, 
her father, William Suppie, having been bom in 
Saxony, as was also his wife. 

In politics, our subject embraces the platform 
advanced by the Republican party and upholds it 
upon every occasion. His wife and children are 
members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 
but he is a Roman Catholic in religion. Upon his 
fine farm he carries on general fanning, but not- 
withstanding his extensive agricultural interests, 
he assists in all public enterprises and takes a deep 
interest in school matters, having been instru- 
mental in securing the establishment of the school 
near his home. His district is two miles square, 
and through his efforts is one of the best in the 
county. No one else has done more than he to- 
ward building up the school system in this county. 



s.^f?BB5d£^= 



i&mims 







'LEXANDER CHAPMAN CAMPBELL, 

our subject, is a man with an indexible 
sense of right, strong in his convictions of 
duty, fearless in the expression of his opin- 
ions, and upright in all his dealings. He is a 
farmer living on section 18, township 49, range 28, 
La Fayette County. His father. Aaron Campbell, 
a native of Virginia, was a son of Moses Camp- 
bell, who was a soldier in the French and Indian 
Wars. 

The mother of our subject was Grace (William- 
son) Campbell, a native of Virginia and daughter 
of James Williamson, who was likewise born in the 
Old Dominion. The father of our subject was an 
overseer in the iron works of Col. Callaway, of 
that State, for a number of years, and afterward 
removed to Logan County, Ky.. where the mother 
died in lHJ.'i. In the follow inu year Aaron Camp- 
bell removed to Missouri and bought over eight 
hundred acres of land, but lived with his sons, 
Henry, James and Joshua, who hail come hither at 
a very early day. lie was a faithful member of the 
Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and an honor- 
able man. Here he died five years afterward. Our 



304 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



subject bad ten brothers and sisters, three of whom 
are living, he being the youngest of the family. 

Our subject was born in Logan County, Ky., 
November 8, 1816. There he received a common- 
school education and remained until 1836, when 
he came to La Fayette County and lived with his 
brother-in-law, Robert Ewing, near Lexington, 
and there attended school. Some time after this 
he went to Louisiana, Mo., and entered the mer- 
cantile store of his brother, remaining thus em- 
ployed for seven years, when he returned to his 
father's place, and managed the slaves and large 
farm for one year. In 1847, he migrated to Texas, 
where he was a clerk for two and one-half years 
for another brother, who owned a store there. On 
his return to Missouri he became a merchant at 
Wellington. Some time later he took in a partner, 
William Ward, but sold out after two and one- 
half years thus spent. 

We next find Mr. Campbell engaged in agricul- 
tural pursuits. For twelve years he operated a 
farm, which he sold, and then purchased his pres- 
ent farm of two hundred and seven acres. At 
present he has one hundred and fifty-seven acres 
of improved land, on which there may be noticed 
a nice residence, substantial barns, an orchard, 
good fencing, etc., all the improvements having 
been made by himself. Formerly he engaged ex- 
tensively in sheep-raising, but now devotes his at- 
tention to the raising of wheat and corn, although 
he has some very fine cattle. 

October 2, 1849, Mr. Campbell married Margaret 
F., daughter of Thomas II. Oleas, an early settler 
of Saline County. Mrs. Campbell died January 
1, 1859, having been the mother of four children, 
namely: lone, Louisa S., Thomas H. and Nancy 
Eleanor. Mr. Campbell married again, April 26, 
1868, the maiden name of this wife being Louisa 
M. Bratton. Her parents, David and Charlotte 
Matilda (Cobb) Bratton, were natives of Tennes- 
see and South Carolina respectively, and her father 
was a soldier in the War of 1812. After his mar- 
riage, Mr. Bratton lived first in Tennessee, later 
in Kentucky for four years, then removed to Mis- 
souri in 1839, and settled in Sniabar Township, 
where he died in 1863. His wife was called hence in 
1876. Of the eleven children of that marriage. 



Mrs. Campbell is the only survivor. She was born 
in Sniabar Township June 28, 1841. Mr. and Mrs. 
Campbell are the parents of six children, namely: 
Matilda Grace, Eugene L., Charles Alexander, 
Mary Elizabeth, David Bratton and Patrick Henry. 
In their religious belief, Mr. and Mrs. Campbell 
are members of the Missionary Baptist Church, in 
which he is an active worker, and was at one time 
a teacher in the Sunday-school. He is a • warm 
friend of education, has served 11)1011 the School 
Board, and is giving his children efficient school 
instruction, his two eldest sons being students at 
Odessa College. In the old days he was a Whig, 
and afterward a Democrat in the time of Clay and 
Webster. He was much opposed to the Civil War, 
being outspoken in his denunciation of it; yet he 
continued to live in La Fayette County during its 
progress, when it was dangerous for anyone to re- 
main who held similar opinions. 



->-^=H>*<f 



Gpf II. w. SULLIVAN, M. D. The County of 
C-/ Saline, State of Missouri, numbers a ng 

til A her most honored and eminent citizens 
tig// many whose ancestors either first saw the 

light in the Land of the Shamrock, or are di- 
rectly descended from ancestors who emigrated 
from the green shores of Ireland. In this number 
belongs Dr. Sullivan, who traces his lineage to the 
Emerald Isle. 

The grandfather of our subject, Samuel Sullivan, 
was born in Pennsylvania, and he and his nine 
brothers entered the Colonial army, serving through 
the Revolutionary War. At a later day he mar- 
ried Miss Mary May field, who was a native of 
Virginia. Of this marriage, in 1820, was born the 
father of our subject, S. W., in Virginia. In 1829 
he was brought to the State of Missouri, and in 
early life he identified himself with the progress 
of the country and township in which he found a 
home. 

For eight years S. W. Sullivan lias held the 
office of Justice of the Peace, and for a long time 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



805 



he was active in religious affairs. Now. although 
advanced in years, lie is still hale and hearty. 
Be married Elizabeth Keifer, a native of Virginia, 
born September 30, 1822, and they became the 
parents of thirteen children, six of whom are yet 
living. 15. F. was born in Saline County, Mo., in 
1844, married Miss Elizabeth Witt, and they re- 
side in Miami Township, where he is engaged in 
farming; S.J. was born in Saline County, married 
Miss Mary McLain, and they reside in Saline 
County, where he is a farmer; T. W. was born in 
Saline County, married Miss Mary Millsap, and 
engages in farming in Saline County; P. G. was 
born in this county, and resides with his father; 
.lane Hannah S. was born in this county in 180 1 
and married John Witt. 

The birth of our subject took place in Saline 
County, Mo., in 1841. lie was educated in the 
schools of that place, and then engaged in the 
study of medicine. He was not permitted at that 
time to continue his study, on account of the dis- 
turbed condition of the country. In 1862 be 
joined the State militia, remaining with them 
a year, and m the spring of 1863 he volunteered 
in the Ninth Missouri Regiment of cavalry under 
Col. Oden Guitar and Capt. II. S. Glaze. His 
company was reported at Mitchell and Lexington, 
and they remained a year engaged in the different 
skirmishes around the country, among which was 
the battle of Fa.yette. 

Until 1865 our subject served his country in 
the field, and was then detailed to the hospital to 
practice. After the close of the war he practiced 
medicine for five years in Saline County, and at 
the expiration of that time he attended a course 
of medical studies at the University of Iowa at 
Keokuk; lie was graduated in 1871, when he again 
returned to his native place, and engaged in the 
practice of his profession. In 1883 he entered the 
College of Physicians and Surgeons at St. Louis. 
and there remained six months, when he again re- 
sumed practice at his old home. 

Dr. Sullivan is President of the Board of United 
States Pension Examiners at Marshall, and a mem- 
ber of the Society of Physicians and Surgeons. In 
addition to the practice of medicine, he devotes 
considerable attention to the management of his 



large and well-improved farm of twelve hundred 
■nil-. He is a member of the Cumberland Presby- 
terian Church, as are also his wife and four chil- 
dren. Dr. Sullivan is a liberal supporter of all 
charitable^institutions, ancUa man who stands well 
with all classes. Socially he is a member of the 
Masonic order, and of the Independent Order of 
Odd Fellows, and in the latter he has filled all of the 
chairs. Politically he is an earnest Republican, 
and while never an aspirant for office, he has 
taken an active part in the political affairs of the 
county of Saline. 

July 20, 1866, Dr. Sullivan married Miss Man- 
Cooper, a native of Saline County , ".Mo., and the 
daughter of Tobias and Mary (Woolscale) Cooper, 
early residents of this State,' Cooper Fort being 
named in honor of his grandfather. Mrs. Mary 
Sullivan died Augusl 13, 1866. The Doctor took 
for his second wife Miss Mary Andsley, to whom 
he was married on the 23d of December, 1866. 
This lady was born in Saline County, April 13, 
1851, the daughter of Joseph and Mary (White- 
head) Andsley, natives of England. Of this union 
nine children were born, as follows: Tempest E. J. 
born September 28, 1867; Amos W., March 21, 
1870; Frank II., June 2, 1872; Belladonna, Feb- 
ruary 17, 1875; Mary E., October 25, 1876; Bertha 
<;.. September 25, 1880; Hazzard, February 25. 
1884; Boyd L., December 16, 1886; and Lloyd 
W. March 18, 188'J. All the children are living 
with the exception of Belladonna, who died at 
her birth. 



/p^EORUF A. CAMPBELL is a prominent 
III (=- farmer in Washington Township. LaFay- 

V_J ette ('.unity. A native of Washington 
County. Va., he was born September 10, 1843, and 
came to LaFayctte County in company with his 
father in 1854. The elder Mr. Campbell was a man 
of considerable note and influence in Virginia, so 
much so thai in 1890, many years after leaving 



306 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



bis Virginia home, his name was carved in the 
corner-stone of the new Presbyterian Church that 
was built in his native town. 

J. N. Campbell married Miss Sallie McChesney, 
of the same locality as was he. They were the 
parents of eleven children, six boys and five girls. 
Our subject's great-grandfather on the paternal 
side was a Brigadier-General in the Revolutionary 
War. and was breveted for gallantry at the battle 
of King's Mountain. He died at Yorktown just 
before the surrender. 

On entering manhood, George A. Campbell 
joined the Confederate army in 1862. He was in 
Gen. Joe Shelby's Brigade, and followed him until 
October 28, 1864, when he was wounded at the 
battle of Newtonia. He was left on the battlefield 
for dead, but on recovering consciousness was 
taken prisoner and confined at Alton, 111., until 
the following June, when he was released. Mr. 
Campbell still has the bullet with which he was 
wounded in his possession, keeping it as a memento 
of the Second Colorado Cavalry. 

Our subject was married at the age of twenty- 
four years to Miss Jennie Barnett, the eldest daugh- 
ter of Judge F. E. Harnett, of La Fayette County, 
and one of Nature's noblemen. Mrs. Campbell is 
one of a family of seven children, there being four 
sons and three daughters. After the war Mr. 
Campbell started out in life with very little money. 
but he was possessed of an unmeasured amount 
of ambition. He has made a pronounced success 
of the calling to which he has devoted his atten- 
tion, and has amassed a comfortable competency. 
Although not a college graduate, be acquired in 
the common schools a good, practical education 
that has enabled him to hold his own with men of 
brains. 

A leader in the People's part}', Mr. Campbell has 
always been a friend of labor and of laboring men. 
He was elected delegate to the National Convention 
of the People's party which met at Omaha, and at 
which Gen. Weaver was nominated for the Chief 
Executive, but at his request Mr. Siusher took his 
place. He is purchasing agent for the members of 
the Farmers' and Laborers' Union of this county, 
and in that position handles thousands of dollars 
annually, but such is his reputation for probity 



that he has never been asked to give a bond for 
the faithful performance of his duties. Mr. Camp- 
bell has a tine farm, comprising three hundred and 
twenty acres, which has upon it most excellent im- 
provements. His home is as attractive as the ef- 
forts of a model housewife can make it. Their 
union has been blessed by the birth of eight chil- 
dren, of whom five are living, namely: Sallie, 
Thomas L.. Fiudley K., Susie and Rosie. 



*7|rt;i'ST[S W. WILLIS. In looking 
i@/u| l through a volume like the one in hand, 

/ ' the cursory reader cannot but wonder as 
<^j) to the circumstances and reasons that have 

brought together in one loealit\ - representatives of 
so many States and nations. Our subject, who is 
a resident of section 14, Dover Township, Lafay- 
ette County, is a native of Carroll County, this 
State, and was born August 2, 1847, a son of John 
and Flizabeth (Spencer) Willis, both natives of 
Maryland. His parents married in their native 
State, and soon afterward moved to Missouri, for 
what reason we do not know. 

Doubtless the newness of the country filled our 
subject's boyish mind with wonder, but there were 
passable schools, where he acquired the foundations 
of a good education, and he spent much time in 
helping his father on the farm. At the age of 
twenty-one, he began farming on his own account 
and has ever since conducted a general agricul- 
tural business. He is now the owner of two hun- 
dred and eighty acres of excellent land, all of 
which is highly cultivated and well improved. 

On the 24th of December, 1868, Mr. Willis mar- 
ried Miss Susan V., a daughter of John W. Eppes, 
a native of South Carolina, who moved to Missouri . 
in 1866. Mr. and Mrs. Willis are the parents of 
five sons and three daughters. Their names are: 
Edward S., John W., Claude R., Elizabeth S., 
Blanche M., Forest L., Louis F. and a baby girl, 
not jet named at this writing. They are all in- 
teresting young people who promise to become 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



307 



valued citizens in whatever portion of the coun- 
try their Iota may lie cast. 

Mr. Willis is in politics a stanch Democrat, and 
through the years during which his party was in 
eclipse until the present time,, when they are still 
rejoicing in their brilliant success, has had the 
strength to abide by his convictions. Mrs. Willis 
is a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church South, and in all the good works con- 
nected with the body in which she is interested 
is ready to act in any capacity. 



-S 



3+£ 



(=_ 



"S 



OBERT L. HARVEY is one of the citizens 
( who have ever striven for the besl interests 
^ \\\ of Slater, where he has been a resident for 
V£) a number of years, and whose loyalty and 
single-mindedness have been rewarded by his fel- 
low-citizens by an election to the highest office 
which is m their power to confer, that of the May- 
oralty of the city. Since assuming the duties be- 
longing to the office Mr. Harvey has proved 
himself entirely worthy of the high trust and con- 
fidence which are reposed in him. He was horn in 
Fayette, Howard County, this State, November l. 
1834. He was reared in Boonville, which was his 
home until nineteen years of age. He there re- 
ceived the major portion of his education, and 
later attended the Howard High School in Fay- 
ette. 

(>n leaving Boonville, Mayor Harvey came to 
Saline County, and, entering the family of an 
uncle, made his home on that uncle's farm for 
about two years, lie then learned the carpenter's 
trade, to which he served a full apprenticeship. 
He followed that trade until 1884, and during the 
time was very successful in his business undertak- 
ings. Since then he has given his attention en- 
tirely to the public interests. 

Mr. Harvey was elected Mayor of Slater in 
April of 1883, and has held the office ever since. 
At the same time he performed the duties of Jus- 
tice of the Peace holding that otlice from March, 



L885, to November, 181)0. lie has always taken an 
active interest in local affairs. In 1861 Mr. Har- 
vey enlisted in Col. McCowan's Battalion in the 
Confederate service, and gave about two years to 
the lost cause, lie was taken a prisoner near Ft. 
Scott, Ivan., in 1864, and was confined in St. Louis 
until the close of the war. 

Fraternally, our subject was a member of Cam- 
bridge Lodge of the Free and Accepted Masons, 
belonging to Lodge No. 63. lie was .Master of 
the lodge for fourteen consecutive years, belong- 
ing to Slater Chapter No. 112. He also belongs 
to the Order of United Workmen. Mr. Harvey 
of Slater was married in Cambridge, this county, 
October 13, 1857, his bride being Miss Sarah E., 
a daughter of the late Rev. William II. Porter, 
who was an old settler and clergyman in Saline 
County. Mrs. Harvey was born in St. Louis, Mo. 
Mr. and Mrs. Harvey have been the parents of six 
children. The eldest son, George W.. died in 
childhood. Emma is the wife of James M. Watts. 
The other children are: Sidney J., Mary II., Rob- 
ert W. and Bessie II. Mary became the wife of 
T. II. Gibbs, and died in Mexico at the age of 
twenty-two years. 



♦=•$•= 



_J 






ylCIIARD P. WALL, a successful farmer of 
Saline County, owning a good farm and a 
tfc \\\ substantial residence, all of which he can at- 
tribute to his own energy and skillful labor, 
was born in Shelby County. Ky.. October 24, 1831. 
His father was Preston II. Wall, also of Shelby 
County, and born in 1800; while his grandfather, 
William Wall, was of Southern birth and earlj 
settledin the county mentioned above. He was 
a farmer, also a soldier in the War of 1*12. and 
died at a ripe old age. 

The father of Richard P., a fanner by occupation, 
emigrated to Andrew County. Mo., and settled 
aear St. Joseph in 1*12. moving to Texas in 1844, 
and back to Missouri m 1846, this time locating 



308 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



near Boonville. He returned to Texas on a visit 
in 1853, and died there, being buried in Grayson 
County. He was a member of the Baptist Church. 
The mother of Richard was, before her marriage, 
Miss Elizabeth Brown, of Shelby County. Ky. She 
was themotherof thirteen children, eight of whom 
lived to maturity. After her death, which occurred 
in IS lit, the father again married, and one child 
was born of his second union. 

Mr. Wall has three brothers and three sisters liv- 
ing. The eldest brother, John B., now a farmer 
near Pomona, Cal., served in the Confederate army 
during the war. Another brother, Henson D., lives 
in Cass County, Neb., and is now a farmer, but was 
a photographer for many years having gone to 
Nebraska at the close of the war. Harrison I... of 
Pierce City, Lawrence 1 County, Mo., is a plasterer 
by trade. Harriett J. became the wife of George C. 
Dugan, and in pioneer days they located in Texas, 
where he fought the Indians and in time became 
very wealthy. Ann E. is the wife of Charles Miller, 
of Grayson County. Tex., a very successful fanner. 
Mary E. is the wife of Richard Smith a farmer in 
Cuss County. Mo. Preston D. served in the Con- 
federate army and was killed in the siege of Vicks- 
burg. 

The school advantages enjoyed by our subject 
were limited to about three months each year. 
The country here was very wild in his boyhood 
days, and deer and other game abounded. The 
subject of our sketch started out as a farmer in 
1852 in Cooper County, one year later removing to 
Arrow Rock, Saline County, and in 1857 locating 
in Kansas City. In I860 he crossed the plains to 
Mexico, and returning in the fall of the same year 
purchased his present farm on section 28, township 
19, range 22, where he has since resided. Almost 
every acre was covered with brush, and the clear- 
ing necessitated a great amount of hard work, 
which he has not hesitated to put upon it, clearing 
and improving very extensively. 

May 19, 1853, Mr. Wall married Eliza .1. Ilawpe, 
of Saline County, who died in 1854. Twochildren, 
twins, were born of this marriage, but both died of 
scarlet fever, when about one year old. Mr. Wall 
married for his second wife Amanda F. (lark, of 
Cooper County, this State, the marriage occurring 



March 21, 1861. The children of this marriage 
were: Ida M., deceased, who left a child, Harry H. 
Miller; Ella, wife of James Clark, a lumber mer- 
chant of Lainonte, Pettis County; Hattie A., and 
Richard L. 

Mr. Wall owns two hundred and eighty acres of 
land, which is in good condition. He raises mules 
extensively, but deals also in other stock, and, 
starting with nothing, furnishes another example 
of what it is possible for a man to do for himself. 
He participated in the Price raid, and carries a 
bullet in his leg to this day as a memento of it. 
lie was wounded in the battle of Mine Creek, and 
was a member of the escort of Gen. Marmaduke. 
He is a Democrat. Socially, he is a member of 
Friendship Lodge No. 40, I. O. O. F., also of the 
Ancient Order of United Workmen. Both he and 
his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church South, of which he is Trustee, and has served 
in the capacity of Steward for several years. 



' i ' i < - 



^ AMES LOPER. a well-known farmer, and 
one of the prominent citizens of Saline 
County, claims Indiana as the State of his 
nativity, lie was born in 1845, and is a 
son of Napoleon Bonaparte Loper. The family 
was founded in America by emigrants from Hol- 
land, who settled in this country in Colonial days. 
The grandfather of our subject, James Loper, Sr., 
removed from New Jersey to Indiana about 1817. 
He was an extensive' farmer and speculator, and 
on removing to the Buckeye State located first in 
Cincinnati, which was then a small village. Sub- 
sequently he removed to a farm and established a 
tavern, and around him sprang up a little town, 
to which the name of Fairfield was given. He 
and his wife there died, leaving several children, 
one of whom, John, resides in Fairfield, Ind.,atan 
advanced age. 

N. B. Loper was born in New Jersey, in 1811, 
about fifty miles from Philadelphia, and ac- 
companied his parents on their removal to Indiana. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



309 



He married Mary Paty, daughter of James Paty, 
of Tennessee, and after his marriage encaged in 
teaming from Fairfield to Cincinnati. He after- 
ward engaged in farming in Decatur County, 
where he reared li is family. When our subject 
was a lad of fourteen years, the father removed to 
Lawrence County, 111., where he carried on agri- 
cultural pursuits for six years, and then became a 
resident of Davis County, Mo., where he spent the 
succeeding four years of his life. His next place 
of residence was in La Fayette County, where he 
spent four years, and was then called to the home 
beyond. His wife had died in Indiana about 1853, 
and he had been married a second time, the lady 
of his choice being Mrs. Cox, and by that union 
was born a daughter, Josephine. By the first mar- 
riage were born ten children, of whom three are yet 
living: William L., a resident of Nebraska; James, 
of this sketch; and Margaret, wife of George Pur- 
vis, who is living in Indiana. 

Under the parental roof the subject of this 
sketch was reared to manhood, and to farm work 
he devoted much of his time during his boyhood 
days. With his parents he came to Missouri. 
Having attained to mature years he was married 
in Illinois, September 19, 1861, to Miss Mary E., 
daughter of David E. Appling, of Kentucky. Her 
grandfather was Joel Appling, a native of Vir- 
ginia, who at an early day removed to Ken- 
tucky r . His wife bore the maiden name of Sarah 
Breadlove. They had a. family of eight sons and 
three daughters. David Appling married Sarah 
A. Morgan, daughter of Joseph Morgan, of Logan 
County, Ky. They were of the same family as 
Gen. Morgan, the noted Southern cavalryman. 
For many years Mr. Appling engaged in farming 
in Kansas. He died in June, 1882, but his widow 
is still living and makes her home in Wichita. 
They had a family of seven sons and live daugh- 
ters, of whom the following are now living: Win- 
field, a resident of Kansas; Wesley, who makes his 
home in Nelson, Mo.; Fillmore, a resident of Kan- 
sas; Sidney, who is located in Nebraska; Ella, 
wife of William Dominy, of Nebraska; Mattie, who 
is living in Kansas; and Mary E.. wife of our miI>- 
jeet, who was born in Logan County, Ky. 

On leaving Illinois, Mr. Loper returned to In- 



diana, where he engaged in operating a sawmill 
for two years. In 1867, he removed to Davis 
County, Mo., where he spent one year, and then 
went to LaFayette County, where he remained un- 
til 1880. In that year he came to Saline County 
and leased the farm on which he now resides. It 
comprises two hundred and forty acres of land, 
and in 1892 became his by purchase. Almost the 
entire amount is under a high state of cultivation 
and well improved, and our .subject is now suc- 
cessfully carrying on general farming. 

During the late war, Mr. Loper supported the 
Union, aud in 1861 enlisted in the One Hundred 
and Thirty-fifth Illinois Infantry, in which he 
served for about live months under (Jen. Rosecrans. 
In politics, he is a supporter of the People's party, 
and socially, is a Knight Templar Mason, belong- 
ing to Missouri Commandery, No. 36, K. T., of 
Marshall. He also holds membership with the An- 
cient Order of I'nited Workmen. Unto Mr. and 
Mrs. Loper have been born two children: Amaziah, 
who married Miss Carrie Price, and now resides on 
the old home farm; and Albert L., who wedded 
Miss Nellie Young, of Nebraska. The parents are 
both widely and favorably known in this com- 
munity, and by their large circle of acquaintances 
and friends are held in the highest esteem. 



.? i-.J- 



*£» 



'| SRAEL G. DYER is another of the prominent 
and successful farmers of Saline County whose 
; parents came from Virginia and Kentucky. So 
well are those Stales represented in this county, 
and so fully have (heir representatives proven 
themselves strong and worthy citizens, that we are 
ready and anxious to welcome any number of 
newcomers from the same section. 

Mr. Dyer owns a valuable farm of one hundred 
and ninety-six acres, located in section 3, town- 
ship 50, range 22. The land has been brought to 
its present nourishing condition by himself and 
family, which fact makes the home all the more 
interesting. A pari of this property was pur- 



310 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



chased by Mr. Dyer in January, 1868, at which 
time he first came to Saline County. He became 
the possessor then of one hundred and sixty acres 
of unimproved land, which he proceeded to break. 
Having added to that later, the result of his in- 
dustry and good management is seen in his present 
farm. 

Mi. Dyer is of English descent, his grandfather 
Dyer having been a native of England. The lat- 
ter gentleman was an only son, and came to Am- 
erica probably a single man. His home subse- 
quently was in Virginia, where he reared a family of 
live sons and one daughter. These children were: 
Samuel, William, John, Frank, Robert and Nancy. 
The latter married a Mr. Payne. All but Frank 
and the sister came to Missouri and reared families. 

The gentleman whose name heads this sketch 
was burn in Callaway County, Mo., in 1836, being 
the eighth in a family of ten children, whose par- 
ents were John and Evaline (Warren) Dyer. The 
mother was a daughter of William Warren, of 
Virginia. The senior Mr. Dyer came to St. Louis 
about L820, when it was a small French village. 
and soon located in Callaway County, where he 
and his wife met and married. His family consisted 
of Sarah, who married John Ellis; Helen, wife of 
William Bloomfield, of New Orleans; Samuel W., 
who died in New Orleans; Minnie, deceased, who 
was the wife of Frank Huntington, now also de- 
ceased, and both of whom died in Callaway 
County; Emily, wife of Henry C. Wells, of 
Columbia, Mo.; Nan 113-, wife of E. H. Manchester, 
of California; a child who died in infancy; the 
subject of this sketch; Celia 1!., whose husband is 
Theodore Harvey; and one other who died young. 

Israel G. Dyer grew to manhood in Callaway 
County, and in I860 went to Nevada, where he re- 
mained six years, engaged in timbering and freight- 
ing. In 1866, he returned to Callaway County, 
and in January, 1868, came to Saline County, as 
mentioned at the beginning of this sketch. In 
L870, Mr. Dyer followed the Bible teaching that 
" it is not good for man to be alone,'" by marry- 
ing Miss Bell, daughter of James Irvine. They 
have been the parents of eleven children, eight of 
whom are still living. These children were: War- 
ren, Anna, and an infant, all deceased; Gertrude, 



Nellie, John, Ernest, Roy, Emmet, Lester and 
Helen. 

Mr. Dyer does a general farming business, and 
is the owner of one of the finest pieces of property 
in the county. He is a Democrat, as were all his 
family, and is a man who stands by his convictions 
and is true to his beliefs. He has the strength 
and solidity that might be expected from his an- 
cestry, and is a worthy citizen of this flourishing 
county. He and his family are members of the 
Presbyterian Church. 



aHARLESE. MEINKRSIIAGEN. Our sub- 
. ject belongs to a little colony of Ger- 
man American farmers who spied out the 
goodly lands of La Fayette County, and have 
there become prominent citizens. Mr. Meiner- 
shagen resides on section 2, township 49, range 26, 
where he devotes his attention to general farming 
and stock-raising. He is himself a native of this 
State, having been born in Warren County, May 
15, 1847; but his parents, William and Minnie 
Meinershagen,are both natives of Germany. When 
a young man, our subject's father emigrated to 
the United States, our subject's mother also hav- 
ing come hither in her girlhood. After their mar- 
riage they settled in Warren County, and later 
came to La Fayette County, where they now re- 
side. 

Beside our subject, his parents had the following 
children: Henry, Herman, Frederick Charles, Cath- 
erine (Mrs. H. A. Schoppenhorst), August, and An- 
nie (wife of Charles Shaffer). Charles was reared 
to man's estate in his native county. He was 
early taught the secrets of husbandry, and has de- 
voted his life thus far to reaping a competency 
from mother earth. As a boy he received the ad- 
vantages of the public schools in his native county, 
and for a short time was a student at the Cen- 
tral Methodist College, at Warrenton, this State. 
Ilis is a keen and well-balanced mind, and like 





/Zdo^i^^r^. 



^fyp-ruy^ 





'^<m^>tmy 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



313 



most of our American citizens, lie is thoroughly 
posted in both national matters and local affairs. 
The original of this sketch was married March 
29, 1871, to Miss Hannah Ilackmann, a daughtei 
of Henry Ilackmann, of Warren County. She has 
made him a good wife, and is a capable and pru- 
dent head of the household. They have been the 
parents of eight children, whose names are Will- 
iam, Samuel, Charles. George, Mate, Clara, Nettie 
and Lama. Our subject came to La Fayette 
County in the fall of 1872, and has made his home 
here ever since. lie has a fine farm, which com- 
prises one hundred and fifty-eighty acres of land, 
all of which is well-cultivated. He has been elected 
to several responsible positions in the township. 
He has served as School Director for several years, 
and is greatly interested in the new methods that 
are raising our present system so far above anything 
before known in an educational way. In politics, 
he is a Republican. He is a member of the Evan- 
gelical Church, as were his parents before him. 










bURNER WILLIAMSON, the well-known 
and honored President of the Citizens' 
Hank of Iligginsville, is among the able and 
representative citizens who, settling in Missouri at 
a very early day, have been closely identilied with 
the progress of the Southwest. A full half-century 
has passed since our subject came into the then 
new and sparsely populated locality destined to 
be his lifetime home. The store of reminiscences 
possessed by Mr. Williamson is of great interest 
and incalculable value, as illustrating the wonder- 
ful advancement of our Nation, and clearly indi- 
cating the resolute endurance, self-reliance and 
heroic sacrifices of the pioneer men and women of 
America. 

Our subject was born near Georgetown, Scott 
County, Ky., November la, 1820. The Williamson 
family is of Welsh descent, their ancestors haying 
been honest, industrious people, who early settled 
in America. Grandfather Williamson was an ex- 
tensive farmer in Kentucky, widely known and 

15 



highly respected, who for many years had made 
his home in Virginia. There Anderson Williamson, 
father of our subject, was bom, in Culpeper County, 
and was but a little lad when he removed with his 
parents from the Old Dominion and settled in 
Scott County, Ky. In the latter State he lived 
and died, passing away in Paris, after a long life 
devoted mainly to agricultural pursuits. He was a 
brave man and a good citizen, and fought in the 
War of 1812. His wife, Hester Johnson, was also 
a native of Culpeper County, Va., and came with 
her parents to Kentucky, where they resided until 
their death. She was the mother of eleven chil- 
dren, of whom ten survived to adult age. 

Turner Williamson was reared upon his father's 
farm in Scott County until seven years of age, 
when the family removed to Paris, Bourbon 
County. He attended private schools, and when 
fifteen years old was apprenticed to a millwright, 
in whose service he remained for five years. At- 
taining his majority in 1841, he determined to 
try the Western field of Missouri, and first went 
to Glasgow, Howard County, and later settled 
in Lexington, then a small town in La Fayette 
County. Here, and in the immediate neighbor- 
hood, he remained fifteen years. He built a large 
mill in Lexington, also erected several in Ray 
County, and one in Utica, Livingston County. Af- 
ter a time he bought a farm in Clay Township, and 
engaged in agricultural pursuits, still continuing 
his trade as occasion demanded. During the gold 
excitement, he made an overland trip to Cali- 
fornia in 1852, spending four months en route. 

Upon his large farm of one thousand acres, located 
within one mile of the Missouri River, our subject 
raised hemp and tobacco, and dealt in stock, raising 
and selling many fine horses. He suffered severe 
losses during the war, as did so many citizens, tint 
was undaunted by misfortune. Always ready to 
assir,t in local improvements, he gave the right of 
way to the" Missouri Pacific Railroad. He built 
some of the first houses in Wellington, and was 
among the chief promoters of the Wellington 
Bank, in which he still continues to hold stock. 
Mr. Williamson was also one of the organizers of 
the Mercer Rank, at Lexington, in which he is a 
stockholder, and has served as one of the Bank Di- 



314 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



rectors. In 1890 he disposed of his farm and re- 
moved to Independence, whence, after a sojourn of 
but six months, he came to Higginsville and organ- 
ized the Citizens' Bank with a capital of $30,000. Of 
this flourishing financial institution he is President, 
as well as one of the Directors, and has been the 
chief factor in its present prosperity. Mr. William- 
son was married in Jackson County, Mo., in 18.">2, to 
Miss Dicy Cox, a native of that county. A large 
family of children blessed their home, and nine sons 
and daughters are yet living. William resides near 
Emporia, Kan., and is an extensive farmer of that 
stale. Richard is a merchant in Buckner, Jackson 
County; Lee is also a merchant, and is engaged in 
business in Saline County; Thomas follows mer- 
cantile pursuits in Buckner; Renick is a druggist of 
Higginsville; Burt is at home; Lizzie, Mrs. Ragland, 
resides in Higginsville; Lena remains with her par- 
ents; and Sally, Mrs. Thurman, lives near Lexing- 
ton. Our subject and his family occupy leading 
positions in the business and social enterprises of 
their various homes, and have ever commanded 
the respect and high esteem of the general public. 
Mr. Williamson served ably as Highway Commis- 
sioner of his township for four years, and has been 
a most efficient School Director for the same length 
of time. He is a prominent Democrat, has been a 
member of the County Committee, and has repre- 
sented bis political friends at State and county 
conventions. He was present on the morning 
when the now prosperous city of St. Joseph, Mo., 
was surveyed and staked out, and, an intelligent 
observer of the rapid growth of the broad West, 
has materially aided in the prosperous advance- 
ment of his adopted State. 



eHARLES NIEMEIER, a prosperous agricul- 
turist and highly respected citizen, resides 
in township 50, range 19, near Arrow Rock, 
Saline County, Mo. Our subject was born June 2, 
1850, in Hildesheim, Hanover. He is a stone-ma- 
son and brick-layer by trade, and worked at that 
business in the (lid Country, bunding in Boston, 



April 3, 1870, our subject went to St. Charles, Mo., 
where he remained six years, working at his trade. 
In 1876, he came to Saline County, near Saline 
City, and bought land, which he cultivated until 
1883, when he purchased the old Benjamin Hus- 
ton place, three and a-half miles from Arrow Rock, 
and now resides there. 

Mr. Niemeier married, September 14, 1877, Miss 
Mary Brend, at Sweet Springs, Saline County. Our 
subject ami his wife have six children, three sons 
and three daughters: Fritz, Henry, August. Lena, 
Annie, and {Catherine. All of the family are 
at home, and the older ones are now acquiring 
their education in the excellent home schools of 
the neighborhood. Mr. Niemeier now owns and 
cultivates two hundred and twenty-two acres of 
excellent land. Through his ability and energy, 
he has won liis way upward. Arriving in St. 
Charles with only fifteen cents in his pocket, he 
has gained an ample competence and now enjoys 
the fruit of his labor in the satisfaction which 
honest industry is sure to confer upon its posses- 
sor. The handsome acreage, yielding to the intel- 
ligent and patient culture of our subject, increases 
in value year by year. His practical knowledge 
of stock-raising has made him much money, and 
he is now numbered among the leading farmers of 
the county. 

The father of our subject was August Niemeier, 
who was born and died in Waldesheim. His mo- 
ther was Doras and is now living at home. The 
father died February 22, 1884. Mr. Niemeier had a 
brother, Fritz, who died at the age of seven years. 
Of his sisters, two, Augusta and' Lena, live in 
Lincoln County, Mo., and three, Bett3 r , Johanna 
and Bertha, still reside in Germany. Augusta is 
the wife of John Steffen, and Lena is the widow of 
Fritz Mier. Few of the farming properties of Sa- 
line County present a more attractive appearance 
than the homestead of Mr. Niemeier, which shows 
the results obtainable by thrift and energy. The 
residence is commodious and well planned, and the 
outbuildings are all in line order. The Short- 
horns and Polled-Angus and his superior breed of 
hogs are noted throughout the county as the best 
of their kind. Comfort and plenty abound, and 
all that our subject owns has been gained by his 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



315 



own self-reliant work and excellent management. 
An :ible, earnesl and law-abiding citizen, .Mr. Nie- 
meier has worthily won the esteem and friendship 
of the neighbors and the general community 
among whom he has passed so many long- years. 



^§>*<§^ 




ANI EL SNIDER. Among the fanners 
and stock-growers of La Fayette County, 
Mo., our subject occupies a prominent 
position. His fine farm of eighty-two 
and one-half a< res is located in township 79, range 
26, where he engages in farming' and stock-raising 
very successfully. The birth of our subject tools 
place in Rockbridge County, Va., June 23, 1825, a 
son of John and Sallie Snider, his father a native 
of Pennsylvania, and his mother of Virginia. To 
the latter State, John Snider came with his Ger- 
man parents when but five years of age, remaining 
there until the close of his life. 

Our subject grew up a Virginian youth and 
schoolboy, imbibing those principles which made 
of him a good Confederate soldier through one 
important year of the Civil War. He took part in 
the battle at Hatchie's Run, and while lighting 
bravely in front of Petersburg was wounded, 
necessitating a confinement in the hospital a short 
time before the surrender of Richmond. After the 
giving up of this stronghold of the Confederacy, 
our subject returned home. His prospects in his 
native State were not very flattering, and in 1868 
he decided to remove with his family across the 
Mississippi River. 

The marriage of our subject was celebrated Feb- 
ruary 17, 1848, with Miss Elizabeth Golladay, a 
native of Augusta County, Va., born in 1824, a 
daughter of John Golladay. This union was 
blessed with nine children, only three of whom 
have been spared to their affectionate parents. 
These are John; Ida, the wife of Andrew Foster; 
and Newton E. Mr. Snider has become one of the 
well-known men in the county and from his ex- 
cellent methods of managing 1 1 1 — farm produces 



more satisfactory results than many enjoy from a 
much larger acreage of land. 

The removal of our subject and his family to 
Missouri took place in 1868, when he located first 
in Carroll County, where he remained for three 
years; then in 187] he entered La Fayette County, 
and settled upon the farm where he has since made 
his home. There seem to be no two opinions 
concerning this fine old county. The people are 
good and honest, the climate healthful and bracing 
and the land as fertile as any in the State. The 
political opinions of our subject are of the Stanch- 
es t Democratic brand. He firmly believes in these 
principles, upholding them upon every necessary- 
occasion. Mr. Snider is a self-made man, and as 
such deserves the credit which is everywhere ac- 
corded him. 



DEMPLETON C. McMAHAN, whose wife is 

the founder of the well-known academy of 
instruction, the McMahan Institute, located 
in Arrow Rock, is highly respected in the com- 
munity among whom lie lias dw r elt fully two-score 
years, lie is a native of Cooper County, Mo., and 
was born October 1(1, 1830. The McMahan family 
is of Scotch-Irish descent. Three brothers of the 
family, born in Ireland, separated in early youth, 
one of them going to France and there founding 
a family, from which sprang the illustrious de- 
scendant, lien. McMahan. upon whom Napoleon 
III conferred on the battle-field the rank of Mar- 
shal of France, and the title of Duke of Magenta- 
The two young Irishmen who came to America 
-el t led in Kentucky. 

Grandfather Samuel McMahan came to Missouri 
from Kentucky in the fall of 1810, and located in 
Cooper County, then in the heart of a wilderness. 
Soon after his arrival in his new home, he drove 
a herd of cattle to ( oles Fort, and while on his re- 
turn trip to his family, was brutally waylaid and 
-lain by tin- Indians, about two miles from Boon- 



316 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ville, Cooper County. He was the father of five 
sons: William ('.. the father of oursubject; Samuel 
W., Thomas, John W.. and Jesse. William C. Mc- 
Mahan was born in Madison County, Ky., in 1803, 

and removed to Missouri with his father when but 
a lad of seven years. He married Miss Sarah Hus- 
ton, a daughter of Benjamin and Polly Huston, of 
Cooper County, Mo. After his marriage he settled 
upon land of his own near his old home, and died 
in the place where his children were born, and 
where all the associations of mature life were en- 
joyed. He passed away in 1866, universally la- 
mented, and his good wife died in Arrow Rock in 
is 7 2. 

The children of these early pioneers were: Ben- 
jamin F.; Sarah. Mis. Warren Adkisson, residing 
in Marshall, Mo.; Templeton ('., our subject; Mary 
.lane, deceased; William P.; John II.; Jesse and 
Adeline deceased. The surviving children are 
widely known as citizens of undoubted integrity 
and honor. Our subject received his early educa- 
tion in the subscription schools of his county, and 
in his boyhood worked upon his father's farm. 
At twenty years of age he went to Arrow Rock, 
and obtained a position in the store of his uncle, 
Jesse McMahan. in 1849. lie next taught school 
for a few years in Cooper and Saline Counties. 

In 18f>8, Mr. McMahan was united in marriage 
with Miss Sarah E. r daughter of W. W. and Sarah 
MeJilton. By this marriage three children were 
born: William E.; Nina, the wife of Coleman Kib- 
ler, of Saline County; and Joseph, deceased. Mr. 
McMahan settled in Arrow Rock about the time of 
his marriage, and was competent to handie mer- 
chandise or pursue^ his trade of carpenter and 
builder. He was also an instructor of merit and 
ability, and for some years after his marriage 
profitably engaged in the commission business. 

The first wife of our subject died in 1862, and 
Mr. McMahan was married to Miss A. M. Reid in 
1870. This estimable lady is the daughter of Jesse 
and Margaret P. Reid, of Cooper County. The 
children of this union are Carl T., Aster R. and 
Marc E. The Reid family is of Irish descent. 
The paternal grandfather of Mrs. McMahan was 
William Reid, a Virginian, who settled in Ken- 
tucky, and engaged in the Wnrof ]<S12. He after- 



ward removed to Missouri, locating in Cooper 
County, two miles below Arrow Rock. His wife, 
Anna, was the daughter of David Jones, who was in 
the American army at the surrender of Cornwallis. 
The father of Mrs. McMahan, Jesse Reid, was one 
of a large family of children, and the first white 
child born in Cooper County, the date of his na- 
tivity being March, 1813, and the place of his 
birth the old Reid homestead. While he was an 
infant his parents were forced at times to take 
refuge at Cooper's Fort from the hostile Indians. 
The wife of Mr. Reid was Margaret Kineheloe, 
daughter of Joseph and Martha (Edwards) Kin- 
eheloe. of Breckenridge County, Ky. Mr. and Mrs. 
Jesse Reid were married In September, 1833, and 
resided on their farm in Cooper County and in 
Arrow Rock. Their five children were daughters: 
Anna, Mrs. Reid; Susan, deceased, formerly the 
wife of Christy Turley; Rebecca, Mrs. John Baker, 
of Nelson, Saline County; Miranda, wife of Will- 
iam Tyler, of Arrow Rock; Jessie, the widow of 
John Kibler, and a resident of Arrow Rock. Mr. 
Reid died March !». 1873, and his wife passed 
away September 23, 18!tl, in Arrow Rock. 

The McMahan Institute was organized in 1871, 
at Arrow Rock. Here the youth of both sexes 
have the advantage of a thorough course of in- 
struction in all studies of a High School, together 
with vocal and instrumental music. Pupils fin- 
ished here are well prepared to enter universities 
and colleges ami have taken a high stand in 
various celebrated institutions of learning, which 
they have attended after graduating here. The 
McMahan Institute gives special attention to 
preparing scholars for teaching, and employs ex- 
cellent talent in every department. The institute, 
which opens the second Monday in September, is 
under the management of Mrs. A. M. R. McMahan, 
the wife our subject. In laying firmly the broad 
foundation for a higher education this well-known 
school excels, special attention being paid to 
mathematics and elocution. Parents may safely 
intrust their children to the care and training of 
the McMahan Institute. 

Mr. McMahan was elected a Justice of the Peace 
in November, 1890, and has in the discharge of 
the duties of this office given universal satisfaction. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



317 



He looks after his farm, which is rented, and does 
a little building, but lias mostly retired from active 
duty, lie is now Chairman of the Town Board, 
and in botb public and private life commands the 
respect and high regard of all who know him. 
Among the coincidences of life is the fact that 
the grandparents of Mr. and Mrs. McMahan came 
in the same company from Kentucky to Missouri, 
little anticipating that in the future their fami- 
lies would be united by the marriage ties. The 
beautiful residence occupied by Mr. McMahan is 
made even more attractive by the profusion of 
lovely flowers which he and his wife enjoy culti- 
vating. 



-t^kl 



m: 



m\ 



m 



y;ILLIAM J. WALLACE, one of the lead- 
ing and most influential citizens of Black- 
Wy/ burn, Saline County, Mo., was born in 
Lancaster County, Pa., June 18, 1828. His great- 
grandfather, Robert Wallace, came from Scotland 
at an early day and settled in Pennsylvania, and 
in Lancaster County, that State, bis son, John 
Wallace, was born, and died in the same place 
about 1850. at the age of eighty-seven years. His 
business was that of merchandising in East Earl, 
Lancaster County, Pa., and before his marriage he 
made two trips to Ireland with cargoes of flaxseed. 
John Wallace married Lydia Smith, a native of 
Pennsylvania, and reared a large family, all of 
whom he settled in business and made comfortable. 
At one time he represented Lancaster County in 
the State Legislature. 

The mother of our subject was a daughter of 
Ebenezer Henderson, of Washington County, Pa. 
Her grandfather, Mathew, was a graduate of the 
Edinburgh (Scotland) College, a seceding minister, 
who joined the Covenanters at an early day. and 
came to America as a missionary. Afterthe death 
of her first husband, Grandmother Henderson mar- 
ried Dr. Robert Agnew, of Lancaster Counts', Pa., 
and their only son was the distinguished physican, 
Dr. De Hays Agnew, so widely known in profes- 
sional circles, and who became celebrated as one 



of the surgeons in attendance upon President Car- 
field. His recent death caused wide-spread regret. 

The father of our subject was Davies Wallace, a 
native of Lancaster County. Pa., a prominent Re- 
publican, who during the administration of Presi- 
dent Lincoln held an official position in the Custom 
House in Philadelphia. In early life he entered the 
mercantile trade in Last Earl Township. Lancaster 
County, and continued there for nearly fifty years. 
Some time before his death lie removed to Phila- 
delphia, where for live years he acceptably filled 
the office spoken of above. His death occurred in 
Philadelphia, July 13, 1866, in his sixty-ninth 
year. The whole business career of this gentle- 
man was remarkable for strict integrity and fair- 
ness of dealing. For forty-five years he had been 
a member of the Presbyterian Church of Cedar 
Grove, Lancaster County, and at his death a wide 
circle of friends mourned his loss. The mother of 
our subject still resides in Last Earl, Lancaster 
County, Pa., at the old home, crowned with the 
honors of eighty-eight years of righteous living. 

The brothers and sisters of Davies Wallace were 
as follows: Harriet, deceased; Dr. William E. mar- 
ried a sister of Mrs. Abraham Lincoln, a .Miss 
Todd, and resided during life in Springfield, 111; 
John P., a merchant in Franklin County, Pa., de- 
ceased; Mary, deceased, married C. S. Jacobs, a 
lawyer of Burlington, Iowa, but her death occurred 
in Harrisburg, Pa.; Robert died in Franklin 
County, Pa.; George died in Lancaster County, 
Pa.; Dr. Edward, deceased, an officer during the 
administration of President Lincoln in the Cus- 
tom House at Philadelphia; and Lydia M., de- 
ceased, married Nathaniel Kintzer, of Pennsyl- 
vania. The brotheis ami sisters of our subject 
are as follows: Henderson Agnew, who died at the 
old home place in 1892; John S., a merchant in the 
old store, which his father and grandfather before 
him kept: Mary Ann. widow of II. C. Falls, of 
New Castle. Lawrence County, Pa., who during life 
was a member of 'he state Legislature; and Ed- 
ward B., who resides on the old home place. 

Our subject spent his boyhood days on the old 
place in Lancaster County. After attaining his 
majority, he worked on the farm there a number 
of years, not coming to Missouri until 1869. He 



318 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



and his brother John were engaged in the mercan- 
tile business for about five years in Lancaster 
County, at the end of which time he sold out his 
interest to his brother, and removed to South Her- 
mitage, where lie conducted :i store for two years, 
but returned to Plist Earl in 1863, and bought out 
his brother. The marriage of our subject oc- 
curred October 16, 1862, to Miss R. V. Wilson, a 
daughter of John D. Wilson, of Lancaster County. 
The children that have blessed this union are as 
follows: Josephine R., now the wife of Walter B. 
Buck, of Kansas City; Mary Henderson, the wife 
of E. W. Dowden, of Kansas City; Rachel W., 
Lydia M., John P. and Sarah D. The older mem- 
bers of the family were all Whigs, but subsequently 
became Republicans, our subject being one of the 
stanchest supporters of the part} - in the family. 
He is a valued member of the Independent Order 
of Odd Fellows, in which lie takes a great deal of 
interest. Mr. Wallace has eighty acres of excel- 
lent farm land, which he has under a fine state of 
cultivation, and upon this he has a neat, comfort- 
able home, in which he and his family reside. 



*#£+« 




FREDERICK PRICE. The record of the life of 
this former prominent citizen of Blackburn, 
who is now deceased, will lie of interest to 
the people of Missouri among whom he lived and 
labored for many years. Before presenting, how- 
ever, the events of his life in detail, it may be well 
to mention briefly some facts with reference to his 
ancestry. 

The Price family originated in Wales, and the 
grandfather of our subject, James Price, settled in 
Augusta County, Ya., about the year 1750. He 
married Miss Martha Ilutchins, of South Carolina, 
and of their union were born two children, Fred- 
erick and Risdon Ilutchins. Grandfather Price 
was a merchant and ship-owner and was a man of 
influence in the Old Dominion, where the closing 
years of his life were passed. He suffered loss by 
French privateers, and a claim has since been pre- 



sented by the heirs before the authorities on the 
French spoliation claims, but nothing resulted, on 
account of loss by fire of some necessary papers. 

Risdon Ilutchins Price, father of our subject, 
was born in Virginia in June, 17.su, and came to 
St. Louis in 1804 from New Orleans, rowing up 
the river the entire distance accompanied by his 
slaves. Upon locating in St. Louis he engaged in 
the general mercantile business and also carried on 
an extensive hade in furs. He was interested in 
the Potosi Lead Mines, and in public and private 
affairs was alike irreproachable and influential. 
In the year L808 lie assisted in founding the St. 
Louis Republic, which still lives, a monument to 
the perseverance and energy of its founders. 
When the famous Marquis de La Fayette revisited 
America, Mr. Price was one of the committee ap- 
pointed by the mayor of the city to welcome him 
to St. Louis. 

In August. 1815, Mr. Price married Miss Mary 
G, daughter of (Ten. Daniel Bissell, of the United 
Stales army, and at that time Commander of the 
Department of the West, with headquarters at 
Belief on taine, above St. Louis. Mr. and Mrs. 
Price became the parents of the following-named 
children: James, Frederick, Risdon, Anna, Martha, 
ami Eliza. James went to California in 1810 and 
still resides in that State: Frederick. Risdon and 
Martha are deceased. Anna, widow of J. O. 
Price, lives in Baltimore, as does her sister Eliza. 
Risdon Ilutchins Price died in St. Louis, in De- 
cember, 1845; his wife had passed away in Janu- 
ary of the same year. 

The late Frederick Price was born in St. Louis 
in August, 1818. He received his education in 
his native city and at Staunton, Ya., where he 
had lieen sent to live with an aunt and attend 
school. After reaching mature years he engaged 
in mercantile pursuits for a few years at Staunton, 
Ya., after which he returned to St. Louis, in 1844, 
and engaged in farming near that city. Novem- 
ber 1, lX. r >2, he married Miss Virginia, daughter of 
Dr. T. J. Minor, of St. Louis. In 1882 he removed 
to the place where his family now resides and 
where he died November 3 of the same year. 

The family of Mr. and Mis. Price included five 
sons and three daughters, as follows: Risdon 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



319 



Hutcbins, of Blackburn; Thomas Edwin, a resident 
of St. Louis; James Bissell, who makes his home 
in Wichita, Kan.; Jefferson Davis and Burtis, who 
are at home; Mary, wife of J. II. Ashurst, of 
Marshall, Mo.; Carrie, who married Amaziah Lo- 
per, of Saline County; and Corinne, who is at 
home. 

Politically, Mr. Price was stanch in his adherence 
to the principles of the Democratic party. He was 
an adherent of the Episcopal Church and a generous 
contributor to all religious causes. In his manner 
he was quiet and unassuming, ever genial, courteous 
and hospitable. His friends were many and his 
kindly nature invariably made of an acquaintance 
a personal admirer. It was his custom to help 
young men who were just starting in life, for he 
considered that was the period when they most 
needed assistance. He was buried at the Bellc- 
fontaine Church, in St. Louis County, beside his 
three children who died in infancy. 

The old Price homestead in St. Louis included 
an orchard which occupied the land on the corner 
of Third and Olive Streets, where stands the old 
post-office building. An interesting heirloom 
now in the possession of Mrs. Price is an old Bible 
bearing the date 1750, which has been in the 
Price family since its publication. It is a quaint 
volume, bound in leather, printed in the old style 
of t3'pe and of unusual size, measuring" 16x10 
inches. 

The Minor family came from Fairfax County, 
Va., to St. Louis at an early day. Dr. T. J. Minor 
was the youngest of eleven children, ten sons and 
one daughter. He received his education in a 
military academy and among his classmates was 
his cousin, afterward famous as Gen. Robert E. 
Lee. Dr. Minor was first a lawyer and afterward 
a physician, which profession he practiced in St. 
Louis during most of his active life and until his 
death in 1850. 

Mrs. Virginia E. Price was born in St. Louis 
and was educated at the Convent ol the Sacred 
Heart at Plorisant, Mo. She was lift motherless 
at her birth, and has only one own sister, Mildred, 
now tlic widow of A. Putnam, a grandson of Gen. 
Putnam of Revolutionary fame. Mrs. Price owns 
three hundred and thirty-six acres on sections I 



and 5, township 50, range 2:!. and with her are 
two sons, .1. D. and Burtis, each of whom has re- 
cently purchased land adjoining the home farm, 
their property amounting to about three hundred 
and sixty acres. They are engaged in general 
farming and stock-raising, in which they have met 
with success. The home of the family is in a large 
and substantial residence, set in the midst of a 
fine grove of trees, and pleasantly located. The 
sons are loyal in their adherence to the Demo- 
cratic parts' and are men of influence in their sev- 
eral communities. The eldest son, Risdon Hutch- 
ins, is a graduate of Washington Lee University 
at Lexington, Va., where he graduated at the age 
of nineteen years with the highest honors of his 
class. In her religion, Mrs. Price is an earnest 
member of the Methodist Church, and a lady of 
noble character, whose sincerity of religious belief 
i- proved by the beauty of her life. 



if^EORGE W. OSRORN. The gratification 



G 



I ss; *hat comes of success honestly earned can- 
^Jj not fail to be more pleasing than the for- 
tune itself, especially when the subject of it has 

the hearty g 1- will of his neighbors. Such is the 

ease with George W. Osborn, a farmer living on 
section P.), township P.i, range 28, La Fayette 
County, Mo., son of Cyrus and Sarah (Walker) 
Osborn, residents of this township. His parents 
have four children living, namely: our subject, 
Eliza Wooldridge, P. Walker and Lula. 

Our subject was born January 2, 1847, in Lex- 
ington Township, grew up on his father's ranch. 

and attended the public scl Is of the township. 

He remained at the old home until he was thirtv- 
two years of age, but worked for himself after at- 
taining his majority. November 2s. 1S78, he 
married Miss Rosie, a daughter of Charles McKay, 
an early settler of the county, who now lives in 
Nevada. Mo.; her mother is deceased. Mrs. Osborn, 
One of five children living, was born in Welling- 



320 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ton in the year 1860, where she grew to woman- 
hood and received an education in the district 
schools. She is the mother of six children, five of 
them living, namely: S:i! 1 'u-. Willie, Jessie, Ruby 
and Leroj . 

Mr. Osborn has lived upon the farm all his life 
and is successful alike in the growing of grain and 
the raising of stock. His farm consists of six hun- 
dred and eighty acres, two hundred of which lie 
received from his father, earning the remainder by 
his own labors; all of this except thirty acres is 
in cultivation. Corn and wheat are grown princi- 
pally upon this land, but he feeds a very large 
number of cattle. In uses and hogs. Some of his 
land is rented out to tenants, who are required to 
keep it up and are not permitted to neglect its 
proper cultivation. 

Mr. Osborn is Deacon and Treasurer of the 
Christian Church at Bates City. His wife is also 
a member of that church and both of them take an 
active part in the Sunday-school. He is a member 
of the School Board and is resolved to give his 
children a good education, believing they can 
start out with no better capital. In politics, he is 
a Democrat, and takes the interest of a good citi- 
zen in all political matters. The family of Mr. 
Osborn occupies the best house in the township, 
which was built in 1886 at a cost of 12,200. The 
farm is supplied with all necessary outbuildings, 
including a barn built in 1K7'J at a cost of $400. 
The land was all fenced in when he settled. 



* * * * * >»* » 



T^ 




Jjfl 1 NDREW J. DAVIS, a prosperous, energetic 
and enterprising agriculturist of Saline 
County, Mo., is pleasantly located upon a 
fine farm in township 50, range 19, near 
Hardeman, lie is a native of Iowa and was born 
in Wapello County, March 22, 1855. The paternal 
grandfather, Guilford Davis, was born near Guil- 
ford Court House, Va. lie early removed to the 
Territory of Indiana and settled in Sullivan 
County. The Davis family is of Welsh descent, 



its members being resolute, self-reliant and earnest 
people, as were their ancestors before them. The 
father of Andrew .1. was born in Sullivan County, 
Ind., November 9, 1823. In 1848, he removed to 
Iowa and settled on a farm obtained by a Mexican 
land warrant. 

Mr. Davis there married an Iowa lady. Miss 
Elizabeth, a daughter of Andrew Major, well 
known in his portion of the State. The parents 
of our subject were blessed by the birth of six chil- 
dren, of whom four sons are living: Andrew J., 
Simon, Thomas J. and John 6., all of whom have 
attained positions commanding respect and esteem. 
After a time, the father and mother, with their 
family, removed to Missouri and settled in 1867 in 
Pettis Couuty, and the succeeding year, 1868, 
located in Saline County. The father was an 
ardent Democrat and firmly believed in the princi- 
ples of the part}' which he conscientiously main- 
tained. Mr. Davis enjoyed the benefit of a course 
of instruction in the public schools of Iowa and 
also attended the State University for one year. 

Our subject profitably cultivates two hundred 
and forty acres of land, all under a high state 
of improvement; he is also an extensive stock- 
raiser, handling choice and well-paying varieties 
of cattle and horses. Thoroughly trained in all 
agricultural duties upon his father's farm, he was 
especially well fitted to begin life for himself, 
when at an early age he left the homestead. Ac- 
tive and industrious and withal possessing excel- 
lent judgment, Mr. Davis is numbered among the 
progressive young farmers of this part of the 
country and is steadily winning his way upward 
to future independence and greater prosperity. 
Succeeding in life, he very soon found some one 
to share his home and was, December 20, 1882, 
united in marriage with Miss Mary E., a daughter 
of James X. and Edmonia (Huston) Jamison. 

Into the pleasant and cheery home of Andrew J. 
Davis and his estimable wife have come four bright 
and intelligent children: Emmet K., Jamison, Guil- 
ford G.and Minnie May, who if they live to adult 
age may enjoy the best educational advantages of 
their home schools and colleges. Mrs. Davis is a 
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and 
both in the church and among the general public 






v^^^o 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



323 



has a large circle of earnest friends. Our subject, 
as did his father before him, votes the Democratic 
ticket and upholds the good old party which has 
just achieved a signal victor} 7 , both local and na- 
tional. Although not connected by membership 
with any religious denomination, Mr. Davis is a 
cheerful giver and is ever ready to assist in all the 
good work of his locality and immediate neigh- 
borhood, and is in every sense of the word a liberal- 
spirited citizen. 



r€r*- 




ENRY W. FOGUS, electrician, engineer and 
manager of the City Electric Light Plant, 
is the finest machinist in Saline County, 
an inventor of real genius, and a thor- 
oughly agreeable man. He has done much for the 
city of Slater, which is appreciative of the fact, 
and he is held in high esteem by the people of the 
place. Mr. Fogus was born in St. Louis, May 4, 
1850. His father was born in New York 1 City, 
while his paternal grandsire came from France. 

Our subject's father was a carpenter by trade, 
and after marriage moved from New York to St. 
Louis. In 1852, he Located in Carlinville, Ma- 
coupin County, 111., and afterward moved to Hills- 
boro, where he took work as a contractor and 
builder. Thence he went to Litchfield in the same 
county. His decease occurred in 1886. Annie 
Fogus, his wife, was born in New York City, of 
English descent, and died in 1863. There were 
six children in the family, two of whom are now 
living, three sons and one daughter having died. 
Our subject was the third child. His eldest 
brother, Frank, served in an Illinois regiment 
from 1863 to the close of the Civil War. Annie, 
now Mrs. Davis, uf Litchfield, 111., is the only sur- 
viving member of the family beside our subject. 
Henry Fogus resided successively at Carlinville. 
Hillsboro and Litchfield, receiving his education 
in the public and High Schools. At the age of 
fourteen, he began work as a machinist's appren- 
tice in the Illinois and St. Louis shops at Litch- 



field, and served for three years, then continued 
for three years after his apprenticeship was com- 
pleted. During the latter part of tlie time, he 
was -in assistant foreman in a machine shop. After 
that he went to .Mound City, and there took 
charge of a large stave and barrel factory, manag- 
ing the whole business for four years. He then 
became manager of the Willard Double Stave and 
Barrel Manufacturing Company. at Parker Station, 
Mo. This was an important organization and had 
an incorporated capital of $300,000. At the expi- 
ration of a three-year stay there, he resigned his 
position on account of ill health, and went into 
the mercantile business at Piedmont, Mo., continu- 
ing in that for three and a-half years. The out- 
come of it was a disastrous fire, in which he lost 
everything he had invested. 

In January, 1879, our subject took charge of the 
Water Department of the Chicago & Alton Road 
from Slater to Kansas City, and from Slater to 
Louisiana and Cedar City, having control of the 
lines this side of the Mississippi River, with head- 
quarters at ( ilasgow, Howard County. In 1881, 
he located in Slater as Superintendent of the 
Water Department, Fourth and Fifth Divisions, 
and of the Department of Stone Crushing at P>lue 
Springs and of Bridge Engineering at Louisiana. 
He was on the road constantly, and put in all the 
pipes on the new division between Mexico and 
Kansas City, in three roundhouses, and in all the 
truck and stock yards. All his work was done in 
good shape, and no trains were delayed on ac- 
count of inability to get water on time. 

March 24, 1890, our subject was called to Pearl, 
111., to assist the Superintendent of the Water 
Department with the stone-crusher. At that time, 
owing to carelessness on the part of some one. 
Mr. Fogus was seriously injured while removing a 
large balance-wheel. It overturned, striking him, 
but glancing off just enough to prevent a fatal ac- 
cident. The injured man had bravely exerted all 
his strength to prevent the great wheel striking 
the Superintendent, which it would have done had 
he permitted it to go over. It bruised his chest, 
right arm and right foot, took off the great toe of 
the latter and fractured all the joints, lie was laid 
up six months, and the accident left him crippled. 



324 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



As soon as lie was well, he was employed by the 
City Council as electrician, and began by assisting 
to put in the electric light plant, which he has 
managed ever since. The ]de Engine, of seventy- 
borse power, and the Evans Boiler of eighty, arc in 
use iii the place, with the Western Electric Arc 
twenty and thirty lights, and the Hawkeye incan- 
descent light, one hundred and thirteen lights. 

As we have mentioned before, Mr. Fogus is the 
finest machinist in the county, and he does not 
hesitate to use bis knowledge and skill for the 
good of any enterprise in which he engages. 
Since entering upon his present position, he has 
made several improvements in the works, and 
while on the road he invented different appli- 
ances, automatic contrivances for handling the 
water to better advantage, etc., which are now 
used by the company, and are of gieat service. 
One of these was for regulating the supply in the 
tank by shutting off the supply and keeping it 
from running over, the back pressure in the pipe 
shutting off the steam pump. The same invention 
is used in the roundhouse, and thereby saves the 
expense of one man for washing out boilers. 

Mr. Fogus arranged and put in the attachment 
for pumping water with the electric light engine 
from the public well into the tank for public use 
on the streets. The well is two hundred and fifty- 
three feet deep, part consisting of a four and 
a-half inch drill in soapstone. The cylinder of 
the pump is one hundred and fifty-nine feet in 
length, and the water is two hundred and three 
feetdeep. He has invented an oil filter, also a self - 
lubricator with the proper adjustments. He was 
appointed by the city to investigate different 
plants and systems, it being left to him to make 
the choice. This confidence, which the business 
men repose in him, is well placed. After running 
the place for two years, he has never yet burned 
out an armature. The light has always been re- 
liable and up to the expectations of the people. 

Mr. Fogus has, by prudence and economy, accu- 
mulated a comfortable fortune, lie owns a half- 
interest in a brick store in Slater and a thirteen- 
rooin boarding-house in the city and another in 
Marshall, beside one hundred and sixty acres of 
land in Graham County, Kan. He is a Free and 



Accepted Mason, a member of the Eastern Star 
1 .1 idge; also a Royal Arch Mason, and belongs to the 
Odd Fellows of Slater and to the Knights Templar 
at Marshall. 

In 1876, our subject was united in marriage with 
Mi" Sallie Newbury, of Parker. She was a native 
of Fredericktown,Mo. In .luly, 1881, they moved 
to Marshall, but the new home was suddenly made 
desolate by the death of the wife, whose decease 
immediately followed their settlement there. They 
were the parents of two children, both of whom 
are deceased. Mr. Fogus is a Congregational ist 
and a Republican, but is not radical in his views. 
He is thoroughly interested in his work, giving it 
the strictest attention and is ever on the lookout for 
improvement and advance in his chosen profes- 
sion. Personally, as well as professionally, he is 
regarded as one of Slater's most popular and 
thoughtful men. 



ffi HERBERT SMITH, M. D., the enterprising 

| and energetic County Coroner, and able 
i and successful medical practitioner of Slater, 
' Saline Count}', Mo., is admirably adapted 
to conduct the official business intrusted to his 
care. A native of the county and its youngest 
public officer, our subject is widely known by a 
hosl of life-time friends and old acquaintances, and 
is closely identified with the growth and history of 
his resident portion of the State. 

The immediate paternal ancestors of Dr. Smith 
were natives of Kentucky, in which prosperous 
State both his father and paternal grandfather 
were born. The grandfather, Gervas S. Early, set- 
tled in Missouri, and buying a farm near Napton, 
there entered upon the pursuit of agriculture. The 
father, .lames M., born in Henry County. Ky., was 
also a farmer, and in the early days cultivated 
hemp. He served in the Confederate army, and 
was in Price's raid and different skirmishes and 
battles. He has ever been distinguished for his 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



325 



courage and resolution, and now resides near Nap- 
ton, on the old homestead of three hundred and 
forty acres. 

The mother of our subject was horn in Saline 
County and is the daughter of William Adkisson, 
a native of Virginia and an early settler of the 
county. .Mrs. Mary (Adkisson) Smith was a lady 
of worth and intelligence, and was deeply mourned 
when, in 1872, she passed away, learing a large 
family of children. She was the mother of ten sons 
and daughters, of whom eight are yet living. Dr. 
Smith, the fifth child, was reared upon his father's 
farm, and attended the public schools, but was early- 
trained in the duties of agriculture, and initiated 
into the sowing, planting and reaping, and the 
never-ceasing round of daily farming life. 

The home schools were excellent and our subject 
well improved his advantages, and himself taught 
school for four months at Salt Branch Schoolhouse 
until at twenty-one years of age he went to Marshall 
and there clerked for RaderA Burke, grocers. He 
remained with this linn for seven months, and then 
began the study of medicine under John R. Hall, 
M. D., a well-known physician of Marshall. In 
1885 Dr. Smith entered the Medical College at St. 
Louis, and graduated with honor in 1887, receiving 
the degree of M. I). His first location was at 
Shackleford. where he remained engaged in pro- 
fessional duties until October, 1889, when he settled 
in Slater, and entered at once into a successful 
practice. He thus continued his round of ever-in- 
creasing professional duties until 1890, when in 
the fall of that year he was elected on the Demo- 
cratic ticket County Coroner of Saline County, 
to serve from November 15, 1890, to November 15, 
1892. 

Dr. Smith has, a pleasant and commodious otlice 
in the Gilliam Building, on Main Street, and re- 
sides in the best portion of the residence district, 
lie was married in Shackleford, October 1. L888, 
to Miss Minnie Tickemyre, a native of Shackle- 
ford, and a daughter of a prominent farmer of the 
same place. Dr. and Mrs. Smith are the parents of 
one child, a promising little daughter, Enid L. Our 
subject is prominently connected with the Knights 
of Pythias and is Past Chancellor of Diamond 
Lodge No. 65, of Slater. He was the representa- 



tive to the Grand Lodge at St. Louis in the fall 
of 1892. lie is also Secretary of the Fourth Regi- 
ment of Missouri, with the rank of Major. Our 

subject is also a member of the Knights of the 
Maccabees, and the examining physician of the or- 
der, lie is the Medical Examiner of the I!. R. 
T. and I!, of L. F. and Endowment Rank 
Knights of Pythias. Dr. Smith is a valued 
member of the Saline County Medical Society, 
and is the First Vice-president for 1892 and 1893. 
In religious belief he is a Southern Methodist Epis- 
copalian, and is an active promoter of the growth 
of the organization. He and his wife enjoy a 
large circle of friends both within the church so- 
i iet j and among the general public, and are highly 
respected. Our subject is a Democrat, and has al- 
ways been, and takes a lively interest in all that 
pertains to public affairs, and is ever foremost in 
advancing loeai progress and improvement. 









1 OHN W. HOLMAN. Leading a life worthy 
of being followed, and in doing good where 
opportunity offers, should fill the measure 
of any man's ambition. Such an example 
has the life of our subject proved according to 
the testimon3 r of those who know him. He was 
born January 29, 1840, upon the farm where he 
now lives, on section 27, township 49, range 28, in 
l.al'ayette County. His lather. Hardy Ilolman. 
was boi'n in 1809, and for a time followed the oc- 
cupation of a tanner, but later engaged in agricul- 
tural pursuits. The trouble with the Mormons 
greatly excited his interest, and he took an active 
part in the war that followed. Nancy (Finlej ) 
Holman, the mother of our subject, a native of 
Virginia, and. a sisfer of Judge W. H. Finley, of 
Saline County, Mo., was bora in 1808, and died in 
L891. she was the mother of eight children, five 
of whom are now living. In religious belief, the 
father was a Missionary Baptist, while the mother 
was a Cumberland Presbyterian. 

Our subject was reared on the home farm, at- 



326 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



tending Hie public schools and working in the in- 
tervals of vacation until the outbreak of the Civil 
War, when he enlisted in Capt. Withers' company 
and took part in many memorable battles, the Srs1 
of which were tliu>e of Carthage and Wilson's 
Creek. When the battle of Lexington occurred 
he was down with the typhoid fiver. Recovering, 
he re-enlisted and fought in the battle- of Pea 
Ridge, Corinth, Grand Gulf, Baker's (reek, and 
the siege of Vicksburg, all in the state of Missis- 
sippi. At the place last named be surrendered, 
was paroled and sent to Camp Morton, Indian- 
apolis, where he remained eight months, being 
finally released through an intercessory letter writ- 
ten by his sister Kate. Suffering and in prison, he 
wrote to her and she immediately addressed a let- 
ter to Gov. King, who promptly proceeded to 
Washington and handed it to President Lincoln, 
and our subject was set at liberty at once. Gov. 
King said, -It was the most powerful and con- 
vincing letter I ever read in my life." 

Fur a long time afterward Mr. Ilolman was in 
poor health, and suffered from an attack of illness 
each succeeding summer for five years. Ever since 
that period of war, be lias lived quietly upon his 
farm. In 1868, he married Emma Christian Fickle, 
daughter of Ilclva Fickle, an early settler, now de- 
ceased. Mrs. Ilolman died June 27, 1883. She 
was the mother of five children, three girls and 
two hoys, the latter deceased; the daughters are: 
Frances Gertrude; Julia Ella, wife of Walter Drum- 
iiiiiikI; and Emma Pearl. Mr. Ilolman is a con- 
scientious farmer, who gives his entire time to the 
business of managing his farm of three hundred 
and forty acres, all under fence and well culti- 
vated. One year's experience as a merchant at 
Odessa satisfied him that the farm is the happiest 
of all places. An advocate of education, he has 
been careful to give his children the benefit of good 
schooling. A Deacon in the Missionary Baptist 
Church, he is quite active in furthering its inter- 
ests. He is a member of the Masonic order, being 
acting Master of his lodge, and has filled all of the 
Chairs up to that of Senior Warden ; he is also Chap- 
Iain of the Eastern Star. The Farmers' Alliance 
for along time was the object of his care, which he 
served as its first President, also as Chaplain, and 



likewise filled the latter position in the Central 
Protective Association. Politics interest him 
greatly, and he exercises much influence among 
the Democrats, being frequently chosen a delegate 
to the conventions of that party. 




OBERT II. WILSON, M. D., a prominent 
and highly successful medical practitioner 
of Saline County, and widely known as 

~)) one of the most influential, prosperous 
and public-spirited citizens of Gilliam, possesses 
the esteem and confidence of his friends and 
neighbors, and is ever ready to aid in all matters 
concerning public progress and improvement. 
Our subject was born in Rockbridge County, Va., 
March i, 1829, and is a descendant of illustrious 
ancestry. His paternal grandfather served bravely 
in the War of the Revolution, and was a half- 
brother of James Wilson, a signer of the Declara- 
tion of Independence, who was born in Scot- 
land, and died in August, 1798. Under the Fed- 
eral constitution, lie was appointed by President 
Washington one of the first judges of the Supreme 
Court of the United States. 

Dr. Wilson is the son of David S. and Margue- 
rite Wilson, whose forefathers were of English, 
Irish and Scotch descent. The father of David 
Wilson, the Revolutionary hero to whom we have 
before referred, was a native Virginian. Our sub- 
ject was one of a family of eight children, five sis- 
ters and three brothers. A. G. Wilson was born in 
Saline County in 1837, and continues his resi- 
dence here. Julia, bom in Saline County in 
1842, married G. A. Cannon, and with her hus- 
band resides in her native locality. One of our 
subject's brothers served in the Confederate army 
for three years under Gov. Shelby. Dr. Wilson 
attended the common schools of Missouri, and at 
ten years of age began farming upon his father's 
land, and until nineteen years old gave bis time 
industriously and successfully to the duties of ag- 
riculture. His first departure from home was 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



327 



made to the distant State of California, where he 
remained six years, when on account of failing 
health he returned to the farm in Missouri. 

After a time our subject began the study of 
medicine under Dr. Alexander, and afterward 
completed a course of study in the Nathan Med- 
ical College at Washington, where he remained 
two years, graduating with the degree of Doctor 
of Medicine in 1861. Immediately after receiving 
his diploma he began the duties of hi- profession, 
and soon enjoyed an excellent practice in Cam- 
bridge, Mo., where he remained for a full score of 
years. In 1880 he came to his present home in 
Gilliam. 

Attention to his medical duties and other busi- 
ness of his active life have absorbed the time 
of Dr. Wilson, hut he is nevertheless willing to 
aid all public measures of known value, lie is a 
valued member of the Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows, and is ever ready to assist in social, be- 
nevolent or religious enterprises of his neighbor- 
hood or vicinity. Dr. Wilson is an ardent advo- 
cate of educational progress and reform. He has 
never aspired to official positions, nor been a pol- 
itician in the wider significance of the term, but is 
a sturdy Democrat, his father having been a Whig. 
lie takes a lively interest in the conduct of local 
and national affairs. An excellent and skillful 
physician, ministering to the wants of suffering 
humanity, he has long since won and worthily re- 
tains the confidence of the general public. 



i>^H£i^ 



-*». 



ffiOHN E. CONNELL, M. 1)., a talented gen- 
I eral medical practitioner and skillful sur- 
geon, now located at Little Rock, has a 
brilliant future before him and is rapidly 
winning his way upward. Our subject was bom 
April 20, 1865, in La Grange, Lewis County, Mo. 
His great-grandfather was Samuel Council, a Yir 
ginian, who passed his life principally in his na- 
tive State and died there at a good old age. He 
was a .Major in the War of 1812, serving in the 



Ohio militia, and started to the relief of Detroit, 
but before reaching that post heard of its sur- 
render by Hull to the British forces. The Con- 
nels are of Irish descent, and the first representa- 
tives of the family in America came from the 
Emerald Isle at a very early period in the history 
of our country. 

The paternal grandfather of our Subject, Eph- 
raim Connell, was born in Brooke County r , Va., in 
1802. In 1824 he married Miss Artemesia Rob- 
erts, at her home in Ohio County. Va. They soon 
afterward removed from Virginia to Belmont 
County, Ohio, and the town of Connellsville is 
named in honor of the family. The grandparents 
had the following-named children : George W., 
father of our subject; Mary, the widow of John 
Blackwood, of La Grange, Mo.: Emily, the widow 
of Coleman Biggs, of Kansas City; and Mattie, de- 
d. Dr. George W. Connell. father of our 
subject, was born March .'50, 182;"), in Belmont 
County, near Connellsville, Ohio. There he lived 
until sixteen years of age, when he came with his 
father's family to Lewis County, Mo. His educa- 
tion was mostly obtained in the common schools 
of the State, and when a young man he taught 
school, and with the money thus earned paid his 
way through college, graduating in 1850 from 
the Missouri Medical College at St. Louis. 

For the succeeding six years after his gradu- 
ation. Dr. George Connell practiced in California. 
and established the first drug store in Marysville. 
Returning finally to Missouri, he located in his 
old home in La Grange, where he resided until 
1877, when he went to Quincy, 111., and then in 
1881 to Ilallsville, Boone County. Mo., and there 
engaged in the practice of his profession. He is 
to-day a prominent and leading physician in that 
part of the State. On June 25, 1*61, he married 
Mi-- Virginia Fowler, who was born in Prince 
George County, Md., in 1839, ami became the 
mother of three children: Mary 1..: John E., the 
Subject of this sketch; and Margie. Mrs. Virginia 
Connell died in 1870, and the Doctor afterward 
married Miss Susan, daughter of Dr. Fowler, of 
Saline County. Our subject's mother was a niece 
of Gen. George B. Mead, of Virginia, and the 
daughter of James Fowler; of Maryland, who 



328 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



owned the site of the Capitol Building, it being 
purchased from him by the State for its present use. 

Dr. Connell was primarily educated in the pub- 
lic schools of his home, and afterward completed a 
course of instruction in the High School of 
Quincy, 111., from which he was graduated with 
honor in 1881. He then began the study of med- 
icine under his father's instructions, and later en- 
tered the College of Physicians and Surgeons at 
St. Louis, graduating in 1888. His life had not 
been all an uninterrupted study, for in common 
with all boys who reside upon a farm, lie assisted 
in agricultural duties and was familiar with the 
work of sowing, planting and reaping. 

Soon after graduating, Dr. Connell began to 
practice with his father in Hallsville, from which 
place he came to Little Rock, where his success in- 
dicates that in this nourishing town he may make 
his future home. Thoroughly versed in the sci- 
ence of his profession and bred as it were to the 
duties of a medical practitioner, he devotes him- 
self to his calling, and is fast gaining the confi- 
dence of the community and winning their high 
respect and esteem. Alike in storm or sunshine, 
the family physician goes his daily rounds, and 
when he devotes his life and service to his fellow- 
citizens, as does our ardent and energetic subject. 
Dr. John E. Connell, it is just that he should meet 
with the fitting reward of success and public ap- 
preciation. 



^O 



w OIIX H. ACHAMIRE, of section 35, Salt 
Pond Township, half a mile north of Sweet 
Springs, Saline County, is another enter- 
prising and successful farmer, whose line 
piece of property and pleasant home may well 
excite the envy of people less comfortably situated. 
He owns one hundred and eighty-six and a-half 
acres of land, mostly in Salt Pond Township. This 
land he has improved and brought to a line state 
of cultivation, He started here with about $400, 



which he had saved from his salary as a soldier in 
the Civil War, and with that nucleus has made for 
himself an independence. 

Mr. Achamire was born in Holmes County, Ohio, 
September 21, 1840. His father was Michael Ach- 
amire, born in Harrisburg, Pa., in 1815, and his 
grandfather, John Achamire, was also a native of 
Pennsylvania. The great-grandfather emigrated 
from Germany, and settled in Pennsylvania, where 
he followed the occupation of a miller. He took 
part in the Revolutionary War. The grandfather 
was also a miller, but subsequently became a far- 
mer, emigrating to Holmes County, Ohio, in early 
times, and taking a farm in its wild state, clearing 
and improving it, and living upon it until his 
death at a ripe old age. 

The father of our subject was also a farmer, buy- 
ing heavily of timbered land in Holmes County, 
Ohio. After clearing and improving it, he sold 
out and moved to Knox County, Mo., in 1880, 
and bought there. He died in 1891, at the age of 
seventy-six years. His wife was Miss Anna Bixler, 
of Maryland, and her demise occurred in 1870. 
John II. is the eldest of their family of eight chil- 
dren, four sons and four daughters, four of whom 
are in Missouri, two in Ohio, and the youngest sis- 
ter is deceased. He was educated in the common 
district schools, which were of the old-time style, 
— log schoolhouses, with slab seats, etc. 

Mr. Achamire remained at home until the day 
that he was twenty-one, September 21, 1861, on 
which day he enlisted in Company B, Sixteenth 
Ohio Infantry, under Col. DeCorse, for three years' 
service in the Federal army. December 17. the 
regiment went to Lexington, Ky., and June 18, 
1862, took possession of Cumberland Gap. Au- 
gust 6 occurred the battle of Tazewell, Tenn., the 
first in which our subject was engaged, and where 
he was captured, being held ten days. September 
8, they began a march from Manchester. Ivy., reach- 
ing the Ohio River on the 3d of October, fighting 
their way through, and having little to eat and al- 
most nothing to wear. October 2 1 , they started for 
Charleston. In November, they returned to the 
Ohio River and embarked to join Sherman's army 
at Memphis. In December, they re-embarked for 
Vicksburg. December 27, 28 and 29, they en- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



329 



gaged in the battle of Chickasaw Bayou, where Mr. 
Achamire was wounded in the thigh, necessitating a 
stay of three months in the hospital. He rejoined 
his regiment just after the capture of Vicksburg, 
joining in the pursuit of Johnston. At Vicksburg, 
he wasdetailed by the Division Surgeon, and placed 
in charge of about one hundred sick, lie took them 
subsequently to New Orleans and reported to head- 
quarters. After this he did a good deal of march- 
ing and suffered many hardships. In the latter 
part of 1863, he was sent down to Texas, and 
later joined Gen. Bank's army on the Red River 
expedition. He was one of those who helped to 
construct the famous Red River dam at Alexan- 
dria. May 13, 1864, he began the retreat from 
Alexandria. The last fight was Morgan zia Bend, 
from which place the regiment was sent home. 
They were mustered out at Camp Dennison. Ohio, 
October 31, 1861, making his term of service a 
little over three years. 

Mr. Achamire remained at home until February. 
1865, when he came to Missouri on a prospecting 
tour, returning home the following summer. March 
15, 1866, he married Miss Phoebe Hall, of Holmes 
County, Ohio, daughter of George W. and Eliza- 
beth (Gilham) Hall, both of Ohio. The father was 
a farmer in Tuscarawas and Holmes Counties. Both 
parents died years ago. Mrs. Achamire's paternal 
grandfather was from Kentucky, while her grand- 
father on the other side was from Virginia. 

Mr. Achamire was engaged in farming in Holmes 
County for ten years, coming to Saline County, 
this State, in March, 1875, and settling in S:ilt 
Pond Township, where he had purchased land two 
years before. At this time the county was largely 
unimproved, and Mr. Achamire has done a great 
deal of work on his land to bring it to its present 
flourishing condition; but he has persevered, and 
now owns one of the good farms of the county. 

Mr. and Mrs. Achamire have one child, Carlton 

Edgar, born April 29, 1867. He received a g 1 

education, standing at the head of his class at the 
Sweet Springs High School at the time of his 
graduation, and subsequently attending an acad- 
emy for one year, lie afterward became Cashier 
in a Kansas City bank, and later head book-keeper 
in a large establishment. He is now in the West. 



Mr. Achamire is a Republican politically, but is 
no office-seeker. He is a member of the Ancient 
Order of United Workmen and of the Grand Army 
of the Republic. In Ohio, both Mr. and Mrs. 
Achamire were English Lutherans, to which church 
belonged also the parents of our subject. Mr. 
Achamire owns, beside the land mentioned above, 
a farm in section 34. He has reason to be well 
satisfied with what he has done for himself and 
family, and with his home, which is graced by the 
presence of a cultured and refined wife. 



/p^iEORGE A. ALBIN, a member of the firm of 
((((=- Horner A- Albin, druggists of Alma. La 

\^A Fayette County, Mo., is the subject of this 
brief notice. This gentleman was born in Frederick 
County, Va., in 1847, a son of .1. T. and Margaret 
(Brent) Albin, natives of Virginia, who located in 
Missouri in I860. His happy boyhood, free from 
care, was spent in his native county, attending the 
common schools until the age of twelve years, 
when he accompanied his parents to the new home 
in the State of Missouri. 

In October, 1889, our subject entered into part- 
nership with a well-known gentleman of this sec- 
tion, Dr. J. W. Horner, and together they opened 
up a business in drugs, which has been continued 
until the present time. The business is one which 
fillsa want in this vicinity, they carrying not only 
a full line of drugs, but also of paints, oils, and 
other articles usually found in the first-class places 
of business in this line the country over. The 
partnership has resulted in a very prosperous 
trade, both gentlemen possessing the confidence 
and esteem of the citizens. 

The Alma Creamery Company is the name of 
one of the important organizations of the town, 
and our subject holds a large share of the stock in 
this business. In his political belief Mr. Albin is 
a stanch Democrat, believing firmly in the tenets 
of the Democratic party. His marriage was cele- 
brated in i§89, with Mi" Florence, daughter of 



330 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



11. B. Harris, a native of England, and two bright 
Little boys have blessed this union, namely : 
Thomas Field and Stanley. The handsome resi- 
dence of our subject is in the pleasant little town 
of Alma, Mo. 



c=1 



~s 



£+£ 



e_ 



1=3 



firp^)RNEST D. MARTIN, the popular and enter- 
ic prising Mayor of Marshall, Saline County, 
'JL^^J; Mo., is a prominent attorney-at-law and one 
of the most successful legal practitioners of the 
Stale. A true and independent American citizen, 
he has acquired an excellent education and won 
his way steadily upward through the ambitious 
energy which has distinguished him in the conduct 
of business matters and public affairs. Ardent for 
right and justice, his judgment is well tempered 
with liberality of sentiment, and, ever foremost in 
all enterprises tendiug to progress and local im- 
provement, he has earned and holds the confidence 
and esteem of the general public. 

The Hon. Ernest 1). Martin was born in Ver- 
sailles, Woodford County, Ky., June 28, 1865. His 
grandfather was born in Virginia, of English de- 
scent, but earl}' became one of the pioneers of 
Kentucky and fought bravely in the War of 1812. 
A loyal and patriotic citizen, he bequeathed to his 
descendants a love of country and an indomitable 
will and strength of character. 

In 1883, Mr. Martin began his studies in the 
University of Missouri, at Columbia, and took the 
scientific course of two years, and then, in 1885, 
began the study of law under C. Peebles, now 
Comptroller of Currency in the Treasury Depart- 
ment at Washington, D. C. Our subject afterward 
pursued his legal reading under the Hon. Mr. Dug- 
gins, and in 1889 was admitted to the Bar of Mis- 
souri, and entering into practice in Marshall has 
here continued it ever since. 

The father of our subject was a native of the 
Blue Grass region of Kentucky and was born in 
Woodford County, lie was a graduate of the 
Transylvania Medics] College at Lexington, and 



engaged in the practice of the medical profession 
for a score of years. Dr. Martin was a skillful 
physician and extremely successful in practice and 
was much regretted both in Georgetown and Ver- 
sailles when in 1856 he made a change of location, 
and came to Missouri and settled in Grand Pass, 
where he built up a prosperous practice. A brave 
and fearless man, he entered the Confederate army, 
and enlisting as a private aided to form a company 
and acted as Surgeon, but was captured and sent 
to prison. He then took the oath of allegiance, 
was released and returned to Kentucky and again 
practiced medicine at Versailles. In 1869, Dr. 
Martin journeyed once more to Missouri and took 
up the practice of medicine in Sedalia. In 1879 he 
permanently located in Marshall and has a most 
excellent practice. He is a consistent member of 
the Christian Church. 

The mother of our subject was Miss Catherine 
Pinkerton, a native of Virginia and a daughter of 
the Rev. William Pinkerton, a minister of the 
Christian Church in the Old Dominion. The 
Pinkerton family is noted in the church here, 
seven brothers being ministers of the Christian 
Church. The maternal grandfather of Ernest D. 
Martin was a native of Virginia and died in the 
Old Dominion. Dr. Martin and his estimable wife 
are the parents of eleven children, of whom three 
daughters and four sons yet survive. Our subject 
is ninth in order of birth, but the fifth of those 
now living. In 1869, when he was but four years 
old, he came with his parents to Sedalia and there 
attended the common and High Schools. 

Our subject devoted his time to his legal busi- 
ness, which was extremel}' successful, until 1892, 
when he was elected to his present prominent and 
responsible public position. He waselected on the 
Democratic ticket and was victorious in a most 
exciting campaign. He has also received other 
official trusts and is ex-officio Police Judge, and 
has actively engaged in an energetic and able con- 
duct of the administration, exerting a constant 
influence in behalf of public progress and local 
improvements. 

The Hon. Ernest Martin is a member of the In- 
dependent Order of Odd Fellows and is a Knight 
of Pythias and a member of the Uniformed Rank. 






i 



'iflMk. liltlilii 











''tj/b/f; S?l, °0, ~" 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



333 



He is a member of the Christian Church. Always 
a strong and ardent Democrat, lie has frequently 
represented his friends and neighbors in State and 
county conventions and has never failed to do bis 
duty in a faithful and efficient manner. 



•:•=•!-: 



aW. HAMISFAR, M. I)., a highly success- 
ful, energetic and talented physician and 
surgeon of the school of homeopathy, is 
numbered among the most prominent citizens of 
Higginsville. Although he has resided here a 
comparatively brief period, his affiliations with 
leading benevolent, social and religious organiza- 
tions, and his manifest interest in the progress of 
local enterprise, together with his acknowledged 
professional skill, have secured for him a foremost 
position in the community. 

Dr. Ilamisfar is a native of Ohio and was born 
in Perry County, near Somerset, May 26, 1829. 
His paternal grandfather, Abraham Ilamisfar, was 
born in Germany, and, appreciative of the advan- 
tages offered by the United States, emigrated from 
his native land to America, where he first located 
in Maryland, and afterward became a pioneer of 
Ohio, in which State he died. The father of our 
subject, C. W. Ilamisfar, was born in Prussia, and 
came to America when only eight years of age. 
He was reared upon a farm in Ohio, and during 
the War of 1812 served his adopted country as a 
teamster. His large farm was mostly unimproved 
when it came into his possession, but lie resolutely 
began to clear the place and brought the land to 
a fine state of cultivation. He also kept a gen- 
eral store. After long years of industry he died 
in 1855, aged sixty-seven years. 

The mother of our subject, a most estimable 
and worthy woman, was a native of Uniontown, 
Pa., and bore the maiden name of Mary C. Miller. 
Her father, David Miller, was born in the Quaker 
State, of English descent, and was an early settler 
in Perry County, Ohio, later residing in Coshoc- 

16 



ton County. lie was a molder by trade, and was 
the inventor, patentee and manufacturer of the 
■■Franklin Fireplace," and also made various other 
useful articles. A patriotic man, he engaged val- 
iantly in the War of 1812. The mother of Dr. 
Ilamisfar died in Sedalia, Mo., in 1879, aged 
seventy-five years. Of her six sons, our subject 
was the youngest, and is the only one now living. 

The subject of this notice was reared ou a farm 
and was early (rained in agricultural duties, also 
assisting in his father's store. He attended the 
common schools of his home, later completed a 
course of study in the academy of Somerset, and 
when a mere boy studied medicine under his uncle, 
a botanic doctor. Undecided which profession to 
choose for his future life work, our subject com- 
menced to read law in 1853 at Circleville, with 
the well-known legal firm of Page <fc Renick, and 
for two years he continued the study of law. 
But not liking the practice of that profession, he 
resumed the study of medicine under Drs. McEl- 
wee and Adams, allopathic physicians of Somerset. 
For five and a-half years he continued in the office 
of these physicians, practicing under them, and 
became thoroughly acquainted with the details 
of this school of medicine. Not being satisfied 
with the harsh and baneful practice of the allo- 
pathic school, he began to investigate the teach- 
ings of Hahnemann, and finally read for twelve 
months in the office of Dr. Wilson Stanley, a cele- 
brated homeopathic physician of Somerset, after 
which he read and practiced for some time with 
Dr. I). 11. Beckwith in Zanesville, also a homeo- 
pathic physician. Dr. Ilamisfar then began homeo- 
pathic practice in Perry County. Afterward he 
located in Auglaize County, Ohio, and engaged 
in professional duties with great success. Having 
decided upon a still more extended course of 
study, he entered the Cleveland Homeopathic Col- 
lege, being graduated from this institution in 1870 
with the degree of M. D. 

Locating at St. Mary's, Dr. Ilamisfar soon estab- 
lished a most successful practice there. In 1879, 
he came to Sedalia, Mo., and entered into practice. 
After a time he went to Oswego, Kan., and was 
busih engaged there in professional work until 
the spring of 1886, when he settled in Jackson, 



334 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Tenn. During the eighteen months that he re- 
mained there he had a large practice, but cir- 
cumstances induced him to return to Oswego, 
Kan. In 1891, he came to Higginsville, nnd al- 
ready has an excellent practice. 

Our subject was married near Somerset, Ohio, 
in 1855, to Miss Mary E. Ritchey, a native of the 
Buckeye State, and a niece of the late ex-Congress- 
man. Thomas Ritchey. Dr. and Mrs. Hamisfar be- 
came the parents of seven children, of whom six 
are now living. Florence >>\, a graduate of the 
University of Massachusetts at Boston, received 
the degree of M. I >. from the medical department 
Of that widely known institution, and is now prac- 
ticing medicine at Lexington: C. W. died in 1888; 
Anna (i.. Mrs. Russell, resides in Higginsville; 
Leroy B., Inez E., Madie R. and Edward E. are at 
home. 

Our subject and his family are members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, and are among the 
valued workers of that religious organization. 
Dr. Hamisfar is a Mason and Knight Templar. 
He is a member of the American Institute of 
Homeopathy, and is also connected with the Ohio 
state Medical Society of Homeopathy. In polit- 
ical affiliations he is independent and votes for the 
best man regardless of party, considering only his 
fitness for the position. 



1* > > )i>Ji ' i ' V 



} i ' i ' i i \ < 



S. HOPKINS. The Hopkins family is of 
V English descent, and was first represented 
- in America in 1703, by ancestors who lo- 
gjj cated in Maryland. Joseph Hopkins, an 
English ancestor, married a Miss Fox, the daugh- 
ter of an Knglish officer. He was a farmer, living 
on an estate which remained in the family until 
the death of the grandfather of our subject. 
Great-grandfather Joseph Hopkins had but one 
-mi. l!iul>\. who lived and died in Talbot County, 
on the eastern slime uf Maryland, on a point of 
land extending into Chesapeake Bay, known as 
Ray's Point, where the first Joseph Hopkins settled. 



Grandfather Rigby Hopkins married Miss Mary 
Brown, December 16, 1798, and the children re- 
sulting from this marriage consisted of five daugh- 
ters and live suns, of whom we record the fol- 
lowing: Joseph Hopkins, the fourth of that name, 
born February 19, 1801, died in 1820; Solomon 
S., the father of our subject; Eliza. Margaret, 
Susan. Annie and Mary, all of whom died in 
Maryland. The death of the grandfather of our 
subject occurred in the same State in 1813. 

The first of the family to leave Maryland was a 
son of the second Joseph Hopkins, and he directed 
his steps toward the South. The first Joseph Hop- 
kins uf whom we have record m America was 
born in 1680, at Kay's Point, on Broad Creek 
Neck, near the town of St. Michael's, Talbot 
County, Md.. June 26, 1704. A son was born to 
Joseph Hopkins, who in 1721 married Elizabeth 
Skinner, and they had a family of sixteen chil- 
dren. Andrew S. Hopkins, a son of Joseph, emi- 
grated tu Ninth Carolina. Joseph Hopkins, the 
third, married Eleanor Rigby, January 26, 17(1(1, 
and died May 28, 1800. This last-named gentle- 
man had a family of seven children, one of whom 
was Rigby Hopkins, the grandfather of our sub- 
ject, born December 3, 1775. 

The father of our subject, Solomon Sharpe Hop- 
kins, born September 1. 1807, was the second 
child in the family, and married Hester Ann Seth. 
March 18, 1831, a daughter of James Seth, of 
Talbot, Md., and a family of eight children re- 
sulted, as follows: Joseph, the fifth of the name, 
died in June, 1892, on the old farm; James, a mer- 
chant in Baltimore; Henry S., our subject; Edwin 
W„ a resident of Talbot County, Md.; Alexander 
R., of Talbot County, born in 1812, killed May :'., 
1863, at Fredericksburg, in the same battle in 
which his beloved commander, Stonewall Jackson, 
lost his life; Sarah, wife of William II. Seth. of 
Talbot County; Hester Ann, wife of J. C. Kemp, 
of Talbot County; and Mary ('.. deceased, who 
married James McDaniel, of Talbot County. 

The mother of our subject died October 1 1, 
1856. The father died in April, 1889, in his na- 
tive county, having there bought a farm after 
marriage and always lived upon it. In polities he 
was a stanch supporter of the Democratic ptinci- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



335 



pies. As his father was one of tbe foundersof the 
Methodist Protestant (lunch in Maryland, he 
very naturally became connected with that religi- 
ous denomination. His death occurred at the age 
of eighty-three years, he being at that time pos- 
sessed of property amounting to some 1150,000. 
The subject of this sketch, II. S. Hopkins, was born 
January 22, 1829, in Talbot County, Md. In 
October, 1867, he came to Missouri, buying and 
Locating where he now lives. His place contains 
one hundred and sixty-eight acres of line land, 
which he devotes principally to grain-growing. 
Formerly our subject belonged to the Democratic 
party, but later he has become interested in and a 
member of the Farmers' Alliance. His religious 
connection is with the Christian Church, which al- 
ways finds in him a liberal supporter. 

The marriage of our subject took place in Octo- 
ber, 1870, to Miss Mary R. Martin, daughter of 
Dr. S. D. Martin, of Missouri, and the children 
who have been added to this household have 
been as follows: Hester Ann; Jennie May, now a 
student in Missouri Valley College, at Marshall; 
Harry II.; Lula L. M. and Willie R. The Martin 
family is of Scotch descent. The father of Mrs. 
Hopkins was born in Scott County. Ky., and was 
graduated from a medical college, at George- 
town, Ky. He married Miss Kate Pinkeiton, a 
daughter of William l'inkerton, of Kentucky, of 
Irish descent. Dr. Martin practiced medicine in 
Kentucky, but in the year 1 853 removed to 
Missouri. During the war. while on his way to 
join Gen. Price, he was captured at Black Water, 
sent a prisoner to St. Louis, later to Alton, 111., 
but was released the following March. In 1864 he 
returned to Kentucky, remained there for three 
years, and in the fall of 1867 he returned to Mis- 
souri, locating three miles east of Sedalia. In 
October, 1891, he moved into the city of Mar- 
shall, where he is now engaged in the practice of 
his profession. Dr. and Mrs. Martin were the 
parents of the following children: Mary, Mrs. 
Hopkins; Elizabeth, Mrs. William Unit, of Mar- 
shall; Jennie, deceased; William, a residenl of 
Kansas; Annie, Mrs. D. B. Allen, of Carrollton, 
Mo.; Fannie, deceased; Ernest, a resident of Mar- 
shall; Samuel, a resident of Chicago; and Solon, 



in Texas. As a reminiscence of the days before 
the war, we may mention that Grandfather Rigby 

Hopkins was the man to whom Frederick Douglass 
was hired when he ran away to the North. 




NDREW OLSON, a thorough and enter- 
prising business man and stone contractor 



of Marshall, Saline County, Mo., has done 
more to beautify and improve the ex- 
ternal appearance of the city and surrounding 
neighborhood, than any other citizen in the county. 
Understanding every detail in the requirements of 
his business, our subject has not only built sub- 
stantially, but, handling skillfully a variety of 
stone, produces harmonious and artistic outlines 
and effects. Thus identified with the advance- 
ment and rapid growth of city, county and State, 
Mr. Olson has also become a prominent and effi- 
cient factor in the development of the leading re- 
ligious, benevolent and social organizations of his 
adopted home. 

Our subject is a native of Sweden, and was born 
on the 27th of December, 1846, in Orebro Laen. 
His paternal grandfather, OlleOlesen, was a worker 
in wood, and, possessing fine mechanical genius, 
was a foreman. He was a Lutheran, and after a 
life of usefulness, died in his native land. Olive Lar- 
son, hisson, the father of Andrew, was a skilled me- 
chanic. His wife was Bettie Pearson, daughter 
of Ole Pearson, a fanner and miller of Sweden. 
Mrs. Larson lived and died in her native land. She 
was the mother of eight children, of whom seven 
grew up to years of maturity. Five of the sons 
and daughters are now living, and of these Mi'. Ol- 
son is next to the youngest. 

Our subject went to the good common schools of 
his native land, and, much in the company- of his 
father, learned rapidly the details of the iron, 
wood, brick and stone trade, and under the skill- 
ful training of his parent's master hand gained a 
thorough knowledge of stone-masonry. At first 
Mr. Olson was undecided as to which branch of the 



336 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



building business to engage in permanently, but 
Anally determined upon his present work, in which 
he bas been most successful. He early resolved 
to ii> bis fortunes in the broader and better paid 
held of labor in America, and in 1869 left Gotten- 
burg on the steamer "Victoria," and landed in 
New York after twelve days upon the broad At- 
lantic. He went Brst to Will Count3', 111., stop- 
ping at Cherry wing, and later at Momence, in Will 
County, and in the fall of 1869 came to Missouri, 
lie located iu Georgetown, and assisted in build- 
ing the bridge across the Muddy at Lexington, 
which work was being done for the Missouri Pa- 
cific Railroad. 

Mr. Olson also worked as stone-mason at La 
Mine, in Cooper County, and found employment 
in the building of several bridges. In the spring 
of 1871, he settled in Marshall, and was soon busily 
working for Contractor Thompson. During this 
time he worked under skilled railroad engineers 
and mechanics, and for two years worked with 
bosses in railroad contracting, and then began 
business for himself, contracting for the building 
of bridges, culverts, and the foundation of houses. 
He contracted for the building of the bridge of the 
.Missouri Pacific Railroad, and the Keokuk & 
Kansas City Railroad, which latter road was never 
finished. lie successfully did the stone work of 
the Chicago & Alton Railroad for eight miles, 
and had a large contract with the Missouri Pacific 
Railroad, and contracted in various localities and 
different counties with great success. He now 
owns and operates the Sand Rock Quarry, two 
miles east of Marshall, which quarry he himself 
opened. Our subject built all the fine stone work 
now to be seen in Marshall, and has been pros- 
pered from the first day of his arrival in the South- 
west. 

Mr. Olson is a Director and stockholder in the 
bank of Saline, and owns much valuable real- 
estate. He has a handsome residence at the corner 
of English and Jackson Streets, and owns and 
rents other houses, lie built the substantial and 
commodious Young .Men's Christian Association 
building, two stories in height, and in every part 
of the city he has been busy at various times. Mr. 
Olson was married in Chicago, in 1869, to Miss 



Caroline Boman, who was born in Sweden. Four 
children have blessed their union: Emily, a gradu- 
ate of the High School, died November 27, 1892; 
Tillie Lee, attending the Missouri Valley College; 
William, also in the Missouri Valley College; and 
Griffith, the youngest of the promising sous, now 
attending the public school. The family are 
widely known, and have a large circle of friends. 
Mr. Olson is interested in all enterprises tending 
to the advancement and uplifting of the masses, 
and is in every way an earnest citizen, but lie has 
no desire for office or political preferment, but de- 
votes much time to church work. For fifteen years 
he has been a Ruling Elder, and foi a long time 
one of the Trustees, and is one of the most promi- 
nent supporters of the Cumberland Presbyterian 
Church, and was a member of the Building Com- 
mittee of the new church. He, however, does not 
confine his attention or liberality to one organiza- 
tion, us he has assisted in building other churches. 
Mr. Olson and his partner, Mr. L. W. Scott, ma- 
terially improved the business portion of the citk 
when they erected a substantial brick building on 
the west side of the square. In connection with 
George II. Althouse, he owns the building on the 
east side of the square occupied by Rose <V* Buck- 
ner. Self-reliant and energetic, our subject has 
experienced the prosperity which America awards 
to the honest toilers in her midst, without regard 
to creed or nationality. Identifying himself witli 
the interests of the people of this great country, 
Mr. Olson has not only won a fortune, but has 
gained the priceless confidence and esteem of all 
with whom he has been associated. 



s~~ 



AI.DWIN HARL, a well-known resident of 
Saline County, Mo., is the subject of this 
sketch. His birth took place December 29, 
1790, in Loudoun County, Va., but when 
about six years of age his parents emigrated to 
Mason County, Ky., and there he grew to mature 




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPIHCAL RECORD. 



337 



years and received a common-school education, as 
that was understood at that time. He was first 
married to Miss MaryGates, who died, leaving him 
one child. John P., whogrew to mature years, mar- 
ried, and died in Kentucky, and left two children, 
one of whom, Mary, became the wife of Thomas 
Boatwright, of Marshall; the other was John B., 
of Barton, Mo. 

After the death of the first Mrs. Ilarl, our sub- 
ject married Elizabeth, the daughter of David 
Evans, and to this union one son was born, Baldwin 
E., whose birth occurred in Kentucky in 1852. 
Soon after this Mr. Marl came to Saline County and 
settled on the farm where he lias since resided. His 
life has been one of hard work, but through it all 
he has remained a temperate, Christian gentleman. 
Many years ago he became one of the pious fol- 
lowers of the reformation established by Alexander 
Campbell, and has eversince been a good and con- 
sistent member of that denomination. 

Politically, Mr. Hail was originally an old-line 
Whig, but upon the organization of the Republican 
party, he joined the ranks of the Democratic party, 
and has been its stanch supporter ever since. He 
is now a feeble old man, but has borne well his 
part in life, and when the great call comes which 
must be obeyed by all, he will pass from earth la- 
mented by many. 

Baldwin E. Ilarl, the son of the above-mentioned 
subject, grew up in Saline County, Mo., and was 
given every opportunity for education in the com- 
mon schools, and then entered the William Jewell 
College at Liberty, from which place he entered 
the ministry of the Baptist denomination in 187 , 
and has so continued eversince. Previous to this 
time he had married Miss Maxcy Campbell, and to 
them has been born one daughter. In January, 
1885, Mr. Ilarl became the beloved pastor of the 
Baptist Church of Fairville, and has officiated in this 
pulpit ever since. He is the Secretary of the Ex- 
ecutive Board of the County Association of that 
church. 

Mr. Ilarl has been actively connected with the 
County Board of the Association since 1884, and 
has had charge of all of the correspondence and is 
thoroughly acquainted with the workings of the 
bodv in everv field of usefulness. His liberal and 



progressive manner of thought has made him 
very much esteemed in other denominations and in 
secular life. Socially he is a member of the Ma- 
sonic fraternity, and has been thus connected for 
some years. His field of work in Fairville is a 
large one, and under his wise guidance has been 
very prosperous in the past. 



<« / II. LI AM B. MILLER, merchant and Post- 
\/-J// master at Blue Lick, is a man whose busi- 
V*/™ ness experience has been quite varied, and 
who has been successful in the different pursuits 
in which he has interested himself. He was born 
in Danville, Ky., in 1832, and came to Saline 
County with his parents in May, 1837, so he may 
almost be claimed as one of Saline Count \ 's own 
children. 

Mr. Miller's parents, Gen. William and Elizabeth 
(Gaines) Miller, were natives repectively of Ken- 
tucky and Virginia, the father having been com- 
mander of the militia of twelve counties in his na- 
tive State, and having held that position until he 
came to Missouri. For thirty years he was engaged 
in dealing in hogs across the mountains into the 
Virginia Valley, and after coming to Missouri he 
was a successful farmer and stock-raiser, adding 
one more to the list in that honorable and inde- 
pendent calling. His family was of German de- 
scent. William B.'s maternal grandfather, (apt. 
Gaines, was a soldier in the War of the Revolution. 

As has been indicated before, the subject of this 
sketch grew up in this county. In 1856 he mar- 
ried Rachel A. Way land, of Clark County, and to 
them was born one child, John (t., who is now Jus- 
tice of the Peace at Marshall. The Millers have 
been Democrats si nee I860, previous to which they 

were Whigs. John G. Miller e of the brothers 

of William I'.., served three terms in the Missouri 
State Congress, so that the family have been well 
represented in Governmental positions. 

Mr. Miller has been engaged in the mercantile 
business for twenty-five years, for the past Inn 



:;:;s 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



years having been located at Blue Lick. He is also 
the Postmaster, as stated before, combining the two 
occupations very happily. He is interested in 
church work, being a member of the old-school 
Presbyterian Church. It is not necessary that a 
man's life shall be full of exciting incidents in or- 
der that it may be interesting and influential, as is 
shown by the life of our subject, for every one who 
goes on in the even tenor of his wa}- honorably 
and strongly is a power in the community and an 
important factor in the life of a nation. 






¥D. WOOLDRIDGE, one of the honored 
pioneers of Missouri, an energetic citizen 
and excellent business man, and later a 
successful agriculturist, now retired from the act- 
ive labor of life, is numbered among the promi- 
nent and influential residents of Cambridge, Sa- 
line County, Mo. Horn in Nelson County, Va., 
in 1833, our subject was the son of Francis M. and 
Jane K. (Land) Wooldridge. Both his father 
and mother were native Virginians, and there 
reared the eldest of their family of eight children. 
The paternal grandfather was also of Southern 
birth, and served bravely in the War of 1812, 
about six months after the termination of which 
he died. 

But three of the children who blessed the mar- 
riage of Francis M. and Jane K. Wooldridge now 
survive. Martha Wooldridge, the eldest daughter, 
born in Virginia in 1820, married B. F. Ayers, a 
carpenter, and resides with her husband in Cam- 
bridge; Amanda, born in Virginia in 1822, was 
married to George P. Norvell, and died in 1849; 
Mary Ann, also a native of the Old Dominion, 
born in 1821, was married to B. F. Ayers, and 
died in 1848; J. B. II. Wooldridge was born in 
the State of Virginia in 1826, and was united in 
marriage to Miss Booker, who died in 1849, her 
husband afterward marrying Miss Sarah Long. J. 
B. H. Wooldridge was a Methodist preacher for 
forty-two years, and the reverend minister of the 



Gospel was also a teacher in Jefferson Prison. The 
other brothers were William, Robert, Frank and 
our subject. Robert N. Wooldridge was born in 
Virginia in 1826, ancl journeyed to California in 
1850, dying in the Golden State the same year. 
Francis M. was born in the Virginia home in 
1828, married Miss Sarah Norvell, and with his 
wife resided m Saline County, where he was profit- 
ably engaged in the trade of carpenter and builder, 
but is now deceased. William was born in Virginia, 
and died there in 1872. 

Our subject was but four years old when he 
came, a little buy, with his widowed mother to 
Missouri. He was carefully reared and educated 
in the best schools the State afforded in those days, 
and devoted much of his time to study, until at 
the age of fifteen years he determined to work his 
own way upward, and to that end engaged in 
business, first in Cambridge, then in New Frank- 
fort, and afterward in Glasgow. The ambitious 
and energetic young lad had many trials and diffi- 
culties to overcome, but he was resolute and stead- 
ily persevered, reaping prosperity and success as 
the reward of honest, manly self-reliance. In 
1879 Mr. Wooldridge engaged in the pursuit of 
agriculture, purchasing one hundred and twenty- 
five acres, which he brought to a high state of cul- 
tivation, and has been able to rent it to excellent 
advantage. 

The pleasant home of our subject is one of the 
most attractive in Cambridge, and contains all 
the modern improvements. Five commodious, 
well-arranged rooms, broad hall and porches, or 
galleries, are the main features of the convenient 
house. Mr. Wooldridge was married in 1854 to 
Miss Mary K., a daughter of James A. and Sarah 
(Guerent) Norvell, all of Cambridge, where the 
marriage occurred. Mrs. Wooldridge was born in 
1832. and became the mother of five children. 
The eldest child, .Mary A. Wooldridge, was born 
in Saline County, Mo., in 1854, and married Wal- 
ter Burke, now deceased, and continuing to reside 
in Gilliam, is at present Postmistress there. James 
M., born in Saline County in 1850, married Miss 
Powell, and the}' now live upon a farm in Gilliam. 
Martha J., also a native of Saline County, born in 
1868, was educated in Cambridge, and now teaches 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



339 



school in Gilliam. Susan A., born in Saline 
County in 1862, is also a successful school teacher 
and resides in Cambridge, where she enjoyed the 
advantage of an excellent course of instruction. 
Beulah. born in Saline County in 1865. is mar- 
ried to T. W. Swinnev. and with her family lives 
in Cambridge Township. 

Mr. and Mrs. Wooldridge are highly esteemed 
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and 
together with their sons and daughters deservedly 
command the confidence and regard of the public. 
They are all ready to aid in every good cause. and 
our subject and his wife are among the liberal 
supporters of their church. .Mr. Wooldridge has 
for a full quarter of a century been connected 
with the Masons, and is a valued member of the 
order. He is also fraternally associated witli the 
Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and in politics 
is a Democrat, adhering to the principles of his 
party. Mr. Wooldridge has experienced no desire 
for political preferment or office, but he takes an 
active interest in the local and national conduct 
of various responsible positions. As an early set- 
tler of Missouri, he has been an eye-witness of her 
rapid growth and improvement, and has himself 
materially aided in the educational advancement 
and upward progress of his adopted State. 



^m>^<m=*=- 



EDWARD T. SMARR, one of the large land- i 
owners and prominent farmers of La Fay- 
ette County, resides on section 32, range 
26, township 19, where he lias a farm of three hun- 
dred and twenty acres of land, upon which he is 
engaged both in farming and stock-raising. The 
birth of Mr. Smarr took place in Marion County. 
Mo., April 2, 1831). The great-grandfather of our 
subject came from Ireland to America, settling in 
Virginia, where the father of Edward was born. 
The latter became a pioneer of Marion County, 
Mo., having settled near Hannibal when the coun- 
try was all woodland. The usual trials of pioneer 
life followed, as at that time the country was wild 



and sparsely settled. So wild was it. that our 
subject remembers seeing deer upon his father's 
farm in his childhood years. 

The mother of the subject of this sketch was 
Elizabeth Smarr, a native of Kentucky. Four 
children of Mr. and Mrs. Smarr. Sr., survive, as 
follows: Mrs. T. C. Wilson. Mis. Thornton Ham- 
mack, Mrs. Garland C. Graham and Edward T. 
Early in the '50s Mr. Smarr brought his family 
to La Fayette County, settling at first upon rented 
land in township 48, range 26, and here he was 
also an early settler. Later lie located upon the 
farm where our subject now resides. The death 
of Mr. Smarr occurred in 18(11, after a life of great 
hardship and honest industry in opening up land 
and making possible the improvements which have 
since taken place in the county. 

The beloved mother of our subject still survives, 
and bears her weight of eight \ years with surpris- 
ing ease. She is regarded as one of the pioneer 
women of the county and many and interesting are 
her accounts of those early days, when if life was 
hard for the -'men folks," it was doubly so for the 
weaker sex. Our subject was reared to manhood 
among scenes which would probably fill the hearts 
of his grandchildren with dismay. As civiliza- 
tion increases and life becomes easier, people be- 
come more luxurious in their tastes, until the 
former luxuries become necessities. However, Mr. 
Smarr grew to vigorous maturity upon the farm, 
and after a short season devoted to acquiring an 
education, such as could be gained in the old log 
schoolhouse, he was prepared to begin life for him- 
self, and to put into practice those lessons of thrift 
and economy in managing a farm which lie had 
learned from his father. 

Our subject remained with his father until lie 
was ready to establish a home of his own. In Sep- 
tember, 1869, he married Miss Sarah .1. Greer, a 
daughter of Alexander and Sarah J. Greer, and 
by this union was reared a family of seven chil- 
dren, five of whom are yet living, namely: Will- 
iam A., Rovilla, George G., Robert L. and .lames 
E. Those who have passed away were named Ed- 
ward R. and Ella L. In the fall of 1862, our sub- 
ject enlisted in Cockerill's Battalion, and was senl 
t.> Arkansas, where he was connected with Hine- 



340 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



man's Confederate army, being detailed on courier 
duty. Subsequently becoming a member of Shel- 
b3 r 's Division, he took part in the battles of Perry 
Grove, and other engagements of minor import- 
ance. 

After the close of the war, our subject returned 
to La Fayette County, and resumed his occupation 
of farming on the homestead where he has since 
remained. At this place he owns three hundred 
and twenty acres of land, called the home farm, 
and in Freedom Township lie has one hundred and 
forty-eight acres. Mr. Smarr is a well-known man, 
one who is noted for his strict attention to his own 
affairs, although at all times ready to respond to 
calls upon his time or means, if convinced of the 
advantages which will accrue to his township or 
county. His views have made of him an active 
Democrat, and in that party he sees the redemp- 
tion of the country from all the ills which afflict 
her. 




ENRY SLUSHER, a prosperous and enter- 
prising farmer and representative citizen 
of Dover Township, La Fayette County, is 
one of the oldest residents and earliest pio- 
neers of his neighborhood and vicinity. A con- 
stant dweller within the limits of Missouri since he 
was a little boy, and living in La Fayette County 
for sixty years, he has been engaged in the pursuit 
of agriculture upon his highly improved farm of 
one hundred and sixty acres on section 9, town- 
ship 50, range 25, for the past forty-five years. 
Well known to all the settlers of his portion of 
the State, he enjoys the confidence and regard of 
the surrounding community, with many of whom 
he has labored in the common cause of local prog- 
ress and much-needed improvement, which within 
the last half-century have transformed the almost 
unbroken wilderness into smiling villages and 
farming country rich in harvest. 

Mr. Slusher is a native of Virginia and was born 
in Montgomery County, March 16, 1816. The 



SI usher family is of German descent, its members 
having been thrifty people, intelligent and pro- 
gressive. The freedom of the new world across 
the seas, and the better opportunities offered here 
for the education and advancement of their de- 
scendants, were the arguments which drew our 
subject's forefathers to America in early Colonial 
days. Law-abiding, industrious and thoroughly 
upright in their character, the Slushers have long 
been numbered among the substantial men and 
women of our great republic. The parents of 
Henry Slusher were both born and reared in the 
Old Dominion, and there married and settled 
in life. Christopher and Hannah (Meyers) Slusher 
gave their children the training in habits of ener- 
getic industry which made them earnest and self- 
reliant, and when our subject was old enough to 
assist upon the farm his father instructed him 
patiently in the lessons of daily duty, which 
through after years were of value and inestimable 
profit — a veritable capital in life. 

In the common schools of Virginia, Mr. Slusher 
received a rudimentary education, and was but, 
twelve years old when his parents removed to Mis- 
souri, locating on a farm in La Fayette County. 
From that time, 1828, until he reached twenty- 
one years of age, our subject remained upon the 
family homestead, but in 1837 located upon his 
present farm and began the world for himself. 
The soil has yielded to culture, and the then 
mostly wild land is now finely improved and an 
example of what may be wrought by intelligent 
toil. Mr. Slusher has been twice married. His first 
wife was Miss Rebecca Robinson, whom he married 
April 11. L839. She was the daughter of John 
Robinson, a well-known resident of La Fayette 
County. She survived her marriage but a few 
years, leaving at her death three motherless little 
ones, of whom two are now living, Euphemia and 
Christopher. 

The second marriage of Mr. Slusher was solem- 
nized January 23, 1815, when he was married to 
Miss Cassandra M. Hogan, the daughter of Alex- 
ander Hogan, a native of Kentucky, but a settler 
of 1837 in La Fayette County, arriving in the 
month of Ma}'. Mr. and Mrs. Slusher are the 
parents of a large family, twelve children having 




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K)RTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



343 



blessed their hearth and home. Ten of the brothers 
and sisters yet survive: Alexander B., Elizabeth. 
John, Thaddeus W., Emma J., Addie W., Cassandra, 
Beauregard, Lulu, and Henry. The children of 
our subject have all reached mature age and most 
of them are now caring for families of their own. 
They occupy positions of influence and are widely 
known as upright and industrious citizens, worthy 
of all due respect and honor. Mr. and Mis. 
Slusher have a large circle of friends and neigh- 
bors and now, passing adown life's vale, enjoy the 
happiness which a well-spent life confers. Mr. 
Slusher is a Democrat, firm in his belief in the pop- 
ular party, which embodies the principles of right, 
justice and truth. 



*^^l 



ii • '< 



HI 




REDERICK BEERMANN,oneof the promi- 

j) nent and wealthy old settlers of Freedom 
/JLj Township, La Fayette County, is the sub- 
ject of this notice. His record for liberality in 
educational and religious interests is an enviable 
one. Ever since the adventurous Henry Hudson 
steered his bark up the river which bears his name, 
other natives of Holland and her sister, Germany, 
have shown the same spirit, and have sought a 
home in this land, which they have made better by 
their citizenship. 

The subject of this sketch was born in Hanover, 
Germany, February 8, 1818, the only son in a 
family of six children, and was reared on a farm 
in his native land. His father died when Fred- 
erick was seven years old, and he was reared by 
an administrator. lie remained in his native 
country until the age of twenty-four years, when 
he decided to cross the ocean to the United 
States and there carve out a fortune in a way that 
was impossible in his own country. After a 
voyage of nine weeks he reached New Orleans, in 
November, 1844, and was obliged to make that 
city his home for four months, as the river was 
frozen and navigation therefore impossible. As 
soon as navigation was opened in the spring of 



1845, he made his way to La Fayette County, Mo., 
and immediately secured work by the month. 
Wages were good, and for four years he faithfully 
pursued whatever work came in his way. 

In the spring of 1847 our subject obtained :i 
commission from the Government to haul pro- 
visions to Mexico. Starting out with a load, he 
successfully accomplished his purpose, and relumed 
home in safety, with money in his pocket, having 
been absent five months and three days. In 1848, 
he purchased forty acres of his present place, on 
which was a log cabin; however, there was very 
little broken land. His home was located almost 
in a wilderness, as at that time the country was 
sparsely settled. Wolves were numerous, but they 
never annoyed him as much as the deer, and he 
found it necessary to keep a watch on the latter or 
they would have devoured all his corn. He never 
engaged in regular hunting, but it is safe to say 
that when he found deer in his corn one night, 
there was venison in his larder the next. At that 
time all the trading and milling had to be done by 
team to Lexington, some twenty-five miles dis- 
tant. 

Our subject was united in matrimony. May 6, 
1848, with Miss Sophia Bookhart, a native of 
Hanover, Germany, and twelve children, six boys 
and six girls, were born unto them. Only three 
of this large family are now living, namely: 
Henry; Sophia, who married John Viber, a farmer 
in Saline County; and Mary, who married Will- 
iam Slater, a farmer of this locality. The be- 
ginning of our subject's life in this country was 
at the very bottom of the ladder, but it is pleas- 
ant for him to look back on those days of hard- 
ship and realize that by his own efforts he has ac- 
complished so much. He now looks over four 
hundred and forty acres of finely cultivated land 
which he is able to call his own. On this he has 
engaged in mixed farming, raising stock and grain; 
formerly lie raised wheal, which he hauled to 
Lexington and sold for twenty-five cents a bushel; 
but in these days of quick transportation and 
Boards of Trade he has no difficulty in disposing of 
all that, his land will produce, at prices that are no 
doubt gratifying. Since 1879 he lias not engaged 
actively in work on the farm, as his son is capable 



344 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



of managing the entire business. The home place 
is a comfortable dwelling, and the barn is commo- 
dious and convenient. 

Mrs. Beermann died April Hi. 1880, and her loss 
was a heavy bereavement to the family, she was 
a good Christian woman, and a member of the 
Lutheran Church, with which Mr. Beermann is iden- 
tified. The latter has always contributed Liberally 
to religious affairs, and has been instrumental in 
the organization and building of Ave churches. 
In politics, he i- Republican, and during the war 
suffered for his principles. Many times he was 
shot at by bushwhackers, and at one time he had 
forty-live head of cattle stolen, which he had 
entirely given up, when nine days later they 
returned to him, with the exception of one yoke 
of oxen. Those were exciting times in this border 
State, but SO well known was he for his peaceable 
and kindly disposition that his property was re- 
turned to him by those in authority, although 
they did not agree with him in politics. That 
was the place and those were the times when it 
cost something to be a Republican. He has seen 
almost all of the development of the county, and 
what he takes the most pleasure in is the fact that 
but for him the churches probably would not have 
been built. The first one erected was a log 
church. He has willingly given to all, and to the 
last edifice built contributed $235 in cash. 



B_ 



=•=!£+£ 




TRWKLL STARKE, a retired agriculturist 
and honored pioneer of Missouri, now lo- 
| catcd upon section 10, township 50, range 
25, Dover Township. La Fayette County, 
was born in Hanover County. Va., upon May 27, 
1806, and has been a resident of Ids adopted State 
for the past forty-five years. The parents of our 
subject were Thomas and Elizabeth (Talley) 
Starke. John Starke, the paternal grandfather, 
was a native of Virginia, and there the father of 
Burwell was born and married, having passed his 
earlv manhood in his native Stale. 



Our subject attended the subscription schools of 
those early days in his boyhood, and assisted his 
father in the work of the farm. Ambitious and 
energetic, he desired a more extended education, 
and in 1825 entered the university at Charlottes- 
ville, Ya., being the first student to matriculate at 
the now time-honored institution. His father, 
widely known as the Hon. Thomas Starke, repre- 
sented Hanover County in the Legislature for a 
number of years, and was a man of more than 
ordinary ability and unusual integrity of charac- 
ter. Our subject came to La Fayette County in 
1847, and, engaging in the pursuit of general ag- 
riculture, prospered, and identifying himself with 
the growing interests of his new home has ever 
actively aided m local progress and improve- 
ments. 

In 1828, Mr. Starke was. at the age of twenty- 
two, united in marriage with Miss Amanda True- 
heart, a native Virginian, and a daughter of Will- 
iam Trueheart, a well-known citizen of the Old 
Dominion. By this wife Mr. Starke became the 
father of six children, two of whom are now liv- 
ing: Elizabeth, the wife of William White, of La 
Fayette County, Mo., and Benjamin F., who re- 
sides in La Fayette County. Mrs. Amanda (True- 
heart) Starke died in 1837, and our subject again 
married, in 1889, the lady of his second choice be- 
ing Miss Anna B., a daughter of Rev. William 
Hatchett, of Virginia, a minister of eloquence and 
natural ability. The second wife was the mother 
of six children, three of the sons and one daugh- 
ter yet surviving. E. T. Starke is a business man 
of Memphis, Tenn. Virginia is the widow of C. 
V. Voorheis, of West Virginia. Rev. J. 15. Starke 
is well known throughout La Fayette County, his 
present residence. Edward B. makes his home in 
Springfield, Mo. In 1851 our subject was again 
left alone with the care of his children. 

In 1853, Mr. Starke married the sister of his 
second wife, Miss Fannie L. Hatchett, and into 
their pleasant home came seven little ones, and of 
these three are now living: Lewis N., R. Lee, and 
Lucy G., the wife of William Fleet. The third 
wife of our subject, widely known and highly re- 
spected, passed away in 1891, mourned by a large 
circle of friends and relatives. The sons and 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



345 



daughters of Mr. Starke all occupy positions of 
influence, and in their several localities are among 
the important social and business factors of the 
communities in which they make their homes. 
Mr. William Fleet, who married Lucy G., the 
youngest daughter of our subject, is a native of 
Virginia, born in 1862, a son of William Fleet, 
of the same State. Mr. Fleet came to La Fayette 
County in 1880, and settled upon a farm which he 
has prosperously conducted ever since. 

Our subject has been a member of the Baptist 
Church for many years, having united with that 
denomination in 1835. Always active in the 
good work of that religious organization, he has 
officiated as Deacon with great usefulness, and 
aided in the extension of its influence and minis- 
try. Mr. Starke has never been troubled with po- 
litical aspirations, hut does his duty at the polls, 
and as his ancestors believed, so does he support 
the principles of the Democratic party. Upright 
and honorable in the daily walks of life, our sub- 
ject has won the esteem and confidence of count- 
less friends and neighbors, and in the evening of 
his days enjoys the consciousness of a life well 
spent. 




NDREW J. BLACKMAN is a veteran in 
the railroad service, being the oldest en- 
gineer on the Chicago & Alton Road in 
Missouri. He has been in service with 
this company since 1864, taking his present posi- 
tion two years later. Mr. Blackmail is a nativeof 
Davenport, Iowa, and was born May 11. 1843. He 
is a son of L. S. and Susan (Parker) Blackman. 
The former was born in Vermont, but was reared 
in London, Canada, his father being a farmer near 
that city. In 18:51, L. S. Blackman went West to 
Scott County, Iowa, making the journey by wagon, 
and two years afterward he took his family there. 
He followed farming until the time of his de- 
cease, and owned three hundred and twenty acres 
of good land, now in and adjoining the city. This 



was handsomely improved and made him a com- 
fortable home until his death, which occurred in 
1884, he being then seventy-four years of age. 

( )ur subject's mother was the daughter of Ethan 
Parker, who did gallant service in the War of 
1812. For a time he followed the occupation of a 
farmer in New York State, but later removed to 
Canada and settled near London. Susan Parker 
was born in New York, and was reared, educated 
and married in Canada, and died in Iowa in 1855. 
Our subject is one of eight children born of his 
father's marriage. Two of his brothers served in 
the war. The elder, Hiram, who was in the Second 
Iowa Cavalry, died while in the service. Andrew 
Blackman was the second eldest son and third 
child. He remained on his father's farm until 
eighteen years of age, enjoying the ordinary school 
advantages, which meant at that time that for 
three months out of the winter he conned what 
studies he chose to take in a log schoolhouse, 
which was located at one corner of his father's 
farm. 

In the spring of 1862, the original of this sketch 
enlisted in Company C, of the Twentieth Iowa 
Infantry, having been mustered in at Clinton, 
Iowa. His regiment was at once sent South, and 
the}' engaged in the battles at Springfield, Mo., 
Prairie Grove, and took part in many skirmishes 
through Kansas and Missouri. On being sent 
down to Mobile he contracted a serious sickness, 
and in February, 1864, was mustered out of ser- 
vice because of general disability. 

On returning home Mr. Blackman accepted a 
position with the Chicago it Alton Road in the 
fall of 18G4. His work was first that of braking 
from r.loomington to Chicago. He then became fire- 
man and later was promoted to the engineer's posi- 
tion. He has been on the road constantly, with 
the exception of eight months when he was ac- 
corded leave of absence to recuperate his health. 

It would be strange if in so long an experience 
in railroading Mr. Blackman had escaped all acci- 
dents, lie has had three collisions, and in the first 
one he went through the side of a freight train. 
his own train going at the rate of forty miles an 
hour. His engine was entirely demolished, but 
although he was in it at the time of the collision. 



346 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



hi' was not injured. The second collision occur- 
red at Higginsville. In January of 1885, his en- 
gine ran into another train,- and in this accident 
Mr. Blackman broke an arm and leg. In the third 
accident, which occurred in May. 1885, at Camp, 
Mo., he sprained both ankles. 

In October of 1871, oui subject entered upon 
his duties in the Missouri Division, his run being 
between this point and Louisiana. He was also 
engaged in building the road from Louisiana to 
Mexico. Mr. Blackman has been of a provident 
disposition, and his earnings have been invested in 
three good residences which bring him in a com- 
fortable income, lie located in Slater in 1883 and 
owns a pleasant home here. 

Our subject was married in Mexico, Mo., in 
1882, the lady of his choice being Miss Maggie 
Bartletl, who was born at Shackleford, this county, 
but was reared in Mexico. They are the proud 
and happy parents of six children, who are named 
as follows: Susie, Kstdla, Levi, Robert, Ward and 
Alice. Both parents spare no exertion or self- 
denial in giving these young people all the ad- 
vantages that will enable them to take a promi- 
nent position in social and business life. Fra- 
ternally, Mr. Blackman is a member of the Knights 
of Pythias. He also belongs to the Brotherhood 
<>f Locomotive Engineers, and that of the Loco- 
motive Firemen. lie has been much interested in 
and an active member of the Iron Hall League. Po- 
litically, he is a follower of that party which has 
guided the ship of State SO successfully for the 
past thirty \ ears. 



■■ w " » '" ^ H » ^ 



} l ' I <- 



\|7 ESLIE A. McMEEKIN. The number of 
I (73) citizens in La Fayette County who are na- 
,(*J — ^s tives of Kentucky is noticeable, and they 
nearly all belong to the agricultural class, who 
make stock-raising and breeding a specialty. This 
indeed speaks well for their adopted county and 
would almost indicate that it rivals the noted Blue- 
Grass region in its agricultural advantages. Among 



this class is our subject, who is a prominent and 
representative resident on section 11, township 49, 
range 26. He was born in Scott County, Ky., April 
23, 1. ^ I (i. and is a son of John and Margaret A. 
(Graves) McMeekin. The familj' has long been 
identified with the history and growth of Ken- 
tucky, although the first American representa- 
tive on the paternal side was of Scotch ancestry. 
Our subject's grandsire on the maternal side was a 
soldier in the War of 1812. 

Mr. McMeekin was reared to manhood's estate 
in his native place, and from his earliest youth he 
has been brought up to a practical knowledge of 
agricultural pursuits. He was educated at the 
Georgetown College in Scott County, an institu- 
tion that is notable for having turned out many 
prominent young men, and as that in which the late 
.lames <;. Blaine first began his career as a teacher. 

Like most Kentuckians, our subject married 
young, his bride being Miss Florence Rees,of Car- 
roll County, Ky., a daughter of the Rev. Farmer 
Rees. formerly a Baptist minister. Their marriage 
was solemnized January 2, 1868. They have been 
the parents of eight children, five of whom are 
living. They are: Anna M.. who is the wife of 
George Schooling; William C, Joseph M., Florence 
and Leslie.' The three who are deceased were 
named as follows: Charlie, Laura B., and Edinonia 
A. In the fall of 1868, our subject with his family 
migrated to Missouri and settled in La Fayette 
County, where they still live. 

In his youth Mr. McMeekin had imprinted upon 
his mind high ideals of a farm life and comforts, 
the country about his home in Scott County, Ky., 
being noted for its aristocratic old homes, built in 
the Colonial style, and with farms improved to the 
highest possible degree. Such a place as those he 
has reproduced in his Missouri home, developing 
it in every direction, and at the same time preserv- 
ing every pleasing feature of home life and com- 
fort. The place reminds one of the purse of For- 
tunatus, for having developed it in an agricultual 
way, it was discovered to have a rich coal vein, 
and this proved so valuable that in 1888 he leased 
it to the Rocky Branch Coal Company and it has 
ever since been quite productive. 

Mr. McMeekin is one of the progressive men of 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



347 



this locality who seeks to extend every resource in 
the county as far as possible. He is himself a pub- 
lic-spirited man, generous toward all worthy causes. 
He and his wife are members of the Baptist Church 
and are workers for the cause of religion, contrib- 
uting both of their time and means. 



*€!• 



HSJk 



. LBERT R. GREGSBY is a member of the 
1* 7 I same political partyas were Rufus Choate, 

I li) Abraham Lincoln, Grant, Poster, McKin ley, 
Blaine and Harrison, and haying the 
strength of his convictions that under the guid- 
ance of such men as these, Republicanism, with its 
protective tariff platform, its honest money and 
clean record, is the policy for the country, he 
has the temerity to promulgate its theories in 
his locality through the medium of a sheet known 
as the Saline County Republican, of which he is 
sole proprietor and editor. The Republican has 
a good circulation, as it deserves to have, and 
is a clean, bright and newsy sheet, which the 
head of a household need not fear to place in the 
hands of his children. Before enlarging more up- 
on this journal, let us consider briefly the personal 
history of the man who makes the paper. 

Albert Gregsby is a son of Alpheus O. and 
Amanda Gregsby, the former a native of New York 
and the latter of Louisville, Ky. The decease of 
the father occurred in Logan. Kan., in 1878, after 
an extended career of usefulness. The mother 
died in Minnesota in 1888. They had six children, 
and of these our subject is the eldest. He was 
born in Noble, Richland County, 111., June 24, 1865, 
and enjoyed the privileges and advantages to be 
obtained in the public schools which our Federal 
Government has placed within the reach of every 
child in the Union. He learned the printer's trade 
in Nebraska. 

Having acquired this key to the treasure house 
of knowledge and fortune, our subject applied it 
at various places m Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri. 
When a lad of seventeen he precociously estab- 



lished a paper at Holdrege, Neb., which was known 
as the Equity, and it was a well-printed and credit- 
able sheet in spite of the youth of the editor. This 
he continued for a year, and was then taken in on 
the Alma Times as assistant editor. After remain- 
ing on that paper for two years he followed his 
trade in various places in Kansas until 1888, when 
he came to Missouri. For three and a-half years 
lie was employed in the various branches of work 
known in a printing-office. He then located at 
Slater and founded the Saline County Republican. 
It now has a circulation of eight hundred and is 
accorded a hearty welcome in all the homes of its 
patrons. 

Mr. Gregsby was married in Slater, March 29, 1888, 
to Miss Minnie E. Teter, a daughter of John A. 
Teter, of this county, where the lady was born and 
reared. Mr. and Mrs. Gregsby arc the parents of 
two children whose names are Clara A. and Claude 
R. Our subject is a progressive and wide-awake 
young man to whom the future is full of promise. 




ARTIN II FILER. The rapid and sub- 
stantial growth of the city of Slater has 
brought (Hit the best and most original 
and artistic tastes of that class of artisans 
who build our houses and public buildings. 
Among these Mr. Ileiler is one of the largest and 
most successful contractors, and a builder noted 
for his thoroughness and faithfulness. He is 
also a good architect and does a really high 
grade of work, and has erected the majority of the 
most notable buildings in town. Personally, he is 
a man who is thoroughly agreeable, pleasant and 
affable, and has, as he deserves, the cordial liking 
of all. 

Mr. Ileiler was born at Mannheim, Baden, 
Germany, February 9, 1843. His father, Robert 
Ileiler, was born in the same town and was also a 
carpenter and builder. His grandfather Ileiler 
was a participant in Napoleon's famous but disas- 



348 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



trous march to Russia. Robert Heiler spent three 
years in Australia in mining during the gold ex- 
citement. His business in Mannheim was of im- 
portance and be was very successful. His wife, 
our subject's mother, whose maiden name was 
Katherine Heilich, a daughter of George Heilich, 
also a contractor and builder, was a native of the 
same place as was her husband. She was the 
mother of five children, four of whom are now 
living, and of these Martin was next to the young- 
est. 

Our subject spent his youth on the banks of the 
beautiful Rhine, gaining his education first in the 
common schools and later becoming a student at 
the gymnasium. From the time he was old 
enough to stand at the bench until sixteen, he 
spent his spare hours working under the direction 
of his father, lie then went to Switzerland and 
was employed at his trade in various cantons, 
spending much of his time in Zurich, the cele- 
brated seal of the old university. There he as- 
sisted in the building of the large polytechnic 
school, and during the winter time he went to 
Munchen. giving his attention to the study of 
architecture. For three years he studied drafting 
and all branches of his chosen profession, remain- 
ing in Switzerland until twenty, and while there 
experienced the satisfaction of an Alpine excur- 
sionist. At the age of twenty he took up the 
millwright's trade at Bruchsal, Baden, remaining 
there two years, after which he came to America, 
in the fall of I860. In the trans-Atlantic voyage 
he took the steamer "Limerick" from Liverpool to 
New York, and on landing went to Highland, 
Madison County, 111. He there worked at the 
millwright's trade until 1868, when he came to 
Salisbury, where he began contracting and build- 
ing for himself. His business prospects were very 
satisfactory and he erected mills, business blocks. 
etc., his high-grade work always giving the great- 
est satisfaction to his patrons. 

In 188(1. the subject of this sketch came to Slater, 
which was then a new town, and at once began 
contracting and building, and superintended the 
setting up of the machinery in the first mill that 
was built here, and when it was burned he erected 
the second. Mr. Heiler has a great sense of fit- 



ness, as is seen from the many classes of buildings 
which he has put up. All the churches in the 
town, with the exception of one, were raised un- 
der his superintendence, and all the large brick 
blocks, save about three, are the work of his brain 
and design, and of his superintendence in erection. 
He has at the same tune done considerable con- 
tracting in other cities. His own residence is a 
tasteful and attractive home of his own construc- 
tion and he also owns three other residences in 
this city. He started the Slater brick-yard, which 
is located two miles southeast of the city and 
which supplies most of the brick used in the city 
and vicinity. This is run under the firm name of 
Bruckman & Heiler. They turn out about one 
million bricks a year. 

Mr. Heiler was married in Mascoutah. St. Clair 
County. 111., in 186'.). Miss Carrie Hetter becoming 
his wife. She is a native of Prussia, having come 
to this country four years prior to her marriage. 
Mr. and Mrs. Heiler are the parents of five chil- 
dren: Lucy, now Mrs. Manaker, of Slater; Katie, 
Lena. Oust and Deno, who are at home. Our 
subject served as City Alderman for three terms, 
and was on the committee which put the electric 
lights in the city. He is a Republican in politics, 
of the true-blue sort, and has been sent as a dele- 
gate to county and State conventions. 



ffi OHN T. GOODWIN, one of the prominent 
I business men of Alma, La Fayette County, 
Mo., is the subject of the present sketch. 
Here he carries on an extensive trade in 
lumber, hardware, wagons, buggies, and farm im- 
plements, filling the demands of the trade in this 
section very successfully in his line. The birth of 
our subject took place in Rappahannock County, 
Va., in 182'.), a son of James and Elizabeth J. (Cor- 
der) Goodwin, natives of Virginia. When but 
ten years of age, he accompanied his parents to 
Missouri and became a pupil at the public school, 
continuing at intervals there until the age of 



TORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



349 



twenty-one years, when be began farming upon his 
own account and continued at this vocation until 
1852. 

In the latter year, our subject removed to Cali- 
fornia to enter the gold diggings, where be re- 
mained for two years, and in 1854 he returned and 
recommenced farming, which he continued until 
1881, when he embarked in the dry-goods business 
and in general merchandising, including lumber, 
which lie carried on until 1889. At that time he 
sold his slock of general merchandise and then 
embarked in the hardware and implement business. 
At the same time he is conducting an extensive 
lumber business at Alma. Mr. Goodwin is also a 
stockholder in the Alma Creamery Company, one 
of the growing interests of this place. In politics. 
he is a pronounced Democrat, active in the party 
ranks. 

Our subject married, in 1859, Miss A.J.Gog- 
gins, a daughter of Christopher Goggins, a native 
of Kentucky. Mr. and Mrs. Goodwin have become 
the parents of eight children, but only three of 
these are living, as follows: Lily, Elizabeth M., and 
James C. Their handsome residence is in this 
pleasant little city, where they are well known and 
most highly respected. Their religious connec- 
tion is with the Presbyterian Church, and they are 
active in all good works, Mr. Goodwin always 
favoring everything looking toward the improve- 
ment of the city or county. 



^~§^MM^ 




J/^ ON. JEROME I). EUBANK. The flower of 
Southern chivalry is not by any means in 
the sere and yellow leaf, although the vast, 
domains, with their regiments of dusky at- 
tendants, are things of the past. The old-time 
chivalry has taken upon itself a higher and more 
earnest ideal of the good that the future will 
develop. As a token of this we present to the 
reader a sketch in outline of the gentleman whose 
name is quoted above, who, although still in the 
first enthusiasm of early youth, has already ac- 



quired honors from the public, not by inheritance 
nor through compliment, but because of bis own 
unquestioned merit. 

The affable and courtly subject of this -ketch 
was born in Jefferson Township, Saline County, 
October 3, 1865. He is a son of Reuben 15. Eu- 
bank, a native of Kentucky, who is a farmer in 
Jefferson Township. His mother, prior to her 
marriage was Miss Elizabeth Whitfaker, who died 
when our subject was about eight years old. 
After completing his course in thecommon schools, 
Jerome Eubank entered the High School of Slater, 
and finished his course there with great credit to 
himself, lb- was reared on his father's farm, which 
continued to be his home until about 1885. 

At the date above mentioned, the original of 
this sketch came to Slater, and here he has lived 
ever since. Since that time, he has been engaged 
in the live-stock business and is at present con- 
nected with the Chicago Live Stock Commission 
Company. lie has taken a prominent part in all 
local affairs and is enthusiastic in political work. 
He was elected to the .Missouri Legislature on the 
Democratic ticket in the fall of 1890, and has the 
honor of being the youngest member of the pres- 
ent house, and probably the youngest who has 
ever served in the house. He was Chairman of 
the Committee on Ranks and Banking, also a 
member of the Committee on Municipal Corpora- 
tions. 

Mr. Eubank is a member of the State Breed- 
ers' Association, and was also Secretary for a year 
of the Missouri State Farmers', Shippers' and Busi- 
ness Men's Association. Mr. Eubank has found 
that his fraternal associations have been of great 
service to him in his business connections and he 
takes great pride in his membership with the Ma- 
sons. He is a member of Blue Lodge No. 63, and 
Saline Royal Arch Chapter and Missouri Com- 
raandery of Marshall No. 36, and Ararat Temple, 
of Kansas City. He reflects great credit in his line 
of conduct not, only upon his home training but 
the State to which he owes allegiance. 

Mr. Eubank was married November 13. 1890, 
to Miss Zudie R. Purdom, a native of Macon. 
Macon County, Mo., who is the daughter of Heze- 
kiah Purdom, a Missourian by birth, and a jour- 



350 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



nalist by profession but now retired from business. 
Mrs. Eubank 's mother was formerly Miss Theo- 
dosia Hudson, a native of Pike County, Mo. 




i \l;( I s L. BELT, Jr. The firm of Belt & 
Hendricks is composed of our subject and 
1 his mother-in-law, a,nd they conduct a 
very profitable livery and transfer busi- 
ness in Higginsville. Mr. Belt was born in St. 
Louis, Mo., June 6, 1863, and is the son of Capt. 
Marcus L. licit (see his sketch). He was reared 
in Dover. La Fayette County, until eleven years of 
age, and then moved to Carrollton, Carroll County, 
Mo., where lie remained until he was fifteen. At 
that age he was sent to St. Louis and there at- 
tended the city High Schools. 

In 1882 Mr. Belt went back to Carrollton with 
J. B. Smith and there started a drug store, which 
he conducted for two years. In 1881 he removed 
to Marshall and there engaged for a short time as 
a clerk with his father in the grocery business. 
During the above-mentioned year he went to 
Texas, and for three years was Superintendent on 
a ranch there. His work was of such a nature that 
it required the most arduous exertion on his part, 
for the ranch was large and was stocked with an 
immense number of cattle. In his wanderings he 
traveled throughout the entire State of Texas. 

In 1MK7 our subject returned to La Fayette 
County and became book-keeper for the Rocky 
Branch Coal Co., located in Higginsville. A year 
later he engaged in farming, and in 1890 embarked 
in the livery business, which he now conducts in 
addition to his farm labors. July 1, 1891, he 
bought his present barn, which is 50x140 feet and 
is the most commodious in the city, containing 
everything needed in a first-class enterprise of 
this kind. 

In shipping horses Mr. Belt conducts a very prof- 
itable business. He has sixty head of fine horses 
and owns some of the finest stallions in the State. 
We may mention in this connection "Fashion," 



No. 4149, by "Stranger," the only son of "Gold- 
smith Maid;" "Norton." a bay stallion, sired by 
"Idle Wilkes," first dam by "Clark Chief;" "George 
Vest" is a bay stallion sired by "Steele," first dam 
"Dame Parradeen," by "Al West;" "Florence Ba- 
shaw," a four year old mare, sired by "Beemer's 
liashaw," being standard bred; "Calula," by "Jay 
Gould," first dam "May Day," by the great sire 
"Aberdeen." 

Mr. Belt was united in marriage December 24, 
1890, to Miss Clara Hendricks, who was born in 
La Fayette County, the daughter of the late James 
1'. Hendricks, a prominent farmer. Our subject is 
a member of the order of the Knights of Pythias 
and the Uniformed Rank. He is a stockholder 
and Director in the Rocky Branch Coal Company, 
which has proved a very profitable investment. 
In politics he is a Democrat, and takes an active 
interest in the advancement of that party. So- 
cially he is very popular in his neighborhood. 



~3g + 



tj OHN F. FLOYD is a man who proves that 
"nothing succeeds like success." He has 
worked his way steadily and quickly to a 
responsible and remunerative position, and 
shows himself thoroughly competent to fill it 
well. He is a man of ability, clear-headed and en- 
ergetic. Mr. Floyd is a native of Somerset, Pulaski 
County, Ky., where he entered upon this'mundane 
sphere November 7, 1865. His father, Monroe 
Floyd, was born in the same State and town. His 
grandfather was a farmer in Kentucky and owned 
a plantation there during the War of 1812. Mon- 
roe Floyd was also a planter, although at one time 
he was engaged in a dry-goods business at Somer- 
set. Later, he was a farmer in the same county, 
and was in the Confederate army during the Civil 
War, filling the office of Lieutenant for over a 
year. 

In 1871, the father came to Saline County, Mo., 
and located in Salt Pond, near Sweet Springs, re- 
maining there for one year and removing thence 




v v* 



■/> 










PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



353 



to Blackburn. He has a farm of one hundred 
and sixty acres that is in a good locality, and there 
deals extensively in cattle. He is a member of the 
Baptist Church, and a Democrat in politics. He 
married Mai y A., daughter of Andrew Cain, both 
of whom were born near Sweet Springs. The fa- 
ther was a farmer in Saline County and there died. 
The daughter visited in Kentucky, where she met 
her husband, the father of John F. She is living 
at the present time and has been the mother of 
eight children, seven of whom survive. Of these, 
our subject is the eldest. 

Mr. Floyd was born in the famous Blue Grass 
region and was reared on the farm, attending 
the public schools of the vicinity. At eighteen he 
learned telegraphy under an operator at Blackburn, 
this State, and in 1884 he was made night operator 
at that city, continuing to lill that position until 
removed to Gilliam, where he filled the same posi- 
tion. He was then changed to Grain Valley, 
whence Jie moved to Laddonia. After this he 
went to Blackburn for a time, thence to Marshall, 
later to Odessa, then to Higginsville, and finally 
returned to Blackburn, where he remained for sev- 
eral months. In all these various changes he was 
engaged as a telegraph operator and was highly 
considered on the force. 

In 1887, our subject went to Kansas City and 
became night operator on the Chicago it Alton 
Railroad, serving in that capacity for eighteen 
months, after which he came to Slater as operator 
for the dispatcher here, serving six months and 
then returning to Kansas City, where he was em- 
ployed as day operator. In January of 1890, he 
came to Slater again as operator for the chief 
dispatcher, and served for two years. In January 
of 1892, he became train dispatcher, which posi- 
tion he has since filled to the entire satisfaction of 
the company in whose employ he is. He has al- 
ways been successful and is faithful to his work 
and the responsibility it involves. 

Mr. Floyd was married at Blackburn, June .">. 
1889, Miss Nettie S. Burk being his bride. She 
was born in Sedalia, Mo., and reared in Pettis 
County, and is a daughter of Elisha Burk. a car- 
penter in Blackburn. This union has been blessed 
by the advent of one child, Herbert M. The fam- 

17 



ily residence is situated in the northern part of 
Slater. 

Mr. Floyd is a member of the order of Railway 
Telegraphic Operators, Kansas City Division, of 
which society he has been Secretary. He and his 
wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian 
Church, and, in politics, he is a Democrat. Slater 
is pleased to name him as one of her representative 
citizens. 



G 



^EORGE FARRAR. The pressed brick in- 
-, dustry which is carried on in Lexington 
i^4 nas assumed important proportions, giving 
employment to large numbers of men and putting 
into circulation large amounts of capital. Our 
subject is the proprietor of one of the most im- 
portant of these yards, which is known as the 
Farrar Pressed Brick Works of Lexington. 

Mr. Farrar was born in the manufacturing town 
of Leeds, England, January 14, 1825. lie is a son 
of Thomas and Mary (Davis) Farrar, the former a 
merchant by calling. George Farrar spent his 
boyhood in his native place and attended the 
common schools until fifteen years of age. He 
was then apprenticed to learn the brick maker's 
and layer's trade, at which he worked until 1857, 
when he came to America, landing at Quebec, 
Canada. From Canada lie proceeded to Chicago, 
where he was employed for one and a-half -years. 

In the fall of 1858, Mr. Farrar moved to Lex- 
ington, where he was engaged in working at his 
trade. In 1861 he began contracting for the erec- 
tion of dwellings and business blocks. In 1 HG(> he 
began the manufacture of brick, which he has 
found so profitable that he has ever since con- 
tinued in it. During the war he was very success- 
ful in dealing in hemp, purchasing here and ship- 
ping abroad, where it was manufactured. Many of 
the most notable buildings in this locality have 
been erected by the original of this sketch. He 
built the Went worth Military Academy, the Ger- 
man Church, the Commercial Hotel, the First 



354 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Presbyterian Church, St. John's Colored Church, 
the Centra] Female College, beside many other 
handsome and costly structures in the city. In 
politics Mr. Farrar is an ardent Republican, believ- 
ingthe tenets of that party to redound to the finan- 
cial as well as governmental welfare of the coun- 
try at large. 

April 26, 1848, Mr. Farrar was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Elizabeth Boothman. She became 
the mother of three daughters, two of whom are 
living. Mary is the wife of Charles Kriehn, of 
Marshall, Saline County: Emma is the wife of 
Thomas Tibbs, of La layette County; the de- 
ceased daughter was Carrie, wife of Charles Kid- 
well, of Parkersburg, \V. Ya. Mrs. Elizabeth Farrar 
died July 24, 1*70. Our subject was again married 
September 24, 1872, this time to Miss Mary A. Hol- 
land, a daughter of George Holland, of Texas. 
She has proved herself to be a capable matron and 
an admirable wife and mother. Their family in- 
cludes four children, two sons and two daughters, 
whose names are: George T., Walter C, Katie M., 
and Hannah L. 

Pressed brick is now so much used in our supe- 
rior class of buildings that it is easy to see that 
the brick turned out from Mr. Farrar's yards is of 
the best quality, being hard, free from cracks, and 
of a good color. Thirty-five men are employed 
in the yards and the capacity of the works is about 
two million in a season. He ships throughout the 
adjoining counties. The family residence is lo- 
cated on South Street: and is a pleasant, homelike 
dwelling. 



•^£ 



E!*^ 



i S. ANDREWS. Men are known by their 
fruits as well as trees, and judged by this 
* I standard our subject would never be cen- 
V£) sured because of a failure to yield a good 
and large crop. Faithful in the small things of 
life, he has reached a point where he commands the 
respect and confidence of his fellow-citizens. His 
father, Rev. Milton Eldridge Andrews, a native of 



Bedford County. Ya.. was born in 1806, being the 
son of Wyatt Andrews, a soldier of the Revolu- 
tionary War. Our subject's mother, Keziah (Ar- 
nold) Andrews, a native of Campbell County, Ya., 
is living at the age of seventy-two years. She was 
married in the State of her birth, and has always 
lived there. Of her nine children, our subject was 
the fifth, though live of them only are now living. 
She and her husband, who died in 1861, were zeal- 
ous and devoted members of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church South. 

Our subject was born October 22, 1851, in Camp- 
bell County, Va., where he received an excellent 
academic education, and left there at the age of 
nineteen years to come to this county, where he 
settled on a farm in Clay Township, upon which 
he remained until 1890. lie had three brothers in 
the Southern army, one of whom was killed while 
lighting under Gen. Lee's command, in an engage- 
ment just before the surrender. Mr. Andrews was 
married December 27, 1877, to Miss Ida May Lee, 
daughter of Richard Lee, now deceased, one of 
the earliest settlers of La Fayette County. She 
was born September 8, 1858, in Clay Township, 
and received a superior education, completing it 
at Central Female College. Mrs. Andrews became 
the mother of four children, namely: Ressie Lee, 
Eugene Leslie (deceased), Carrie Virginia and 
Maud Arnold. 

Our subject has been a Steward and Trustee in 
the Methodist Episcopal Church South, of which 
his wife as well as himself is a member. For a 
number of years he filled very creditably the im- 
portant station of Superintendent of Sunday- 
schools of Clay Township. He is a member of the 
Masonic order, and is First Lieutenant of the order 
of Woodmen, both of Odessa. The political affil- 
iation of our subject is with the Democratic party, 
in whose deliberations and campaigns he always 
takes a very active part, and as a reward for his 
services and in appreciation of his merits he was 
nominated and elected County Court Judge in 
1890, and re-elected in 1892. A warm friend of 
the public schools, in his position as member of the 
School Board he is able to render very efficient 
help to the cause of education. His farm of one 
hundred and sixty-live acres in Clay Township is 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



355 



well improved and a valuable piece of property. 
The home of our subject is a very neat residence, 
built in 1891 at a cost of 1 1,200, and has a fine lo- 
cation just west of Odessa, and overlooking that 
picturesque village. 



U.I. POLLARD, the subject of this bio- 
graphical sketch, born in Lincoln Count}-, 
Mo., in January, 1847, and son of G. W. 
Pollard, a native of Virginia, is President of 
the Alma Creamery Company, Alma, La Fayette 
County, Mo. The father of W. J. was an early 
settler of Missouri; the mother, Serepta (Blancks) 
Pollard, was a native of Virginia. His paternal 
grandfather was named John Pollard. The ances- 
tors of the family came over from Scotland and 
settled in Virginia in the last century. 

The education of our subject, until his sixteenth 
year, was obtained in the common schools of 
Lincoln County; then followed one year's course 
at the Mexico Academy, Mexico, Mo. After an 
interval of two years, or when at the age of nine- 
teen, Mr. Pollard spent a year at college in .Wentz- 
ville, Mo. Now fully equipped by education for 
any business, he chose the occupation of a farmer, 
a calling he followed until 1884. At this junc- 
ture the season seemed favorable for embarking in 
mercantile trade; so our subject went into the 
grocery business in Laddonia, Mo., continuing in it 
for four years. 

From 1888 until 1891 Mr. Pollard was a travel- 
ing salesman for F. Smith & Sons, of St. Louis, 
a position he filled with great credit. He was 
elected in March, 1892, President of the Alma 
Creamery Company, a position he yet holds. In 
May, following, the creamery was put in operation, 
and under the management of Mr. Pollard has 
made steady- progress, until now it is one of the 
leading institutions of its kind in this part of 
Missouri. The creamery is fitted out with the 
latest improvements in the way of machinery and 



creamery apparatus. Fine cold storage is also 
connected with the plant. The creamery lias a 
capacity of sixteen thousand pounds of butter per 
day, pronounced to be of the most superior qual- 
ity, and for which a ready market is easily found. 

Good, solid men compose the list of stockhold- 
ers, and the institution is flourishing. A inostex- 
perienced butter-maker, J. W. Nelson, is employed, 
and the success of the enterprise is largely due to 
his skilled business methods. The officers of the 
company are: W. J. Pollard, President; I. P. Tay- 
lor, Vice-president; James Goodwin, Jr., Secretary; 
William Lohoefner, Treasurer. 

Mr. Pollard was married in 1871 to Miss Fannie 
II., daughter of John K. Lindsay, of Ken tuck}'. 
Three children bless the union of Mr. and Mrs. 
Pollard, namely: Henry N., Josie and Elizabeth. 
Our subject is a Democrat, holding strongly to the 
principles of that party. Mr. Pollard's home at 
Alma is a good frame residence, nicely located and 
with beautiful surroundings. 




-^-f^MNMlr 



*ROVE YOUNG, one of the most successful 
- and wealthy men in La Fayette Count}', was 
born in Freedom Township, this county, 
August 26, 1843. His father, Joseph L. Young, 
was born in Morristown, N. J., and the grand- 
father, Maj. Grove Young, was also born in New 
Jersey, where he was a successful farmer. His title 
of Major was bestowed upon him in the War of 
1812. He died in his native State. 

The father was an extensive manufacturer of 
carriages in Newark, X. J., where he was extremely 
successful, having the largest manufacturing estab- 
lishment in that vicinity. In the panic of 1836, 
he, like others, had to close up business. In 1837 
he came to St. Louis, where he worked at the trade 
of blacksmith, in which he was a skilled mechanic, 
until 1840, when he located in La Fayette County, 
entered Government land in Freedom Township, 
and improved it. 

In 1849, during the gold excitement of that 



356 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



time, lie went to California, across the plains, and 
engaged in trading very successfully for two 
years, when he returned homo via the Isthmus of 
Panama and New Orleans, and resumed his agri- 
cultural labors. In 1858 or 1859, he started West 
to California, taking a herd of cattle with him, 
but the Indians were so troublesome that he traded 
bis stock for land in Shawnee County, Kan., 
and there improved a large farm near Topeka. 
This valuable land is now owned by our subject 
and his brother. The father died aged seventy- 
three years. The mother, Lydia Rogers, was born 
in Newark, N. .1., of English descent, from a very 
prominent family both in England and the East. 
She died in Kansas after bearing her husband six 
children, five of whom are now living, four boys 
and one girl. 

Our subject was reared on a farm in Freedom 
Township and enjoyed the advantages of a com- 
mon-school education in the district schools; he 
also attended the school at Sweet Springs and the 
academy at Richmond, Mo., but at the first tap 
of the drum in 1861, when he was only seventeen 
years old, he enlisted in Company F, Fifth Kan- 
sas Cavalry, being mustered in at Ft. Leavenworth 
as a private. The regiment served in the Trans- 
Missouri army, and Mr. Young participated in 
nearly every engagement of his regiment until his 
three-year term of enlistment expired and he was 
mustered out as a Second Lieutenant. 

At the close of the war, Mr. Young began farm- 
ing and stock-raising in Freedom Township, this 
county, until 1875, when he engaged in merchan- 
dising in Aullville, in which he remained until 
1879, and then located in Iligginsville and en- 
gaged in the same business, in which he has since 
carried on a very active trade. In addition to his 
fine store in Iligginsville, he has established 
branches in some of the near villages. In Hig- 
ginsville, he has a large double store, in which he 
carries the largest stock of dry goods, cloaks, etc., 
in the city. 

In addition to the business mentioned, Mr. 
Young has been interested in other enterprises, 
among which are the platting of the south side 
addition of sixty acres, which he built up almost 
all himself, his interest in some of the most valua- 



ble coal mines in the State, and his farming lands 
in this county and Kansas. He is one of the larg- 
est real-estate owners in the city. 

In 1873, Mr. Young married in Johnson County 
Miss Ella L. Greer, a native of that county. This 
lady has ever been a faithful, loving wife and one 
of her husband's most enthusiastic admirers. Mr. 
Young is a Master Mason and Odd Fellow socially , 
and one of the county's most stanch and loyal 
Democrats. He is a man of sterling worth, who 
has carved his way to fortune through many 
difficulties, but now has reached an eminence from 
which he can look down and offer encouragement 
to those still struggling up the ladder of fame. In 
spite of his wonderful success, Mr. Young is a quiet, 
unassuming gentleman whom it is very pleasant 
to meet, and his many friends unite in pronounc- 
ing him one of the most esteemed citizens in Hig- 
grinsville. 



KWIS PHILIP KNOBLE, a prominent and 
successful coal operator, and proprietor of 
iaL-- the well-known Bruce & Knoble Coal Com- 
pany, is the subject of this writing. He was born 
in Lexington, Ky., February 1, 1854, the son of 
David Knoble, who was a native of Germany, and 
followed the occupation of a tailor. He came to 
America when a young man, and located at Nash- 
ville, Tenn., and after marriage opened a tailor 
shop there, but later moved to Kentucky, and 
went into the nursery business near Lexington. 
He is a man well regarded by his neighbors and is 
a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. 

The mother of our subject was Charlotte Myers, 
who was born in Central Port, Ohio, and was the 
daughter of John Myers, a farmer of Ohio. The 
mother of our subject died in 1875, having been a 
devoted parent to nine children, six of whom 
grew up. Edward entered the Twenty-first Ken- 
tucky Infantry, Union army, and later was trans- 
ferred to the staff of Gen. Rosecrans as an Aid, 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



357 



with the rank of Major from that time to the end 
of the war. IK' was made a prisoner and confined 
in Libby Prison for six months. He now resides 
in Washington State and is engaged in the hard- 
ware business. John was in the Fifth Kentucky 
Artillery from 18(53 for a space of eighteen 
months, and now resides in Kansas. Florence is 
employed upon the railroad; David is a Govern- 
ment gauger at Lexington; and Annie is at home. 

Our subject was reared in Lexington to the age 
of fourteen years and attended the public schools. 
In 1868 he came with his brother John to the 
State of Missouri, and brought some cattle through 
for John C. Young, who became his employer for 
two years at Dover. Later he returned to Ken- 
tucky, and there went into the employ of Capt. R. 
Todd, and remained in that State until 1880. 
During this time he developed into a horse trainer 
and breaker, and in the last-named year located 
in Higginsville, and opened a breaking and train- 
ing stable on the fair grounds. 

The love of a man for a fine specimen of the 
equine family is something not to be wondered at, 
but not all have the peculiar power of subduing 
the fiery temper, nor of quieting the nerves, of the 
thoroughbred. It seems strange to remember that 
horses were unknown in America before 1493, and 
that our own great Columbus, to whom we are 
doing tardy honor in these late days, was the in- 
troducer of these noble animals on his second voy- 
age to the West Indies. A shipwrecked Spanish 
vessel on the coast of Florida in 1527 is supposed 
to have distributed a part of its cargo of horses 
upon the mainland. 

This dissertation upon the horse was only an 
introduction to the statement that our subject 
had that love and admiration for horses which 
gave him the gift of being able to succeed with 
them. After locating here he became very pros- 
perous, and engaged in raising standard breeds of 
horses, and can point to some very famous ones, 
among which we may name: "Bessie Mambrino," 
with a record of 2.26, and "Allegro," with a 
record of 2.37 at three years. Notwithstanding 
his success, Mr. Knoble decided to make a change 
in his business, and in 1886 went into the coal- 
mining business. 



When our subject went into this new interesl 
he associated Robert Beatty with him as partner, 
and the firm operated the present shaft until 
1888, when J. 1). Bruce bought Mr. Beatty out. 
This paying mine is located one and one-half 
miles south of Higginsville, and is known as the 
W. C. Beatty farm ; it is on the belt line which 
connects with the Chicago & Alton and Missouri 
Pacific Railroads. The depth of the mine is forty- 
five- feet, with double shaft, and horse power. 
The vein is of eighteen inches and is full quality, 
as good as any in La Fayette County. The pres- 
ent capacity of the mine is four ears per day. and 
sixty men are employed. 

Since 1888 the firm has had a retail market in 
Kansas City, which consumes the whole output. 
Mr. Knoble manages the business at the mine, and 
Mr. Bruce at Kansas City, and they find a ready 
market for their produce, as it is regular furnace 
coal. Mr. Knoble has built a residence at this 
place. In 1883 he married Miss Julia Higgins, 
who was born, reared and educated near here. Her 
father is Harvey Higgins (see sketch). Four chil- 
dren have been added to this family, Harvey L, 
Edgar II., Myrtie S. and Annie F. 

Mr. Knoble is a Deacon in the Presbyterian 
Church, which he helped to build, and is very 
much respected in this connection. In his politi- 
cal opinions, Mr. Knoble inclines toward Democ- 
racy, believing in the principles of that party. 
He is a very enterprising and progressive man. 
and has done much for the development and ad- 
vancement of this county. 



* 



'Tj'OHN R. VANCE, a prominent member of 
the Saline County Bar, and a leading and 
influential citizen of Marshall, Mo., re- 
ceived in 1892 the distinguished and de- 
served honor of being appointed from the Seventh 
District as delegate to the National Republican 
Convention held in Minneapolis. For over a 
quarter of a century closely identified with all the 



358 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



best interests of his county and State, our subject 
ably represented his constituents in the great po- 
litical gathering in Minnesota, and through his 
fidelity and energetic service in behalf of their in- 
structions has won the esteem and confidence of 
the general public. 

The paternal grandfather of John R. Vance was 
born in the North of Ireland, and was the purser 
of the first vessel which sailed after the close of 
the Revolutionary War. James Vance, this worthy 
ancestor of our subject, built the first house 
erected in Martinsburgh, Ya., and there engaged 
at his trade of cooper. Later, he became one of 
the early settlers of Ohio, and named Martins- 
burgh, Knox County, where he gave his time to 
agricultural duties until far advanced in life. An 
energetic, enterprising and upright man and 
worthy citizen, he passed peacefully away in his 
eighty-seven tli year. 

James Vance was a consistent member of the 
Scotch Presbyterian Church all his life, and gave 
to all religious duty and work the conscientious 
and earnest effort of a true Christian. His son, 
Andrew Vance, was born in Martinsburgh, Ya., 
April 29, 1 808, and removed to Martinsburgh, Ohio, 
when that country was little more than a wilder- 
ness. He was trained in agricultural duties upon 
his father's farm, and. arriving at manhood, im- 
proved a homestead of his own. He held ollicial 
positions in the county, discharging the duties 
with honor, and served as Captain in the militia in 
the boundary trouble between Ohio and Michigan. 
Politically, he was a Democrat, and in religious 
affiliation a Presbyterian. He died October 8, 
1887, of old age. 

Mary J. Agnue, his wife, was born in Pennsyl- 
vania April 27, 1809. She was the daughter of 
Capt. Agnue, who was born in Ireland, and who 
was a sailor in his youth, and also a master of a 
vessel, and who settled in Knox County in a very 
early day, and was engaged in farming when he 
died. Tli is grandfather of our subject was of 
Scotch descent, and possessed a strong and earnest 
character. Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Vance were the 
parents of six children: Joseph M., the eldest son, 
lives in McLean County, 111.; James S. is a resident 
of Ohio; William was killed by the Indians on the 



plains in 1858; John R. is our subject; Rowland 
is a broker in the grocery business in Columbus; 
and B. Eastburn is a resident of Columbus, in 
a general merchandise business. The mother of 
these sons died September 11, 1886, just thirteen 
months prior to the death of her husband. The 
excellent couple both attained an advanced age, 
and commanded the respect and esteem of all who 
knew them. 

Our subject was born July 9, 1835, upon a farm 
in Knox County, Ohio, near Mt. Vernon. He at- 
tended the district school of the neighborhood 
when a little child, and afterward studied in Hayes- 
ville, and taught school, meantime ambitiously 
preparing himself for college. In 1862, after a 
full classical course in Kenyon College, at Gam- 
bier. Ohio, he graduated with the degree of A. B., 
and immediately began the study of law in the 
Buckeye State. After a time he accepted the su- 
perintendence of the schools of Columbus, Ind., 
and was thus engaged one year, when he entered 
the law department of the University of Ann 
Arbor, Mich., and graduated in 1865 with the de- 
gree of LL. B. Mr. Vance then began the study 
of law in Columbus. 1 > vi t upon July 9, 1865, lo- 
cated in Marshall, and has practiced his profession 
here with great success ever since. A part of the 
time he has been in partnership with T. J. Yerby, 
associated in the general practice of law, his office 
being on North Street. 

Upon April 9, 1868, Mr. Yance was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Annette Wilson, a native of Mar- 
shall, and a daughter of William A.Wilson, a Colonel 
in the Federal army, and attached to the Seventy- 
first Regiment, E. M. M. Mrs. Yance was reared 
and educated at her home, and possesses a large 
circle of friends and acquaintances. She is the 
happy mother of three bright, promising young 
people, all preparing to fill positions of honor and 
usefulness. Minnie is a Post-graduate of the 
High School; Rufus A. is in his junior year in 
the Missouri Valley College; and Berenice is at 
home. Our subject is Trustee and Vestryman in 
the Episcopal Church, and has been Superinten- 
dent of the Sunday-school. He and his interest- 
ing family are among the important factors in the 
social, benevolent and religious enterprises of 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



359 



Marshall, and are universally respected and es- 
teemed. Mr. Vance has always taken an active 
part in the national and local conduct of political 
affairs, lie has represented his constituents at State 
and county conventions, as wellasat the National 
Convention of 1892, and in all the duties of each 
position has clearty demonstrated his ability, 
energy, intelligence and integrity of character. 



m= 



/ip^A AMUEL McMAHAN, an enterprising and 
^^£ energetic citizen and well-known and pros- 
Vvw J») perous business man of Arrow Rock. Na- 
line County, Mo., has, during his entire 
lifetime, identified himself with the prominent in- 
terests of the State. Born in La Mine Township, 
Cooper Count}', February 4, 1833, our subject has 
been successfully engaged in various pursuits, boat- 
ing, merchandising and fanning, and, possessing 
the confidence of all his friends and neighbors, 
received his elective appointment as Justice of the 
Peace in Cooper County, an office whose duties he 
discharged for many years with signal ability. 

The paternal grandfather. Samuel McMahan, was 
born in Kentucky, and in 1810, with his wife and 
family, removed to Missouri, and in 1811 located 
in Cooper County, and went into the fort built in 
those early days for protection from the Indians. 
The paternal grandmother was Miss Sarah Clark, 
daughter of Daniel Clark, a Kentuckian, who lo- 
cated in Boone County, Mo. The paternal grand- 
parents were married in Kentucky and journeyed 
from that State to Missouri, traveling by wagon, 
and consuming many weeks on the way. After 
about one year's residence in Missouri, Grand- 
father McMahan was killed by the savage Indians 
on his return home from Boonville, whither he 
had gone on important business, lie was shot 
down by the Indians concealed in ambush. His 
body was found the next day faithfully guarded 
from the wild beasts by his two noble dogs, who 
kept their lonely vigil until the remains were 
discovered. It was supposed the Indians were 



creeping toward two men who were cutting honey- 
out of the trees, and who ran for their lives when 
they heard the report of the shot-. 

A widow and live sons were left by his death 
without their nearest protector and friend. The 
sons were William, Thomas, Samuel W., John W. 
and Jesse. Twice had their home been reduced 
toash.es by the barbarous Indians, and each lime 
the family had escaped to Cooper's Fort, and there 
taken refuge. The grandmother remained upon 
the old homestead until her death, and many times 
assisted in preparing the buckskins, which in 
those pioneer days were dressed largely for cloth- 
ing. The father of our subject, Thomas McMa- 
han, was born June 15, 1805, in the State of Ken- 
tucky, and, when Only live years old, came with 
his parents to Missouri. He died in Cooper 
County in the spring of 1890, at the advanced age 
of eighty-five years. His wife was Miss Lucy, a 
daughter of Samuel Ridle, of Maryland. He 
resided upon the place where his father had lo- 
cated early in the history of the Territory of Mis- 
souri. 

The extensive farm, constantly increasing in 
value, is still in the possession of the McMahans, 
and was held by father and sou from 1811 until 
the death of the father of our subject, who, after 
living upon the old homestead nearly his entire 
lifetime, was buried there. His faithful and de- 
voted wife passed away in May, 1867, and wa? in- 
terred beside her beloved husband. The farm is 
five miles below Arrow Rock and well known to 
all the residents of the county. The children of 
this pioneer couple were Erasmus, who died at the 
age of six years; Samuel, our subject; Sarah, who 
married William J. Harris, of Cooper County, 
and died in 1861; Margaret, married to Edward 
Brown, of Cooper County. La Mine Township; 
Robert, residing in Cooper County, three miles 
from Arrow Rock; and Benjamin, steam-boating 
on the Missouri River, owner and pilot, who lives 
in Cooper County. 

Samuel McMahan, our subject. was married May 
16, 1866, to Miss Alice J., a daughter of William 
and Edmonia (Turley) Tyler, of Cooper County. 
Mr. McMahan 's early life was passed upon the old 
farm and boating upon the Missouri River. Our 



360 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



subject was in the wood and boating business for 
a number of years, nearly a score. The buying of 
land and cutting wood and selling it for fuel 
were then most profitable, and a business in which 
Mr. McMahan largely engaged. For about ten 
years of his early life, he farmed upon the old 
homestead and aided in caring for the large fam- 
ily of his parents until he was twenty-four 3'ears 
of age. He then built flat-boats and ran them. 
Our subject now owns shares in a gasoline ferry 
boat, at Arrow Rock, the first of its kind in 
existence. 

In 1882, he engaged in the mercantile business 
also in Arrow Rock, to which place he moved 
from his farm. Mr. McMahan sells dry goods, 
clothes, notions and fancy goods. During the 
war he enlisted with two of his brothers in Price's 
command; they were all captured in the southwest 
part of Missouri, and were imprisoned at Rock 
Island for six or seven months. Released in the 
spring of 1805, they made their way home. Mr. 
McMahan was with Price in his raid through Mis- 
souri, and was in Wood's Battalion, Marmaduke's 
Division. After the war he again resumed the 
handling and sale of wood. Mr. McMahan and 
all of his family are members of the Christian 
Church, of which he has been an honored Deacon 
for twenty years. 

In political affiliations, our subject is an ardent 
Democrat, and has always been an active advocate 
of his party, ever taking a deep interest in local 
and national affairs. He was elected to the office 
of .lust ice of the Peace upon the Democratic 
ticket, and he was almost the unanimous choice 
of his fellow-citizens. The children of Mr. and 
Mrs. McMahan are Lena and Nora B., who. with 
their parents, are widely known and highly 
esteemed. 

The McMahans were among the very early pio- 
neers of the Territory of Missouri, and their his- 
tory is interwoven with the history of the State 
and nation. Grandfather McMahan was engaged 
in the Indian War of 1812, and was in Ft. Cooper 
when Cooper himself w r as killed. Thomas Mc- 
Mahan was a skillful veterinary surgeon, and had 
an extensive practice, and his services were sorely 
missed after his death. No family in this region can 



point with more pride to their record than the 
McMahans. But for such pioneer men as were 
the father and grandfather of Samuel McMahan, 
America now would not be inhabitable. For their 
children and their descendants they shared un- 
complainingly toil and privations, and we to-da}' 
reap the glorious harvest sown by brave ancestors 
amid sacrifice and death at the hands of the mer- 
ciless savage. 



^€ 



=1*^ 




ILTON DRUMMOND, editor of the Odessa 
, Democrat, was born in Dover Township, 
La Fayette County, this State, September 
15, 1831, and is a son of James and Sarah 
(Farrar) Drummond, the former a native of Ken- 
tucky, born in 1 71)5. He came to La Fayette 
County in 1819 or 1820, and located where Lex- 
ington now stands, taking up a tract of land from 
the Government. He was one of the earliest set- 
tlers in the county. He was married in Kentucky, 
in 1816, to our subject's mother, who was a Vir- 
ginian by birth, but reared in the Blue Grass State. 
Grandfather John Drummond was one of the pio- 
neers of Kentucky, and was of Scotch descent. 
His death occurred in the Fiench and Indian War 
while in Canada. 

Our subject's father died in 1852. His wife 
passed away in 1864. They were the parents of 
eight children, there being five sons and three 
daughters, all of whom grew to manhood and 
womanhood, but only three of whom are now liv- 
ing: William S., who is a resident of Brookston, 
Tex.; Jane, who is the wife of Edmund Joslyn, 
of Newton County, Mo.; and our subject. 

Milton Drummond was the seventh in order of 
birth of his father's family. He was reared in his 
native county and received his education in the 
subscription schools, that were maintained by the 
people. He remained at home until twenty-one 
years of age, assisting his father on the farm. His 
first marriage occurred in 1855, when he was 
united in marriage to Mary T. Graves. Her com- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



361 



panionship was granted him, however, for only two 

years. The one son to whom she gave birth died 
in infancy. 

December 7, 1859, our subject again married, his 
bride being Miss Millie A. Lyon, a native of Cass 
County, this State, and a daughter of John Lyon, 
one of the earliest settlers of that county. By this 
marriage there have been born, eight children: 
James, who is in the office of the Democrat; Robert 
L., a clerk in a hardware store in Odessa; William 
F., residing in Colorado; Walter W., in the Demo- 
crat office; Beattie, at home; John Milton, Nellie, 
and Mattie R., who died at the age of four years. 

In his first domestic experience Mr. Drummond 
located at Monegaw Springs^St. Clair Count} - , and 
engaged in merchandising. He then located in 
Cass County, and served in the Confederate army 
for three years, being under the command of Em- 
mett McDonald. After the war he returned to 
La Fayette County, and settled on a farm, where 
he remained until 1891, when he removed to 
Odessa to take charge of the Democrat. Mi'. Drum- 
mond is a Democrat in politics, as the name of his 
paper will indicate. Both he and his wife are 
members of the Christian Church. 




T. SYDENSTRICKFR, an energetic, en- 
terprising and highly respected citizen, 
and for several years one of the most suc- 
cessful farmers of the State, now retired 
from agricultural duties and engaged in other 
business, resides in Frankfort, Saline County, Mo. 
A native of Missouri, and born in the county 
where he still makes his home, the entire life of 
our subject is interwoven with the history and 
growth of his native State. As a School Director 
he served faithfully two years, promoting educa- 
tional advancement and aiding materially in the 
betterment of all the leading interests of his neigh- 
borhood and vicinity. 

Mr. Sydenstricker was born not far from his 



present home in the year 1862, and is therefore 
yet in early manhood. He is the son of T. L. and 
Sallie Sydenstricker, both native Virginians. The 
paternal grandfather served bravely in the War of 
the Revolution as a Hessian soldier, and was cap- 
tured by Washington at Trenton. The maternal 
grandfather, Page, was also a heroic veteran of 
the early wars, and for his gallantry upon the field 
received deserved promotion to the office of Cap- 
tain. The mother of our subject, a most worthy 
and highly esteemed lady, died in 1871. 

Mr. Sydenstricker 's father, born in 1830, sur- 
vives, and is living at Henleyville, Cal. He de- 
voted much of his early life to agricultural pur- 
suits, and was prospered in general farming and 
stock-raising, and also succeeded in the business 
of merchandising, his various ventures bringing 
him excellent returns. He enlisted in the Civil 
War under the command of Capt. Robinson, and 
remained in active service upon the field during 
the entire period of the struggle. He was taken 
prisoner and sent to St. Louis to the Gratiot Street 
Prison, and later to Alton, 111. Our subject is one 
of a family of nine brothers and one sister, all of 
whom are yet living. 

Mr. Sydenstricker was, in 1888, united in mar- 
riage with Miss Minnie E. Hawkins, a native of 
.Saline County, Mo., born in 1857. The marriage 
of Mr. and Mrs. Sydenstricker has been blessed by 
the birth of one bright, and promising child, 
Thomas A. Their commodious and pleasant home 
is delightfully located, and is the scene of many a 
happy gathering of the large circle of friends and 
acquaintances with whom they are great favor- 
ites. Our subject and his estimable wife are ever 
ready to aid in social or benevolent enterprises of 
their locality, and are known to be progressive 
and liberal in thought and action. Mr. Syden- 
stricker is essentially a self-made man. Educated 
in the schools of the county, he began at a very- 
early age to rely entirely upon his own exertions, 
and upon starling out in life first engaged in 
fanning, having previously served an apprentice- 
ship to agricultural duties. Intelligent, hard 
working and a shrewd observer, profiting by the 
experience of others, our subject was prospered 
from the beginning of his labors as a tiller of the 



362 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



soil, and lias accumulated a handsome property. 
Continuing unweariedly in the same line of busi- 
ness, lie remained until the 1st of October, 1891, 
upon the profitable farm which year after year 
yielded him so abundant a harvest. When he left 
his farming property in the fall of 1891, he en- 
gaged in merchandising. 

Mr. Sydenstricker is now in business, and in 
whatever line of work he may engage, it is safe to 
predict him successful in his ventures. Our sub- 
ject is a strong Democrat and believes in its party 
principles and platform, but while taking an ac- 
tive interest in all matters, of the day, has no de- 
sire to hold political office. He served for two 
years most acceptably upon the School Board, and 
it is to be hoped may be induced in the near 
future to again aid as a public-spirited and up- 
right citizen in behalf of educational progress. 
Positions of trust and honor will undoubtedly 
claim much of his attention in the coming years, 
and in the discharge of such duties he cannot fail 
to give most valuable and efficient service. 



AMES GILMER,a representative, prosperous 
farmer, and well-known and highly-respected 
citizen of Saline County, Mo., owns a fine 
farm of two hundred and five acres located 
upon section 15, township 50, range 20, near Mar- 
shall. Our subject was born in Kentucky, August 
11, 1821. His paternal grandfather was a native 
Virginian, of Irish descent, and later in life re- 
moved to Kentucky, in which latter State he died. 
He and his good wife were the parents of eight 
children, six sons and two daughters: Thomas; 
.lames; John , the father of our subject; Campbell, 
who engaged in the War of 1812; Alexander; 
Robert; and the two daughters, Esther and Martha. 
John Gilmer was born in Virginia in 1792, and 
when a boy went to Kentucky with his parents, 
remaining there until 1838, when he came to Mis- 
souri, and in 1834 settled upon the land where 
our subject has resided since he was ten years old. 



His wife, whom he married in Green County, Ky., 
was Miss Elizabeth Phillips, a lady well adapted to 
the pioneer life which she bravely shared with her 
family. The sons and daughters who came into 
the primitive- home of those early days were 
eleven in number and comprised seven boys and 
four girls. The eldest of this large family was 
William T., deceased; the second-born was our 
subject, James; Campbell is living in Montana; 
Maj. A. died in California, in 1871; Robert in Cal- 
ifornia; Squire A. resides in Arizona; Mary Jane 
married Benjamin Steele, of Saline County; Sarah 
Ann is deceased; Martha S. is the wife of Peter T. 
Reynolds; Bettie P. lives in Montana. 

Mr. Gilmer was but a little lad when he jour- 
neyed to Missouri with his parents and their family, 
who, together with a few other families, traveled 
by wagons, camping out on the way, and consuming 
several weeks in the trip. Crossing the Missis- 
sippi at St. Louis, and the Missouri at St. Charles, 
they finallj' reached their destination, Arrow Rock. 
Arrived in the then almost wilderness of the State, 
the children old enough to go received a brief 
education in the little subscription schools of their 
immediate neighborhood. The father of Mr. (iil- 
mer was a lifelong farmer, and upon the old home- 
stead where he has passed his life our subject was 
early trained in the duties of agriculture. His 
mother, who was of English descent, died in 1866, 
and the father, who survived her, passed away in 
1872, both remaining upon the farm until the day 
of their deaths. 

Our subject was married in 1855 to Miss Cather- 
ine A., daughter of James Francis Harvey, of Sa- 
line County. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Gilmer 
was brightened by the presence of eight chil- 
dren, six sons and two daughters: Elizabeth 
Frances married E. I). Haynie, of Saline County; 
William T. is the eldest born and is married; Wal- 
ter J. resides in Montana; Mary Jane is the wife 
of Edward Peterson, of Saline County; James W., 
John M., Robert and Wade Hampton; all oc- 
cupy positions of respect and honor among their 
fellow-citizens. Mrs. Gilmer died July 23, 1880. 

Mr. Gilmer belongs to no secret society, nor has 
he been a member of any religious denomination, 
but as an earnest and law-abiding citizen, liberally 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



363 



aids in the march of progress and improvement, 
and has worthily won and firmly holds the respect 
and esteem of all who know him. In political 
affiliations, he is a Democrat, and is actively inter- 
ested in the national and local conduct of offices 
of trust, but has been content to do his duty as a 
private citizen, never seeking political preferment. 



■-^-i=NN=i* 



IEORGE A. CHAMBLIN, Chairman of the 
j. City Council, and County Judge of the 
>^/| District Court of La Fayette County, is well 
adapted by character and attainments to fill with 
dignity and ability any position of trust to which 
he may be called. His past relations to his fellow- 
citizens, and his hearty interest and ready aid in 
public progress and local improvement, made him 
long ago one of the most prominent and influen- 
tial citizens of Higginsvillc, La Fayette County, 
Mo. Born in Rose Hill, Johnson County, Mo., 
March 2, 1844, our subject has been a resident of 
the State for nearly a half-century. His grand- 
father Chamblin was a merchant of Lexington, 
Ky.. and died in that city. He was from one of 
the oldest and most honored Virginia families. 

Coleman Chamblin, the father of our subject, 
was born in Bourbon County, Ky., but was reared 
in Lexington. He came to Missouri when a young 
man, and was an early settler in La Fayette County, 
locating in Dover, then Warrensburgh. He handled 
general merchandise in Dover, and afterward in 
Rose Hill, continuing in the mercantile business 
until his death in 1861. In politics, he was a 
Whig, and in religious affiliations he was a mem- 
ber of the Christian Church. His wife, Eliza Lov- 
ering, was a native of St. Charles, Mo., and did 
not long survive her husband, passing away in 
1861. Her father was a farmer of St. Charles 
County, and died there. Coleman Chamblin was 
twice married, his first wife being Miss Vivian. She 
was the mother of five children of whom only one 
is now living, Anna, Mrs. J. B. Pemberton, whose 
husband is County Recorder of Johnson County. 



Seven children, of whom our subject \v:is the 
eldest, blessed the second marriage of Mr. Cole- 
man Chamblin. George was reared in Johnson 
County, and during the war assisted about the 
store. His first schooling was in a little log school- 
house in the farming neighborhood, and after- 
ward he attended the schools of Rose Hill. Im- 
mediately following his father's death, he went to 
a select school in Pleasant Hill, Cass County, and 
remained there until in 1862 the annoyance from 
jay hawkers became unbearable and he went home. 
He started South, and enlisting in a company of 
two hundred, reached St. Charles County, Mo., 
and had a skirmish with a party of Union sol- 
diers. The company got scattered, and with oth- 
ers Mr. Chamblin was captured by an Iowa regi- 
ment and taken to Clinton, Mo. 

He was well treated by the Iowa men, and after 
a week was removed to Sedalia, and in a few 
days was sent to Jefferson City, remaining there 
three weeks. He was next removed to St. Louis, 
Gratiot Street Prison; then was sent to Alton, im- 
prisoned there and afterward lodged in Indianap- 
olis, Ind., one night; lie was taken thence to John- 
son Island, Lake Erie, where he arrived in December 
and met some of Morgan's men, who like himself 
were prisoners. Our subject's journeyings were 
not yet over. He was again removed, first to San- 
dusky City, afterward to Cairo, 111., and from 
there, after three days' sojourn, to Vieksburg on a 
boat, at which time the poor worn-out prisoner. 
our subject, was sick unto death, but recovered suf- 
ficiently to land with the other prisoners at Milli- 
ken's Bend, where the exchange of the captured 
was made. Mr. Chamblin was then forwarded to 
Jackson, Miss., where Jefferson Davis talked with 
the prisoners, with some of whom our subject went 
back to Vieksburg Landing, and then walked to 
Delhi to take the train. The train started two 
hours early, and thus evaded a reception. The 
soldiers, released from confinement, then journeyed 
by boat to Camden, on the Ouachita River, then 
proceeded to Little Rock, where he again joined 
the Confederate forces. 

Mr. Chamblin then enlisted in the Sixteenth 
Missouri Infantry, C. S. A., and remained in the 
vicinity through the winter until the spring of 



364 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



1863. Upon July 4, 1863, he engaged in the bat- 
tle of Helena, Ark., fell back to Little Hock, light- 
ing gallantly all the way. and, still retreating, 
reached Camden, where the command wintered. 
Our subject was made Orderly-Sergeant at Helena, 
and, in constant service, next fought at the battle 
of Pleasant Hill, La., in which engagement a num- 
ber of the Federals were taken prisoner, and with 
them the regiment marched back to Arkansas. 
Again the forces fought near Camden, in the battle 
of Saline River, the Northern troops commanded 
by Gen. Steele. Here again the Confederates cap- 
tured a number of the enemy and returned to 
Camden, then went to Shreveport, La., where 
Sergeant Chamblin was granted a furlough, which 
he spent in Northern Louisiana. When the lime 
of his leave had expired, he heard of Lee's surren- 
der, and returning to his command at Shreveport, 
surrendered with them and immediately came 
home via St. Louis. 

The war ended, our subject located in Dover, 
La Fayette County, and for a time was employed 
in a mill. He learned his trade with the Flavel 
Vivian Mills at Dover, and within two years 
had charge of the mills. In 1871 Mr. Chamblin 
bought the Higginsville Mill and settled here, op- 
erating the establishment for some time, and then 
sold it. One year later our subject and the man 
to whom he had disposed of his interest became 
partners and built the City Mills, hi 1878 or 1879, 
Mr. Chamblin and Mr. Smile}' started the Roller 
Process, which business in 1884 was conducted by 
a stock company, called the Higginsville Milling 
Company, and was incorporated with a capital 
stock of 130,000, and is still running most success- 
fully, but Mr. Chamblin close* out his interest in 
the business about four years ago. The mill, which 
is the largest in the county, has a capacity of 
two hundred barrels per day. 

Our subject owns a large amount of real estate, 
and has successfully handled an immense acreage. 
He laid out Chamblin 's Addition to Higginsville, 
one block, and then laid out Chamblin 's Exten- 
sion, four acres, west of the addition previously 
surveyed. He resides in a handsome residence in 
the city, a valuable piece of property, and has 
twenty acres in the city limits; aside from his own 



home he owns a number of houses and lots in Hig- 
ginsville. Six hundred and eighty acres of excel- 
lent farming land, two adjoining farms in Dover 
Township, six miles south of Higginsville, have 
been until lately used by Mr. Chamblin in raising 
cattle, full-blooded and grade Shorthorns. He is 
one of the charter members and a Director of the 
old Farmers' Association, and was connected with 
the organization until it was sold out. Mr. 
Chamblin and his wife own five hundred and 
twenty acres of land in this county, and have in 
all over twelve hundred acres. Among the other 
public enterprises in which our subject engaged 
was the organization of the Bank of Higginsville, 
in which institution he continues a stockholder 
and Director. At one time he was a stockholder 
in the Chicago & Alton Railroad. 

Mr. Chamblin was married near Dover, in 1870, 
to Miss Nannie, daughter of George \V. and Mary 
E. Vivian, old settlers here, and originally from 
Kentucky. The father was a fanner, but now re- 
sides in the city, although he still continues his in- 
terest in Texas Count}', where he is in the milling 
business. Mrs. Chamblin was partially reared in 
Texas, but completed her education here. She be- 
came the mother of eight children, of whom five arc 
living: Frank E., educated at Warrensburgh; Neli- 
son, a daughter; Coleman, Katie and Osborne, the 
three latter yet at home, and among the bright 
young people of the city. Higginsville had but 
two or three houses when the Missouri Pacific Rail- 
road was completed the year after Mr. Chamblin 
came here, and he was among the first to go over 
the line, lie assisted in the incorporation of the 
city, and was one of the first Aldermen of Hig- 
ginsville. He was re-elected in 1890, and again 
in 1892 without opposition, being the unanimous 
choice of the people. He has served on the Street 
and Finance Committees, and since 1890 has been 
Chairman of the Council, always actively and 
efficiently engaged in advancing the interests of 
Higginsville. One of the substantial brick blocks 
on Main Street was erected and owned by Chamb- 
lin & Smiley, but they have since disposed of it. 

Mr. Chamblin was one of the first School Direc- 
tors and was a member of the Board when the first 
public schools weie built, but is not on the Board 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



365 



now. Our subject received a call from one hun- 
dred and eighty citizens to make the race for 
County Judge of the Eastern District of LaFayette 
County, and the nomination was almost unani- 
mous. Mr. Chamhlin is connected with the An- 
cient Order of United Workmen and is a valued 
member of the society. He was interested in se- 
curing the site of the Confederate Soldiers' Home 
at Iliggiusville. and was among the most liberal 
contributors in behalf of the project. He also 
.lidcd in founding the La Fayette College connected 
with the Christian Church, which institution is not 
now in existence. Our subject assisted in build- 
ing the Christian Church, of which his wife is a 
member, and has been prominently connected with 
every leading enterprise of his home. In poli- 
tics, he is a straight Democrat, and ardently inter- 
ested in the local and national conduct of affairs. 
As an energetic and progressive citizen, he has 
from his earliest years been one of the important 
factors in the upbuilding and advancement of all 
the leading interests of his native State, and pos- 
sesses the esteem of all who know him. 



ERNEST L. EUBANK, a prominent and 
prosperous agriculturist, and an energetic 
and progressive citizen, now residing upon 
section 4, township .31, range 20, adjacent to Slater, 
Saline County, Mo., is a native of the State and 
county, and was born .luly 6, 1864. He is an 
honored representative of our ambitious, self-reh- 
aut and intelligent young men of to-day, who are 
in fact the coming power in American govern- 
ment and independence. Always a resident of the 
State, our subject is widely known, and has been 
active in local progress and improvement. He is 
one of the leading Masons of Slater, and in the 
ranks of that ancient society and among the gen- 
eral public lias a host of warm friends. 

Ernest L. Eubank is a son of Reuben and Bettie 
(Whitaker) Eubank, early residents of Missouri. 
The mother is a native of Kentucky, and a most 



estimable and finely cultured lady. Our subject 
has two brothers, John F. and Jerome I). John F. 
Eubank was born in Saline County. Mo., in the 
year 1861, and was united in marriage with Miss 
Lucy Smith, who is the happy mother of two 
bright and promising children. He is a successful 
agriculturist and a highly respected citizen. Jerome 
D. Eubank is also a native of Saline County, and 
was born in 1866. He married Miss Zudie Pur- 
dom, and with his wife makes his home in Slater, 
and transacts the business of a stock-dealer. Our 
subject was educated in the excellent schools of 
Slater and at twenty-one years of age engaged in 
the duties of agriculture, and aside from profit- 
able fanning has been successful as a trader. 

A valuable homestead of one hundred and sixty 
acres was received by Mr. Eubank from his father, 
who purchased the land, located on the Lexington 
Road, some twenty years ago, paying for it then 
$16.66J per acre. The estate, which is pleasantly 
situated, has increased in value, and could not now 
be purchased for $75 per acre. Mr. Eubank was 
married, .May 7, 1890, to Miss Lillie Gaines, a na- 
tive of Kentucky, born in 1868. She is a daugh- 
ter of Benjamin Gaines, and a most attractive and 
accomplished young lady. After a long course of 
instruction in music, under the supervision of one 
of the celebrated teachers of the art in Kentucky, 
Mrs. Eubank graduated with honor, and is a thor- 
oughly skilled musician. 

The beautiful home of Mr. and Mrs. Eubank is 
modern in construction and artistic in design and 
finish. The ten commodious and conveniently ar- 
ranged and finely furnished rooms are finished in 
Georgia pine, and the effect is in keeping with the 
tasteful decorations and furnishings. The house 
is two stories in height, and cost $3,500. A barn, 
handsome in design and well finished, is a com- 
modious and reall}' ornamental as well as useful 
structure, and is thirty feet gable, and twelve feet 
post, and 50x00 feet in extent and cost the sum 
of $1,200. The surrounding grounds and yard are 
kept in exquisite order, and form a pretty setting 
to the residence. 

The valuable farm, all under a high state of 
cultivation, produces principally corn, wheat and 
a variety of choice grasses. Mr. Eubank devotes 



366 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



much of his time to the raising of a good quality 
of stock, horses, cattle and hogs, and has been 
especially successful in this department of general 
agriculture. The net proceeds of the farm annu- 
ally reach $2,500. Our subject lias been a member 
(if the Christian Church, but his wife is a member 
of the Baptist denomination, and in both religious 
organizations they number many friends. Mr. 
and Mrs. Eubank are both prominent in the social 
world of Slater, and receive and entertain with 
cordial hospitality. Our subject has been a mem- 
ber of the Blue Lodge since December 1, 1888, and 
advanced to the Royal Arch in 1889, and in 1890 
became a Knight Templar. Politically, Mr. Eu- 
bank is a thorough Democrat, and has represented 
the party and his political friends and neighbors 
at various State and county conventions, ever dis- 
charging the duties intrusted to his care with ef- 
ficiency and fidelity. 



'-. 






55 




... LBERT G. ROBERTSON, a very success- 
ful farmer and stock-raiser, who is located 
near Mt. Leonard, Saline County, is one 
more of that honorable, substantial and 
helpful class of citizens — the cultivators of the 
soil. In the Old Country a land-owner is regarded 
as a more important adjunct to society than a man 
who does not own land can be, and there is some- 
thing in that old feeling which has been handed 
down through the generations that are the descend- 
ants of Old Country people, as we nearly all are 
more or less, because there is something definitely 
solid in real estate, something reliable, and which 
can not fluctuate as some other forms of prop- 
erty do. 

Mr. Robertson comes of a good old family who 
trace their ancestry back to Scotland and its sturdy 
people, than whom there are none stronger in 
mind or body. Albert G. was born in Wyandot 
County, Ohio, February 20, 1821. His father, 
Josiah Robertson, was born in Virginia in 1789, and 
his grandfather, also Josiah Robertson, was of 



Scotch descent. The grandfather served in the 
Revolutionary War, while his brother was a Cap- 
tain in that war, and was killed at Norfolk, Va. 

Mr. Robertson's father was a farmer, and emi- 
grated to Ohio before 1820, locating temporarily 
in Highland County, but after his marriage moved 
to Wyandot County, where he purchased land and 
improved a farm. He came to Missouri in 1837, 
locating in Marion County, where he bought land 
and lived about sixteen years. After this he 
moved to Knox County, where he died in 1863. 
He served in the War of 1812, was Judge of what 
was Crawford County, Ohio, at the time that he 
lived there, and vvas a prominent man, very soci- 
able and well liked. The mother of the subject of 
this sketch, Eliza (Terry) Robertson, of Virginia, 
moved to Ohio with her parents when she was only 
seven years of age. She died in Saline County in 
1889, in her eightieth year. 

Albert G. is the second child and eldest son of 
five children, three of whom are living. I lis edu- 
cational advantages were necessarily limited, as 
the school facilities of that time were meagre; we 
know of the old log school houses with their rude 
accommodations, yet many of our ablest men have 
received all their school education in just such 
educational institutions, proving that " where 
there's a will, there's a way " to gain some knowl- 
edge as a nucleus for future acquisition; and this 
Mr. Robertson did, using the advantages that he 
had to the fullest extent possible. 

Mr. Robertson was seventeen years of age when 
his father came to Missouri, and he remained with 
him ten years, during which time he and his 
brother managed the farm. In 1848, he located in 
Knox County on a piece of land which his father 
gave him, and lived there sixteen years. In 1865, 
just after the war, he came to Saline County and 
bought his present farm, located in section 24, 
township 50, range 23. This section was quite 
new at the time and but few improvements were 
seen. He purchased quite an extensive tract of 
land, and now owns three hundred and twenty 
acres of as fine farming property as can be found 
anywhere. He has always been actively engaged 
in stock-raising and has made a success of it. 

May 3, 1849, Mr. Robertson married Miss Mary 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



367 



Black, of Perry County, Ohio. Her people were 
natives of that State and were a fine family. The 
following children blessed this union: Josiah 
.1.; George M., deceased; John M., married, a 
farmer near Grand Pass, this State and county; 
Dorothy J.; Daniel B., married, and a farmer near 
here; Thomas .!., Minnie, and two deceased. Min- 
nie is a teacher in the convent in Springfield, Mo. 
All the children have been given good school ad- 
vantages. The gentleman of whom we are writing 
affiliates with the Democratic party, but is not an 
active politician. He is one of our best citizens, a 
statement that means much when we take into 
consideration the number of fine men we have in 
the county. 



§£+^ 



"\|JAMES W. BELLES, living upon a beauti- 
ful farm of one hundred and sixty-six 
acres of land, located on section 17, town- 
ship 41), range 25, in La Fayette County, 
Mo., is the subject of this sketch. He is one of 
the prominent and thrifty farmers of this vicinity, 
and was born in this county November 2, 1850. 
His parents were William II. and Caroline V. 
Belles, both of them natives of Kentucky. The 
father of our subject emigrated from Kentucky to 
La Fayette County, Mo., at an early day, when 
still a young man, and later settled upon a place 
about two miles east of the present site of Hig- 
ginsville. There he became one of the early 
settlers. 

The death of William II. Belles took place in 
October, 1854, in this county, but the beloved 
mother lived until 1883, when she, too, passed 
away at about the age of seventy years, a devout 
member of the Christian Church. Mr. Belles had 
embraced the Baptist faith, and with their deaths 
passed away two of the real old settlers who 
were pioneers of the State. Our subject was 
reared upon the farm of his father and early 
learned the duties pertaining to agricultural life. 
His education was rather limited, being only that 



to be obtained in the district school, but he was a 
youth with natural intelligence and has become a 
man of superior information. 

The marriage of Mr. Belles was solemnized 
February 16, 1888, with Miss Roberta Graham, a 
native of La Fayette County, and a daughter of 
Charles Graham, of Aullville, Mo. She was a 
bright and intelligent maiden, and has made a 
sensible and congenial wife, the thoughtful and 
fond mother of two children: Virginia, born 
March 1, 1889, and little Graham, July 28, 1891. 
Our subject had originally six brothers and sis- 
ters, but four of these are the only ones left. 
They are all in homes of their own and are as fol- 
lows: Nancy B., who is now the wife of F. M. Ila- 
good; Martha; and Elizabeth R., who is the wife 
of R. F. Warren. 

Mr. Belles, of this notice, is the owner of one 
hundred and sixty-six acres of land and takes 
pride in them, knowing that his own untiring 
efforts earned them. His district has entrusted 
him with the position of School Director, and he 
has shown himself to be in favor of all those in- 
terests which will advance the county. In the 
Democratic party our subject takes a prominent 
place, being quite active in its ranks in this town- 
ship. His church connection is with that denom- 
ination known as the Christian. Altogether, in 
looking through the county, there is no family 
more deserving of the high esteem in which it is 
held than that of James W. Belles. 



WW justi 



ILLIAM O. SMITH, deceased. There is 
Subject to which it is so difficult to do 
ustice as to the memory of the distin- 
guished dead, yet we cannot refrain, in a biogra- 
phical work, from the mention of those citizens 
who have been so closely identified with the early 
settlement aud growth of our county, though they 
may have long since taken their departure from 
among the living. 



368 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Among those men of prominence who deserve 
mention at the hands of the truthful biographer, 
and who will never he forgotten, stands that of 
William (). Smith, who departed this life in 1880. 
Although years have passed since he was called 
away from the things of life, his memory is ver- 
dant in the hearts of his friends. 

Mr. Smith was born in Clarke County, Va., and 
was a son of Louis and Malinda Smith, who were 
also born in the Old Dominion. He was a member 
of a family of three, the only brother. His first 
marriage took place in 1841 to Miss Marion 
Adams, but she was removed by death, and left 
three children, Edward, Louis and Hariette. The 
second marriage of Mr. Smith took place in Har- 
riet, when he chose Miss Mary Ad kins to become 
his wife, but she too was called away, and at her 
death, in 1858, left also three children, W. O., 
Mildred J. and Mary A. Again Mr. Smith sought 
a companion, and in 1860 Miss Martha B. Winston 
consented to become his wife, and one child was 
born of this union, J. W. Smith, who now resides 
upon the home farm. 

Our subject came to Saline County in 1847, 
having resided for one year in Howard County, 
Mo. Looking backward, that seems a long time, 
and, judging by the wonderful growth and devel- 
opment of the country, seems still longer, but 
many yet live who can tell of a pioneer life like 
that of Mr. Smith. He was a poor man at that 
time, and brought almost no money with him,Juut 
was able in after years to look backward to this 
time and realize how all of the advancement he 
had made was by his own efforts. 

Mr. Smith owned a few negroes during the war, 
but lost them, and when he reached this place he 
bought such land as his limited means would al- 
low. This he improved until he owned a tract 
much larger, having added to it from time by 
judicious purchase, and at the time of his death 
owned three hundred and eighty-six acres. This 
is all highly cultivated and would sell for $65 to 
$70 per acre. Our subject was a member of the 
Bethel Baptist Church from 1858 up to 1876, 
when he became a firm believer in the Hope Puri- 
tan Baptist faith, and was baptized into that 
church. 



Mr. Smith had many good qualities, and in the 
times of his pioneer life these were strongly 
brought forth. There was none more willing to 
help a neighbor, or to lend a hand in any enterprise 
for the good of the church, school or community. 
He is remembered as always liberal to the religi- 
ous bodies and a contributor to all charitable pur- 
poses. Socially he was a member of the Inde- 
pendent Order of Odd Fellows, and politically he 
was a Democrat, and most naturally a Southern 
sympathizer. 




G. NIEDERJOHN. We are pleased to 
present to the readers of this work the 
intelligent gentleman and prominent poli- 
tician, as well as substantial farmer, whose 
name opens this sketch. His fine pkee is located 
on section 2, township 50, range 24, in La Fay- 
ette County, where he has one of the best farms 
in the neighborhood. Since 1873 he has been a 
resident of La Fayette County, and by his good 
judgment and practical good sense has become 
known as one of the most reliable citizens of the 
community. 

The birth of our subject took place in Warren 
County, Mo., December 11, 1847. He is a son of 
H. H. and Florentine (Koelling) Niederjohn, the 
former a native of Germany, and one of the early 
settlers of Warren County, Mo. The boyhood of 
our subject was spent similarly to that of other 
lads of his age, in attending the common schools 
and doing the "chores" which so naturally fall 
to the boys in a family. Not being satisfied with 
the advantages afforded at the common schools, 
our subject at the age of twenty-one years en- 
tered the Central Wesleyan College, at Warren- 
ton, Mo., where he remained one year. 

After leaving school, our subject went into a 
general merchandise business in Warrenton, con- 
tinuing there for two and one-half years. In 1873 
he removed to La Fayette County, and obtained a 
line farm of two hundred and seventy-five acres, 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



371 



upon which he has since engaged in general fann- 
ing, having two hundred and forty-six acres well 
cultivated and improved. In his political life Mr. 
Niederjohn upholds the principles of the Repub- 
lican party, believing that those are the best for 
the management of a great country like this. He 
has become a prominent factor in the ranks of his 
party in this section. 

In connection with the above statement, we 
may mention that Mr. Niederjohn was nominated 
upon the Republican ticket this fall (1892) for the 
position of County Judge from the Eastern Dis- 
trict of LaFayette County, Mo. Our subject is 
a member of Middleton Lodge No. 186, A. O. U. W., 
m which he takes a lively interest. In 1876, he 
married Miss Amelia, daughter of E. II. Koenig, 
of Concordia. La Fayette County, and seven in- 
teresting children gather around his hearth, as 
follows: William H., Flora II.. E. W., Benjamin 
F., Horace G., Lydia May, and an infant babe. 
Our subject and his wife are valued members of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church South, in which 
Mr. Niederjohn holds the position of Steward. 
For many years he has acceptably filled the office 
of School Director, and is a man who is esteemed 
by the community. 



-5 



^m>-$t<w^ 




ON. WILLIAM T. GAMMON, elected to 
an honored position upon the Judicial 
Bench of Virginia, served with ability as 
Judge of the County Court, and afterward 
made Judge of the Probate Court in LaFayette 
County, Mo., discharged the responsible duties of 
his vaiious offices with energetic efficiency. An 
enterprising and progressive citizen, he has suc- 
cessfully engaged in various lines of business. 
Our subject was born August 6, 1826, and is the 
son of Thomas and Jane (Bradshaw) Gammon. 
His paternal grandfather, Anderson Gammon, was 
of Scotch-Irish descent, by occupation a fanner. 
and lived and died in Louisa County, Va. Grand- 
mother Gammon, who was a Miss Strong, became 

18 



the mother of four sons and one daughter: Will- 
iam, Thomas, Harris, Oeorge A. and Mary. The 
Gammons were of the Baptist persuasion, and up- 
right, earnest. Christian people. 

The father of our subject was born in Louisa 
County, Va., and was a successful farmer and a 
carpenter by trade. In 1*20, he moved to Poca- 
hontas County, and with two Others built the 
fust court house. After his marriage he devoted 
himself entirely to agricultural duties. His wife, 
born in Augusta County. Va., was a descendant of 
Judge John Bradshaw, who was the presiding 
Jurist at the trial of King Charles I, of England. 
The maternal grandfather of our subject, John 
Bradshaw, was born in Virginia, and was num- 
bered among the wealthy planters of the State. 
He served with distinguished bravery in the Revo- 
lutionary War, and participated in the battle of 
Cowpens. His wife was Nancy McCamey, and the 
children who gathered in their home were James, 
John, 'William, Thomas, Elizabeth, Nancy and 
Jane. In religious belief, the Bradshaws were 
Presbyterians. 

In political affiliation, Thomas Gammon was an 
ardent Whig. He was an active worker in the 
Presbyterian Church and a leader in the promotion 
of its enterprises, lie was a sincere, earnest, Chris- 
tian man, and. when he died in 1851, was deeply 
mourned by a large circle of true friends. The 
sons and daughter of his household were John A., 
William T., Thomas Franklin. Cyrus S. and Martha 
J. The mother of our subject had been twice 
married. Judge Gammon was reared upon a farm, 
received a good English education, and at seven- 
teen years of age began the management of his 
father's business, superintending slaves. When 
twenty-four years of age he engaged as a clerk in 
the mercantile business, and two years later was 
admitted into the firm as a partner, but lost all his 
property- by fire. Immediately succeeding this 
misfortune he taught school for two winters, also 
engaged in farming, ami devoted himself to agri- 
cultural duties until the breaking out of tin- war. 

In the fall of 1861. Judge Gammon was elected 
Captain of Company I, Twenty-fifth Virginia 
Regiment, and was a participant in the retreat 
from Laurel Hill. lie was afterward made Captain 



372 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



under Col. Walker, and was with Gen. Jackson in 
the battles of the Shenandoah Valley. I Io was 
wounded in the battle <>f Cross Keys by the ex- 
plosion of a shell, and. his left leg being severely 
injured, was obliged to remain in the hospital at 
Lynchburgh lor six months. Recovering from his 
wound, he removed with his family to Georgia, 
where he made his home for four years. In April, 
1869, our subject came to La Fayette Count}-, and 
remained here one year, and in 1871 boughteighty 
acres of land on Texas Prairie. In 1874, lie was 
elected Judge of the Probate Court, and held the 
position for six years. In 1880, he removed with 
Ins family to where he now resides on two hundred 
acres purchased in 1879, and pleasantly located 
upon section :5l, township 19, range 27, La Fay- 
ette County. To the original purchase a son of 
Judge Gammon has added eighty acres, all the 
land now being under a high state of improve- 
ment. 

Our subject was married March 14, 1850, to 
Mi^s Elizabeth A. Slaven, born in Pocahontas 
County, Ya.. and the daughter of Jacob G. and 
Eleanor ( Lockridge) Slaven. The father of Mrs. 
Gammon was an extensive farmer and stock-raiser, 
in politics, a Democrat, and lived and died in Vir- 
ginia. His father, also a native of the Old Do- 
minion, was a farmer and a soldier in the War of 
the Revolution. II is wife, Elizabeth Warwick, 
was the mother of two sons, William and Jacob, 
and reared six daughters. The family name was 
formerly spelled Lochridge. The Slaven family 
is of Scotch-Irish descent, and its members were 
among the early and most patriotic of our Ameri- 
can citizens. 

Judge Gammon and his wife are the parents of 
eight children, but only five of the sons and daugh- 
ters lived to adult age. Massie A., the eldest, is 
the wife of G. P>. Chamberlin; Ella F. is the wife 
of II. C. Armstrong; Thomas E., William L. and 
Minnie A. complete the list of the children, who 
are now numbered with the prominent and influ- 
ential residents of their various communities. 
Judge Gammon and his wife and family are among 
the valued members of the Presbyterian Church, 
and enjoy the confidence and esteem of a huge 
circle of friends. Our subject lias passed through 



various changes of fortune with brave courage 
and the unfailing resolution and fortitude inher- 
ited from a long line of distinguished ancestry. 
In Virginia, holding various official positions of 
trust, a Judge upon the Bench, and serving as 
Commissioner in Chancery, he never lost an op- 
portunity to gain practical knowledge, and was an 
excellent surveyor and civil engineer. Left at 
the close of the war without means, he self-reli- 
antly again won his upward wa}', and worthily 
gained the prosperity and undoubted success 
which have crowned his later efforts in life. 



_*=*==* f 




IIAHI.KS A. ROBINSON, formerly engineer 
of the Excelsior Mines, was born in Craw- 
V ford County, near Washington, Ohio, Sep- 
tember 20, 1M48. His ancestry traced back to his 
great-grandfather finds Dr. John Robinson a na- 
tive of Georgia, where he was a successful physi- 
cian and a large planter and slave-owner. After 
a time, however, he became imbued with anti- 
slavery views, sold his farm and freed the slaves. 
From Georgia he removed to Vermont and prac- 
ticed medicine there. Later, he moved to Ohio 
and located in Crawford County. The grand- 
father was a soldier in the War of 1812. He was 
a farmer and the owner of a large sawmill in 
Crawford County, whence he moved to Green Bay, 
Wis., and there died. 

The father of our subject, George Robinson, 
was a harness-maker by trade and conducted an 
establishment. He was in the Mexican War as 
one of the officers, and then went to California 
with stock, freighting back and forth. His wife 
was one of the plucky women of the day, and 
drove a four-horse team to and from California 
twice along with the train. She learned the use 
of a rifle, and had many encounters with the In- 
dians, in which she did not come awa}- second 
best. Her maiden name was Laura Grant, and she 
was a native of Ohio. Her father was Josiah 



jPORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Grant, a connection of the family of Gen. Grant 
and a pioneer in Ohio. Mr. Robinson crossed the 
plains a number of times, but finally tired of this 
life of danger and adventure, and bought a farm 
in St. Joseph County. I nd., and devoted his atten- 
tion to the improvement of the place. He was a 
Republican in his political belief. 

The only child in the parental family is our 
subject, who was reared in Crawford County until 
he was six years old. Later, he resided at' Cold- 
water and Grand Rapids, Mich. For three years 
he lived with his uncle, A. I!. Grant, in Elkhart 
County, and then went back to St. Joseph County, 
Mich., near Sturgis and Coldwater. where he re- 
mained until he entered the army, when but six- 
teen years of age. Mr. Robinson inherited much 
of the determination of his father and the bravery 
of his mother, and three times did he make the 
effort before he was accepted. In 1864, he suc- 
ceeded and volunteered in Company E, Twenty- 
fourth Michigan Infantry. He was mustered in 
at Kalamazoo and joined the regiment at Camp 
Butler. Springfield, 111. He remained on guard at 
the camp tj.ere until he was mustered out, June 
25, 1865, and then he returned to Indiana to St. 
Joseph County and aided his father on a farm 
for one year. 

From this place our subject wentto MifHintown, 
Juniata County, Pa., and there engaged in farm- 
ing for one year. Next he moved to Connells- 
ville, and became fireman on the Pittsburgh, 
Washington ,1- Baltimore Railroad. While thus 
engaged he suffered from an active experience of 
several wrecks, and at one time received a deep 
wound in the chest, while at another time he had 
to save his life by jumping off his engine into the 
river. In 1872, he came West to Kansas City 
when it had but thirty-two thousand inhabitants. 
He was employed by the Missouri River, Ft. Scott 
A- Gulf Railroad as a fireman, and later became 
fireman on the Missouri Pacific Railroad and after- 
ward on the Sedalw Division. Still later he was 
employed on the main line, and was engineer and 
switch engineer until the panic of 1873. 

After that unhappy and unsettled period, our 
subject assisted in building the addition of |no x 
100 feet to the Plankinton & Arm,,,,, Packine- 



373 



house in Kansas City. In 1874, he came to La 
Fayette County, and in Dover Township engaged 
in farming and also operated a threshing-machine 
his being one of the first in use in the county. I„ 
the summer of 1876 he went to Weeping Water, 
Neb., to recuperate his health. The following 
winter was spent in Lawrence, Kan., putting up 
ice.and in Napoleon, this county, rafting logs and 
running them down the river to Lexington. He 
was successful in this business until, on account of 
a collision, the raft was broken, and he lost over 
ten thousand feet of lumber. 

After that disaster our subject located near 
Dover and engaged with J. II. Campbell to oper- 
ate a threshing-machine, which he did until 1879. 
He then went on the Atchison. Topeka A- Santa Fe 
Railroad as brakeman, and two years later became 
conductor, remaining thus employed without a 
single accident until 1882. In that year he ac- 
cepted the position of engineer of the City Mills 
at Higginsville, Mo., and in the fall of 1883 be- 
came engineer of the Excelsior Mines. Later he 
superintended the putting in of the boiler, 'the 
hoisting and weighing machinery, and the large 
boiler and air compressor of eighty-horse power. 
Mr. Robinson is a member of the Higginsville 
Building and Loan Association, and is a Director 
in the same. He is a member of the Knights of 
Pythias, Uniformed Rank, and in his political be- 
lief he votes as he thrnks best, prefernng men to 
party. His connection in religious affairs is wit h 
the Baptist Church. He is a popular and promi- 
nent youngman of this city.genial and good .,.-,- 
lured, and the friend of every one. 



I**** 



'•{••5"{"S-? 






yll.LIAM T. SYVINNL1 
ergetic Superintend,-, 
iyv Mill ami Elevator, am 



ILLIAM T. SWINNEY,the able and en- 

tendent of the Gilliam 

d also a Director of 

the Gilliam Exchange Bank, is an en terpris and 

leading citizen of Saline County, Mo., and makes 
his home in Gilliam, where he holds a high place 
'» the confidence and esteem of the entire com- 



.-.7 1 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



m unity. Accustomed to handling important and 
extended business interests, our subject is also 
ready to aid in local enterprise, and is ever ready 
to assist in social, benevolent and religious work, 
especially interesting himself in behalf of educa- 
tional progress and the betterment of the world at 
large. Mr. Swinnej is a native of the State, and 
was born in Howard County. October 13, 1853. 

The paternal grandfather of our subject served 
in the War of L812, and died when Mr. Swinney 
was very young. The maternal grandfather, Will- 
iam Jones, was a Virginian by birth, and a most 
excellent man. The father and mother of our sub- 
ject were James E. and .Mary A. (Jones) Swinney. 
.Mrs. Swinney was born in 1830, and is now resid- 
ing in Gilliam. Her husband was a tobacco raiser 
and shipper, and passed away in 1868. Mrs.Swin- 
nev became the mother of nine children, but of all 
this large family who once gathered in the happy 
household only three survive. John Swinney, 
born in Howard County, Mo., in I860, lives in 
Kansas, where he is in the employ of a railroad 
company. Kate, born in Howard County, Mo., in 
1867, is the wife of B. 11. Cheatham, and resides in 
Gilliam, where her husband is engaged in mercan- 
tile business. Mr. and Mrs. Cheatham are the 
happy parents of two bright and promising chil- 
dren. 

Our subject received excellent educational ad- 
vantages in the public schools and collegeof Glas- 
gow, and after completing a course of instruction. 
engaged in the tobacco business in Howard County. 
shipping extensively, with profitable results. In 
1881 Mr. Swinney entered into the same line of 
business in Gilliam and continued in the shipping 
of tobacco until 1888, when he sold out, and then 
devoted his time to the grain business and man- 
agement of the mills and elevator, of which he is 
the superintendent. Success has generously crowned 
the self-reliant efforts of our subject, and he has 
the consciousness that it is well deserved. He was 
married in 1883, to Mi>s Anna Hawkins, a native 
of Saline County, born in 18(12. Mr. and Mrs. 
Swinney became the parents of two little ones. 
Edward died at the age of four months and Bessie, 
i!i young daughter, was born in 1886 and gives 
promise of a noble character. 



Our subject is among the most valued members 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, but he is not a 
rigid sectarian in doctrine, and his wife being a 
member of the Baptist denomination, he is a liberal 
supporter of both churches. Politically, Mr. 
Swinney is a Democrat, but he has neither desire 
nor time to give to official positions, and is absorbed 
in his business pursuits, although, in common with 
all good citizens, he is interested in the public con- 
duct of positions of trust and office. In matters 
of local interest and advancement our subject, is 
numbered among the leading and influential citi- 
zens, who are always ready to aid in the march of 
improvement, and a->ist in the growth of prog- 
ress and reform. He was an efficient member of 
the Town Hoard, and an important factor in the 
planning and completion of much needed work 
beneficial to the city of Gilliam and il> immediate 
vicinity. Mr. and Mrs. Swinney are widely known, 
and have a host of warm and devoted friends and 
well-wishers, who appreciate the sterling qualities 
of our subject and his excellent wife. 




ANIEL PERRY ALDRICH. One of the 

inoM popular among the men on the Chi- 
cago iV- Alton Road is the genial engin- 
eer whose name is given above. Aside 
from his profession, he has financial interests that 
have brought him in handsome returns. lie is 
very active in the Brotherhood of Locomotive 
Engineers, and in May. 1892, acted as delegate to 
the National Convention, which was held at At- 
lanta, Ga. Mr. Aldrich, who is on the Kansas 
City & St. Louis Division of the Chicago & Alton 
Road, reside- in Slater. Saline County, where he 
has a pleasant home and a charming family. 

Our subject was born in Adrian, Mich., June 23, 
1849, a son of Amos and Mary (Force) Aldrich. 
His father was a native of Massachusetts, born near 
Lawrence. The paternal grandfather, also named 
Amos, was a manufacturer of cotton goods in 
Massachusetts. It was he who brought his family to 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



375 



Michigan and entered a large tract of land, which 
he improved and a part of which is now within 
the limits of Adrian. The family was a large and 
a busy one. Our subject's father learned the cab- 
inet-maker's trade and was engaged in the manu- 
facture of furniture at Jonesville, Mich., being in 
partnership with his father and a brother, until he 
retired from active business to the city of Jackson, 
where he died at the earh age of forty years. 
Our subject's mother, who was born in Adrian, 
now resides with her son, Daniel Perry, and is 
sixty-four years of age. Of the two children that 
she brought up, our subject is the elder, while the 
other, Lucy S., now Mrs. ('. S. Keen, lives in Boston. 

Mr. Aldrich was reared in Adrian. lie attended 
the public schools of that town and graduated 
from the High School at the age of twenty-one. 
In 1870 he began work as a machinist under .1. K. 
Taylor, superintendent of the machine shops of 
the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Road. He 
remained there until he was conversant with all 
the branches of mechanical engineering, and then 
became a fireman on the road between Adrian and 
Elkhart and between Adrian and Toledo. He was 
later promoted to a position as engineer on the 
same road. He then went to Sturgis and was en- 
gaged in the construction of the Grand Rapids & 
Indiana Railroad. He then engineered the laying 
of ties and rails, and in that summer by his capital 
management effected the completion of one hun- 
dred miles of road. He remained on this road 
until 1879, and was then transferred to the Chicago 
<fe Alton Division, having a run between Rood- 
house and Mexico and between Roodhouse and 
Bloomington. After eighteen months with this 
road he took a run on the Chicago, Minneapolis 
& St. Paul River Division from La Crosse to Min- 
neapolis, remaining there for two years and after- 
ward going upon the Northern Pacific. 

In 1884, Mr. Aldrich returned to the Chicago & 
Alton Division with his headquarters at Slater. 
and Engine No. 189 has been his charge since 
coming here, lie has always been fortunate, both 
in the discharge of his duties as a railroad man and 
in financial directions. He has dealt quite exten- 
sively in real estate in Grand Rapids, Mich., and 
owns considerable tine property. Mr. Aldrich was 



married in Grand Rapids in 1*77. His bride was 
Miss Etta Phillips, a native of that city anil a 
daughter of J. W. Phillips, an old settler there. 
The Aldrich home is a very pleasant one and 
wife is a most estimable and popular lady. Fra- 
ternally our subject belongs to the Free & Accepted 
Masons, is a Royal Arch Mason, and also belongs 
to the Knights Templar. He belongs to Division 
8 of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. 



ON. WILLIAM M. WALKER, the enter- 
ijj prising and energetic ex-County Collector, 
having served three terms, and a member 
of the Legislature in 1885 and 1886, Thirty- 
third Genera] Assembly, has not only been a prom- 
inent factor in the business world of Marshall and 
Saline County, in furnishing the (inest bituminous 
and cannel coal in the stale of Missouri, but is 
preparing for public use Blue Lick Springs, eight 
miles south of Marshall, as an attractive summer 
resort. The eight health-giving springs, entirely 
different in the composition of their sparkling 
water, will eventually draw thousands of invalids 
and pleasure-seekers thither, and at no very distant 
day matchless accommodations will be offered all 
guests who tarry in this beautiful resort. At pres- 
ent some substantial buildings have been erected 
and more will soon follow. 

The Hon. William M. Walker resides in one of 
the most attractive homes in Marshall. Addition 
18, within the city limits. The highly improved 
farm of three hundred and twenty acres recently 
owned by him is seven miles northeast of the city. 
Our subject was born October 22. 1833, near Car- 
thage, Smith County, Tenn. His paternal grandfa- 
ther, Samuel, was a native of Virginia, and be 
longed to the F. I". Vs. of the Old Dominion 
Locating in North Carolina, be became a planter 
there, but emigrating to Tennessee in an early day, 
tilled the soil of that fertile State, and after many 
years of care and usefulness, died there. 



376 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



The father of our subject, named after his fa- 
ther, Samuel, was born October 20, 17'J9. in Wilson 
County, N. C, and was a farmer engaged in the 
duties (if agriculture in Smith County, Tenn. He 
married in the latter State a North Carolina lady, 
and in 1836 journeyed to Missouri, traveling to 
that State by team and wagon, and, slowly mov- 
ing forward, were several weeks on the way. 
Their destination was Moniteau County, and there 
the father entered five hundred acres from the 
Government, and devoted the rest of his life to 
general farming and stock-raising. When almost 
four-score years of age he passed away, dying in 
his seventy-seventh year, June 16, 1865. In poli- 
ties, this early pioneer was a Democrat, and in re- 
ligious affiliation a prominent Baptist, a Deacon 
and active worker in the organization. He held 
with great honor the official position of Justice of 
the Peace in Moniteau County, where he was 
familiarly known in the latter years of his life as 
"old Squire Walker." 

The mother of our subject was Miss Agnes Brad- 
ford, born in Wilson County, X. C, a daughter of 
Booker Bradford, a native of old Virginia, and an 
early pioneer of North Carolina, and afterward a 
settler of Tennessee. Mrs. Agnes (Bradford) 
Walker died in 1857. She was the mother of 
four sons and four daughters, all of whom grew 
up to mature years, but of whom only two broth- 
ers and three sisters now survive. Brother Bird, 
now deceased, served in the war, also his three 
sons; Thomas Walker died in the Civil War; Sam- 
uel was engaged in the conflict, and now resides in 
Texas. The brothers fought in the Confederate 
army. 

Mr. Walker was reared upon his father's farm, 
and at the tender age of ten years worked side by- 
side with the hired men. working steadil}' in the 
field, and assisting in the cultivation of corn, wheat 
and tobacco. Occasionally he was spared to at- 
tend the log schoolhouse of the district, and seated 
upon the rude slabs would carefully con his lessons 
over. Three winter months weregiven the young 
boys for schooling and study, and the memory of 
the greased-paper windows, and the puncheon 
desk below, where our subject industriously learned 
to write with a goose-quill, are yet as fresh in his 



mind as though they were of yesterday. The 
schools gradually improved in character, and slowly 
made their upward way into broader fields of edu- 
cation and progress. 

Mr. Walker remained at home until the close of 
the war to attend to his father's business, and at 
the age of twenty-two years began teaching school 
in the fall and winter months, raising a crop on 
the home farm in the summer, and thus employed 
himself for five years. In 1864, making a new de- 
parture, our subject went to Virginia City, Mont., 
and engaged in mining there. He made the trip 
with an ox-team via Ft. Laramie, Bridger's Cut-off, 
and had the charge and management of the train, 
which he brought through safe and sound. After 
mining and working hard until the fall of 1864, 
he started on his return trip home. He traveled 
by mule train via Salt Lake City to Nebraska 
City, and suffered much from the intense cold and 
severe storms he encountered; when he arrived 
at Nebraska City at Christmas time, on his return, 
he was detained there two weeks, when he came 
directly back to Saline County. Mr. Walker and 
his wife liked the country and the people, and as 
Mrs. Walker's relatives were settled here, they de- 
cided to make this locality their future home, and 
upon our subject's arrival from the West, be sent 
for his family, and soon they were united once 
more. 

In those days there were no railroads in this 
section of the country, and few improvements, but 
the people, many of them, moved about as though 
journeying were an easy task. The Walkers lived 
first in Marshall Township, remained one year, and 
then located in Jefferson Township; they next set- 
tled in Arrow Rock, sojourning there two years, and, 
finally taking possession of the three hundred and 
twenty acres now so finely improved, made that 
portion of the State their permanent home. At 
one time Mr. Walker had four hundred acres, 
raising wheat, corn, cattle and hogs. In the year 
1877 the farm was rented out, and the family re- 
moved to the comfortable and commodious home 
in Marshall, which Mr. Walker bought and im- 
pioved. The handsome grounds about the family 
residence occupy eighteen and one-half acres. In 
the same year our subject took charge of the 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



.".77 



county collections, and has been twice re-elected. 
He made collections in every part of the county, 
and gave $250,000 bonds. While Mr. Walker was 
serving in the State Legislature, he was a member 
of the important Committees on Ways and Means, 
Roads and Highways, and also of the Committee 
on Accounts. 

In 18111 our subject sold his farm, and has since 
beautified the home acres, adorning them vari- 
ously, and planting some of the land to choice 
varieties of fruit, so that to-day an orchard in full 
bearing is the result of well-planned improvement. 
During the existence of the County Agricultural 
Society, Mr. Walker was among the members, and 
with all his old-time interest engaged in raising 
Shorthorns, taking numerous premiums at the 
fairs. The old farm was the school district of the 
vicinity, and Mr. Walker always interested himself 
in educational advancement. Fraternally, he is a 
prominent Mason, being a free and Accepted Ma- 
son, a Royal Arch Mason and a Knight Templar, 
all in the lodges of Marshall. In religious connec- 
tions, he is a Baptist, and in politics a straight 
Democrat, and has been a member of the County 
Democratic Central Committee, and attended the 
Grand Council in June. 

The Hon. William Walker was married in Saline 
County, Jefferson Township, in 1855, to Miss Mary 
I. Garrett, a native of the county, a daughter of 
Col. Laban Garrett, who was born in Virginia, 
and was an early settler of Saline County, having 
arrived here in 1818. He was a Colonel in the 
militia, and taught the first school here. He was 
also a large fanner and a very successful tiller of 
the soil. Mr. and Mrs. Walker are the parents of 
seven children: Narcissa, Mrs. J. P. Pemberton, re- 
sides in Marshall Township; Mary H., now Mis. 
Rose, lives in this city, engaged in the boot and 
shoe business; Samuel, at home, is Superintendent 
of the Blue Lick Springs Resort; William M., Jr., 
is Deputy Collector; Viola B., Thomas B. and 
Nannie S. are at home. The entire family hold a 
hi*h place in the regard and esteem of the entire 
community. 

Coal Mountain, owned by Mr. Walker, is a most 
valuable piece of property. The quality of the 
coal is unsurpassed, and there is a deposit of over 



fifty feet. The fine Blue Lick Springs will be the 
continued care of our subject, and in the develop- 
ment of their resources, Mr. Walker will not only 
benefit himself and the city of Marshall, but will 
confer health, life and pleasure upon the general 
public. Always a true and earnest American citi- 
zen, our subject knows no disappointments or dis- 
couragements, but, persevering, has conquered ob- 
stacles and won success. 



i i i '» > i > ' 




H. ALEXANDER. In the days of the 
Ptolemies the office of embalmer was con- 
sidered as sacred as that of the priest, and 
no unsanctified hand might touch the body 
in which the spirit should be re-incarnated. To- 
day only science enters into the profession, and he 
who has best mastered the art is most regarded. 
Mr. Alexander has certainly acquired a high repu- 
tation in this respect, and in the sad but necessary 
capacity of a funeral* director he has shown him- 
self to have great tact and all regard for the pro- 
prieties. Aside from this, he is the owner of large 
sale stables at the corner of La Fayette and Morgan 
Streets. His business connections in this city be- 
gan ten years ago. 

The original of this sketch was born in Augusta 
County, Va., July 9, 1857. He is a son of William 
and Sarah (Maxwell) Alexander, the former being 
by calling a manufacturer of furniture and an 
undertake]'. M. 11. received his education at his 
home town, Waynesboro, and after that lie learned 
the trade with his father, who still remains in his 
native place, although retired from active business 
affairs, baring sold out to two Of his sons, who now 
cany on the business in Waynesboro, lie is a na- 
tive-Virginian, and for manj years has been a 
member of the City Council. His wife died in 
1801, leaving a fajaiily of nine children, who had 
been brought up in the teachings of the Presby- 
terian Chinch. 

Our subject remained with his father for some 
time, finally going on the road as a commercial 



378 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



traveler for a Richmond firm. Me then entered 
the mercantile business, which he conducted for a 

year, when be decided to come West, and after 
prospecting through various cities determined to 
locate heir. He first established the undertaking 
business, later adding the livery to it. He is an 
expert embalmer, having been graduated in the art 
under Prof. J. Clark, of Kansas City. As he is the 
only one in Saline County who is familiar with 
the business, he is naturally kept constantly em- 
ployed. He began his livery business in 188.5, and 
keeps a full line of vehicles, ranking from the ordin- 
ary carl to the finest coupe and 'bus. lie also has 
fine riding and driving horses. Aside from these 
interests Mr. Alexander is the owner of the County 
Agricultural Fair Grounds, upon which is a veiy 
fine track. He uses this for training his own 
horses, and has some thoroughbred animals in his 
stables whose blood is of the best, while in this sec- 
tion he is a well-known breeder, and has a number 
of line trotting horses. He lias a farm of two hun- 
dred and forty acres on section 21, township 52. 

Mr. Alexander possesses a beautiful home, which 
was built to his own order and design at No. 544 
North Jefferson Street. This" is presided over very 
graciously by his wife, who was Miss Eliza Guthrey 
and to whom he was married October 10, 1883. 
She is a daughter of John G. Guthrey, of Miami, 
which is her former home, although she is a native 
of Yonkers, N. Y. Their family numbers four chil- 
dren: William G, Sarah S., Mary G. and M. Har- 
vey. Both Mr. and Mrs. Alexander are members 
of the Episcopal Church. 



£>> - 






yf C. JOHNSTON, proprietor of the feed, 
COrn-meal and mixing mill of this city, 
has been a resident of the county from 
the time that he was a boy, having been engaged 
in farming and threshing up to the year 1891, 
when he located in Slater. He is dojng an excel- 
lent business here and is a man who has many 
friends. 



Mr. Johnston's birthplace was near Chillicothe, 
Ross County, Ohio, and the date of his birth was 
June 17, 1858. He is a son of Thomas Johnston, 
a native of Northport, Ireland, and his Grand- 
father Johnston, who was also named Thomas, was 
a farmer in Ireland, where he ended his days. 
The father owned an interest in a bleaching mill 
in the Old Country. He was married in Ireland 
and came to this country about 1844, locating in 
Ross County. Ohio. He was a wheelwright at 
Kingston, working at his trade two years, and was 
a thorough workman who could make anything in 
wood. 

In 1872, Mr. Johnston, Sr., came to Miami 
Township, Saline County, Mo., having retired from 
business, and lived with his suns until his death, 
March 29, 1889. He belonged to the old Whig 
and Republican parties in Ohio, and was an at- 
tendant at the Presbyterian Church. His wife, 
Eliza (Anderson) Johnston, was born in Ireland, 
and was a daughter of James Anderson, a farmer, 
who died in the home country. The mother is liv- 
ing in Miami Township. There were nine children, 
eight of whom are still living, three sons and five 
daughters. The eldest son, James A., was in the 
Civil War, in an Ohio regiment. He is now living 
on a farm in Miami Township. 

The subject of this sketch was the youngest son 
of the family and the third of the children. 
Until the age of fourteeu his home was in Ohio 
and he lived on a farm. He attended good district 
schools until the year 1872, when he came to 
Laynesville, Mo., by boat from Cincinnati. The 
family located on a farm near Malta Bend, remain- 
ing there for five years. They rented for two 
years in Miami Township, then W. C. and his 
brother, J. A., bought a farm of three hundred and 
eighty-six acres of good improved land. Here 
they resided, farming and stock-raising, until Sep- 
tember, 1891, when the younger brother sold his 
share and, in the spring of 1892, came to Slater. 
The brothers had been running engines for thresh- 
ing-machines for fifteen years and had done some- 
thing in the milling business. Mr. Johnston built 
the mill here, which is run by steam, with fourteen- 
horse power, and was the first to introduce a 
mixed feed for cattle, consisting of ground cotton- 




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-3 ^/f^U^A^- 



l/tfrruZd 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



381 



seed, bran and ship stuff, making an excellent 
feed. It had never before been made in tins 
county. The mill has a capacity of ten tuns per 
day. Mr. Johnston sold an interest, in the mill in 
1892, and it is now operated by K. J. Brown & 
Co. 

Mr. Johnston chose for his wife Miss Mary, 
daughter of I. N. Craves, an old settler and real- 
estate man of Miami Township. The marriage 
occurred November 1, 1881, in the township 
mentioned. Mrs. Johnston was born in Illinois 
Her father died in Cedar County. The gentle- 
man of whom -we write is a Republican of the 
kind that the party can rely upon, and has 
been a delegate to county conventions. He is a 
good business man, owns some property in West 
Slater, and is reliable and accommodating, the 
latter being a noteworthy characteristic in these 
days of rush and hurry after the wealth which to 
many seems the great desideratum of existence. 
Mr. and Mrs. Johnston lost their only child, a 
daughter named May, who died at the age of 
seven years. 



»+^ 



THOMAS SHELBY, a leading and prosperous 

( (T\ agriculturist of La Fayette County for two- 
score years, has now retired from active 
duties as a tiller of the soil, but still retains the 
ownership of one of the model farms of the county, 
whose broad acreage is all under a high state of 
cultivation. Energetic and progressive, our sub- 
ject, from comparatively small beginnings, self- 
reliantly won his upward way, and to-day in his 
pleasant home in Lexington enjoys t lie competence 
gained by years of honest industry. Mr. Shelby 
was born in Marion County, Ky.. September "-'■">. 
1818. The Shelliy family isof Welsh descen t, and. 
inheriting the sturdy virtues of their forefathers, 
the immediate ancestors of our subject have oc- 
cupied positions of honor and influence in the 
Land of Liberty to which the early emigrants from 
Wales came so many generations ago. 



Ex-Gov. Shelby, of Kentucky, was a brother of 
the paternal grandfather of our subject, who was 
John Shelby, a man of sterling integrity of char- 
acter and excellent, business ability. The parents 
of Thomas Shelby were William and Nancy (Ed- 
mondson) Shelby, both native Virginians. Will- 
iam Shelby was a stock-trader and removed with 
his family to La Fayette County in 1836, locating 
upon a farm, where he passed his days in agricul- 
tural pursuits. He died in 1854, but his wife sur- 
vived until 1862. Useful and honored in life, 
their deaths were universally regretted by all who 
knew them. Thomas Shelly was one of a family 
of four children, three sons and one daughter. 
( )ur subject spent his early youth in Marion County, 
Ky., and attended a private school in his birth- 
place. Later removing with his parents to La 
Layette County. .Mo., he here made his home for 
forty-one years, and then went to Ohio, remaining 
three years in the Buckeye State. 

Again returning to La Fayette Count3 r , Mr. 
Shelby located upon a farm of seven hundred 
acres and engaged in general agriculture. His 
natural ability and well-directed energy soon 
brought prosperous returns, and by constantly add- 
ing to his farming property, he soon owned one 
thousand acres of valuable land. He devoted 
much of his time to stock-raising and the feeding 
of cattle and hogs, and for many years was one of 
the leading shippers of live-stock. In 1883. he 
left to the care of others the tine farm of seven 
hundred acres, which is one of the most valuable 
and highly-improved homesteads ill La Fayette 
County. Mr. Shelby has always been a patriotic 
citizen, and during the war was so situated that he 
could, candidly and without prejudice, estimate 
the claims and mistakes of both the contending 
parties. Without being offensive to either, he de- 
plored the terrors of Civil War. and such power 
had his sterling integrity of character that he 
commanded alike from blue coats and gray the 
confidence and esteem which lie richly deserved 
for his liberality of sentiment and his excellent 
judgment. 

A few years more than a half a century- ago, 
Thomas Shelby and Miss Nancy II. Gordon were, 
on January 18, L838, united in marriage. Mrs. 



382 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Shelby was a native of La Fayette County, her 
father. G. H. Gordon, being among the early and 
substantial settlers of this part of Missouri. Hon. 
Lin Boyd. ex-Speaker of the House of Congress, 
was the uncle of Mrs. Shelby. She passed away 
April 21, 1876, deeply lamented by a large circle 
of sorrowing relatives and friends. She was a 
woman of genuine nobility of character, and the 
mother of nine children, of whom live are yet liv- 
ing. Adia; Mattie II., wife of S. J. Houston; 
Joseph B., a farmer; Lin B., a prosperous tiller of 
the soil; and Forest L.. who is also engaged in ag- 
ricultural duties. These sons and (laughters oc- 
cupy positions of influence and worthily represent 
the family name. They are all members of the 
Christian Church. Mr. Shelby was married in 
1878 to his present wife, who was Miss Margaret 
Houston, daughter of Samuel J. Houston, a well- 
known citizen of Ohio. The family residence in 
Lexington is attractively located, and is a com- 
modious brick structure, handsomely finished and 
of modern design. 

Our subject is a member of the Church of Christ 
and for forty-five years has been connected with 
this denomination and one of the leaders in the 
extension of its good work. Politically. Mr. Shelby- 
is a Democrat, and has been an ardent advocate 
of Grover Cleveland, whom the people have a sec- 
ond time called to the Presidential Chair of this 
great American nation. The county of La Fayette 
numbers many substantial residents, but there is 
not within the limits of its territory a more up- 
right or public-spirited citizen than our subject, 
Thomas Shelby, whose unostentatious life has 
wrought much of good for his less fortunate fellow- 
men. 



ENRY SKIMS. Among the excellent and 
" public-spirited German-American citizens 
of La Fayette County is the subject of this 
sketch. His record as a soldier is without 
blemish, and his present standing in the community 



is one of considerable prominence. His home is 
located upon section 14, range 26, township 49, 
where lie resides on his farm of one hundred and 
twenty acres of land. 

The native country of our subject is Prussia, 
where he was born in April, 1837. He was the 
son of Christian and Elizabeth Seims, natives of 
Germany. In the public schools of that country 
he received a fair education in his native language, 
and since his residence in America he has become 
sufficiently acquainted with the English language 
to make his conversation in it a very easy matter. 
It was in the year 1858 that Mr. Seims left Ger- 
many, taking passage in a sailing-vessel at Bremen, 
and after a rough voyage of sixtj'-seven days 
reached New Orleans. From that city he came 
north to Gasconade County, Mo., and engaged in 
work on a farm. 

During the early part of his life in Missouri, our 
subject received only $12 per month, and with this 
he was content and continued laboring until the 
breaking out of the Civil War. In September, 
1861, Mr. Seims enlisted at St. Louis in Company 
F. Second Missouri Light Artillery, and thus be- 
came a part of the Fifteenth Army Corps, com- 
manded in turn by those great generals, Sherman 
and Logan. The regiment to which our subject 
was attached was engaged in the battles of Pea 
Ridge and Chattanooga, the sieges of Vicksburg 
and Atlanta, and other less important, although 
just as dangerous, engagements. 

Mr. Seims received his honorable discharge in 
the fall of 1864 and returned to Missouri, but a 
few months later he re-enlisted in Company F, 
First Veteran Corps, under Gen. Hancock, and was 
appointed to do guard duty at Washington, Win- 
chester, Cincinnati and Louisville. He received 
his final discharge after the assassination of Presi- 
dent Lincoln. At that time he was at Cam)) Stone- 
man, near Washington City, on the Potomac. To 
Mr. Seims, Gasconade County, Mo., was home, and 
hither he made his way as soon as he was relieved 
of his duties as a soldier. For some time he con- 
tinued there engaged in farming, but later moved 
to Osage County, Mo., where he pursued for many 
years the same vocation. 

In the spring of 1880, our subject removed to 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



383 



La Fayette County, and in this place he has re- 
mained ever since. His farm of one handled and 
twenty acre- has given him employment and en- 
joyment, and success as a farmer lias made of him 
a prominent man in the township. In his political 
belief, he has espoused the Republican party, and 
is a very well-informed and progressive men. In 
1868,our subject was united in marriage with Mi-s 
Elizabeth Feak, who is a native of Baden, Ger- 
many, and eight bright children have been born of 
this union, namely: William, Edward, Emma, 
Henry, Lydia, August, John and Oscar. The 
members of the family belong to the German 
Evangelical Church and are highly respected. 



~^*li 



'JIJAMES M. ASHLEY, a representative busi- 
ness man and leading citizen of Marshall, 
Saline County, Mo., is a senior partner in 
the widely known firm of James M. Ashle\ 
& Company, dealers in poultry and eggs, com- 
manding the most extended trade of any firm in 
the county in their special line of business. Ac- 
tive and energetic in the daily round of toil, our 
subject has achieved success, and with prosperity 
has gained the experience of years of upward prog- 
ress thoroughly identified with the growth of his 
present home. Upright and honorable in his deal- 
ings, he has won the confidence and regard of the 
business public, and in private life has a host of 
friends. 

Mr. Ashley was born in Casey County. Ky., 
September 29, 1834. His father, John Ashley, was 
also a native of Kentucky, but his paternal grand- 
father was born in England, near London; he 
emigrated to America, and settled first in Vir- 
ginia, where he farmed, afterward locating in Ken- 
tucky, where he died much lamented. His sun, 
the father of our subject, winked on a farm in 
Kentucky in early boyhood, and at seventeen years 
of age enlisted in the service of the Government 
under Gen. Harrison, and fought bravely in the 
War of 1812. He was a tiller of the soil in Casey 



and Lincoln Counties until 1851, when he settled 
in Illinois, first in McLean County, then in Pike 
County, spending two years in the State; he then 
returned to Pulaski County, Ky.. and died there in 
1857. lie was a Whig in political affiliations, and 
was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

The mother of Mr. Ashley was in maidenhood 
Elizabeth Montgomery; she was born in Virginia, 
flic daughter of Ezekiel Montgomery, a native of 
the Old Dominion, and a farmer of that State. He 
was a patriot, and was wounded while fighting in 
the Revolutionary War. He died in his native state 
after long years of usefulness. Mrs. Ashley passed 
away in Illinois, after becoming the mother of 
thirteen children, two of whom died 3'oung. Our 
subject was the eleventh child of the large family, 
lb' attended the public schools in Kentucky, and 
at seventeen years of age accompanied his parents 
in their various change of residence, going first to 
McLean and Pike Counties, and then back to Pu- 
laski County, Ky., where he learned the carpenter's 
trade. In 1861, he went again to Illinois, and lo- 
cated in Winchester, Scott County, and worked at 
his trade, soon finding ready and lucrative em- 
ployment as a contractor and builder. From 1856 
to 1858, he was busy in Arney, Ind., then returned 
to Scott County. 111., and was appointed Deputy 
Sheriff of the county under Horace Stewart, and 
held that position in 1869 and 1870. At the lat- 
ter date he took up his former business there until 
he went to Roodhouse, in Greene County, where, 
engaged in building, he remained for a time, then 
returned to Winchester, but later "cut to Rush- 
ville, 111., in which place he remained five years. 

In 1886 our subject journeyed to Kansas and 
lived in McPherson two years. In 1883 he came 
to Marshall and resumed his occupation of con- 
tractor and builder, but in June. 1890, opened his 
present place of business and has succeeded be- 
yond hi- expectation-, building up a fine trade in 
a comparatively short time. The first of the suc- 
ceeding year he bought out his nephew, who had 
been in business with him, and then commenced 
buying and shipping poultry. The trade, which 
is rapidly increasing, amounts to from i.'ht.illKl 
to $40,000 per year, and is by far the largest of its 
character m this section of the State. The firm 



384 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



pick and dress the poultry and ship a car everj 
week lo Boston, and also handle immense Jots of 
eggs, and run five wagons. The business location 
of James M. Ashley .v- Co. is upon LaFayette Ave- 
nue, one of the Ernest Cor the purposes of trade in 
town. Mr. Ashley erected his own handsome and 
commodious residence on North Fourth Street. 

Our subject was married in Tennessee to Miss 
Nannie Hubble, a native of Kentucky, who came 
to Indiana with her family and died in this West- 
ern State. She left four children: Alonzo, resid- 
ing in Marshall, a carpenter, contractor and builder; 
Mary E., now Mrs. Albert Darling, of Marshall; 
Eva !>.. at home; and James L., who is in business 
with his father. Mr. Ashley's second marriage 
was in Winchester, the bride being Miss Anne L. 
Summers, who was born in Illinois. This estima- 
ble lady is the mother of three children, Tessie I., 
Ernest II. and Myrtle. Our subject is a member 
of the Baptist Church, and with his family is ever 
ready toaid in all good work. He is a Republi- 
can, and is earnest in his convictions and sound in 
argument, and in the few years of his residence in 
Marshall has ever been an active and public- 
spirited citizen. 



— .':'-> 



\>-$t<i 



ifi>~ 



ft) RA M. RILEA is well known to the traveling 
public who frequent the Chicago ,V- Alton Road 
/i\ on the Kansas City Division, being a conduc- 
tor whose eagle eye passes no passenger by whose 
silver can swell the coffers of the railroad com- 
pany. He has been in the employ of the road more 
Or less since the fall of 18(58. 

The original of this sketch was born at Sardinia. 
Brown County, Ohio. November 8, 1849. He is a 
son of Joshua I), and Naomi (Kincaid) Ri lea, both 
of whom were natives of the same place. Grand- 
father Hilca was a member of an old Eastern fam- 
ily who moved to Brown County in an early day, 
and in L832 went to live in Fulton County, 111.. 
and engaged in farming near Canton. He was 
One of the '49ers who made the overland route 



to California, but although he secured quite a 
good deal of the precious metal he was robbed of 
it on his way back. On returning to his Illinois 
farm he cultivated it until his death, which oc- 
curred when he was eighty-five years of age. 

Joshua Rilea was a carpenter and builder, and 
had a good many contracts for putting up large 
buildings. He went to Illinois in 1832 with his 
father, but returned to Ohio, where he married and 
lived until 18.J7, when he again went back to Illi- 
nois and located in McLean County, being there 
employed at his trade. In 18G2 he enlisted in the 
One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Illinois Infantry, 
serving until the close of the Rebellion, when he 
resumed Ins t rade and was thus employed until 
1889. Ho then located on a farm in Kansas, home- 
steading a claim in Logan County, where he now 
resides. 1 Ie is a member of the Grand Army of the 
Republic. Our subject's mother was the daughter 
of Robert Kincaid, who was a merchant in Sardinia. 
Her family were all Scotch Presbyterians. 

Of the six children born to Mi', and Mrs. Rilea, 
our subject is the eldest. He passed eight years of 
hislifeon the farm in Illinois, and attended public 
school. In 1868 he entered the employ of the 
Chicago & Alton Road as baggage agent at Chenoa. 
both for that, road and the Toledo, Peoria & Wa- 
bash. He was thus employed until the spring of 
1870, when he became line repairer, which position 
he held until the fall of 1880. During the ten 
years he was thus employed he lost only twenty- 
five days, and was in charge of certain divisions, 
having his headquarters at Alton. In 1879 he was 
placed in charge of the men that put up the sec- 
ond wire from Mexico to Kansas City over the Al- 
ton Railroad. 

In the fall of 1880 our subject located on a farm 
in Woodson County, Kan. It was upon section 1, 
and this he operated for live years, during which 
time he gave his chief attention to stock-raising. 
Five years of this, however, were enough for the 
man who had been so accustomed to the active 
lite of railroading, and he returned to the road 
which he had first been employed upon, accepting 
the position of brakeman, with his headquarters 
at Slater. Nine months later he was made con- 
ductor, and has run continuously since that time 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



385 



on through freights. When serving as telegraph 
repairer he had a velocipede which he named I lurdy 
Gnrdy, and which -.till goes by that name. 

Mr. Rilea was married in Kirksville, Aid., March 
22, 1876, to Miss Clara A. Foster, who was born in 
Racine. Wis., a daughter of Edward Foster, a na- 
tive of Lincolnshire, England, who came in Amer- 
ica at theage of twenty-two. Mr. Foster first io- 
cated al Montpelier, Vt., engaging in the harness 
and saddlery business. Later he located at Ra- 
cine, and added trunks to his former stock. Dur- 
ing the Civil War he was a • Government contractor, 
and later became a wholesale dealer, supplying 
knapsacks, can teens,'etc. Mrs. Rilea 's mother was 
before her marriage a Miss Isabel Williams, a na- 
tive of Montpelier, Vt. She still lives, making her 
home with a son at Webb City, this State, and has 
reached her tour-score years. 

Our subject and his wife are the parents of three 
children, whose names are Walter I., Howard E. 
and Eugene F. Mr. Rilea is the Secretary of Slater 
Division No. 212, of the Western Railroad Con- 
ductors' Association. He is a Deacon in the Cum- 
berland Presbyterian Church. We are happy to 
chronicle of him that, he is a true-blue Republican. 



_y 



r 



*=*=* 



i SAAC SPONSLER has had a pleasantly varied 
experience and has traveled extensively over 
J) the States, perhaps not always cumbered with 
a great amount of worldly wealth, but always pos- 
sessed of a happy, genial spirit, which awoke by 
very contagion the kindliest interests on the part 
of those witli whom he was thrown in contact. 
Mr. Sponsler was born in Frederick County, Md.. 
in the town of Emmetsburgh, August 12, 1825. 
There he passed the early years of his life until he 
left home and went to Pennsylvania. 

On making the change in his place of residence, 
as above stated, our subject increased his store of 
knowledge by learning to make children's shoes. 
He was employed at this business in Butler and 



Allegheny Counties lor two years. On leaving 
Pennsylvania he went to Louisville, Ky., and there 
the water-way proved too fascinating, and he made 

several trips on the river to New Orleans, engaged 
as a deck-hand in order to pay his passage. Some- 
time afterward lie enlisted in the regular army at 
St. Louis, and was a participant in the Mexican 
War and served his full term of enlistment, which 
was five years. 

After his discharge from the military service our 
subject made a brief visit to his old home in Fred- 
crick County, Aid., and soon afterward started 
overland for California to seek his fortune. Not 
realizing his golden expectations, lie returned to 
Frederick County, and some months later entered 
the employ of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Com- 
pany, with which he remained about two years. 

At this time, Mr. Sponsler went to Butler County, 
Pa., and engaged for a while in the printing busi- 
ness, which did not, however, prove as remunera- 
tive as he had anticipated, so he abandoned that 
pursuit and took up the shoe business, in which 
he continued for seventeen and a-half years, being 
located during that time at Prospect, Pa. He came 
to Missouri in I860 and purchased a farm in 
Cooper County, upon which he settled. After a 
residence of three years there, in which he im- 
proved the place to some extent, he sold the farm 
and removed to Clarksburg. Moniteau County, 
Mo. This continued to be his home for several 
years, and he was engaged very successfully in the 
shoe business, lie was also in partnership with 

John D. \V Is in filling a contract for furnishing 

ties to the Missouri Pacific Railroad Company. 
From Clarksburg Mr. Sponsler came to Slater, 
where he has ever since been an honored and re- 
-] ted resident. 

The original of our sketch is President of the 
slater Milling Company, ami for several years has 
been one of the Directors of the Slater Sm \ m^s 
Bank. - Our subject was married in Prospect. Pa., 
to .Miss Mary, a daughter of Edward and Prudence 

Kennedy. She was born in Butler ( t\. Pa., 

and there passed her early womanhood. She and 
her husband are devoted members of the Cumber- 
land Presbyterian Church. They have had their 
full share of sorrow, for death came to their house- 



386 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



hold .ind cut down in the flower of womanhood 
their only child and daughter, Estella, who was 
the wife of Dr. Ward Switzer. She died at the 
residence of her parents in Slater March 20. 1889, 
leaving two children, Mary and Frank. 






"•i-S-S-S- 



♦•fr-fr-h^ 



ANIEL T.GUTHREY. Shakespeare tells 
„ us in his incomparable "Julius Caesar," that 
(Gi3r the good that men do is oft interred with 
their hones, but there are too many ex- 
ceptions to this rule to make it a discouraging 
truth. The few extracts which may be placed be- 
fore the public in a brief sketch such as the follow- 
ing will possess interest, but cannot tell the whole 
story of a life, even if it were not rilled with more 
adventure than falls to the common hit. 

The good citizen, the honest lover of his State. 
the honored parent of a large family, whose influ- 
ence is still felt in his community, although he has 
been called hence, is the subject of whom we now 
write. Daniel Guthrey was born in Buckingham 
County, Ya., in 1817, and grew to maturity in his 
native place. When he was twenty-one years old 
he made his first visit to this State, then went back 
to his own home, but in 1836 he returned to the 
county, became a pioneer here, and made this his 
home for the remainder of his life. His first loca- 
tion was about six miles east of Fairville, where he 
resided for a short time, then came to his place 
one-half mile northwest of Fairville, and in this 
home he reared his family of eleven children. All 
of these grew to maturity and went out into the 
world to battle for themselves, bearing with them 
the influence of a good example. 

The wife of our subject was the daughter of Col. 
John Brown, a resident of this county. The an- 
cestors of both families were natives of England, 
who later became residents 'of Virginia. At the 
breaking out of the late war, Mr. Guthrey was the 
owner of six slaves. He had always been one of 
the firm supporters of the Government, but when 
th p war came on and the States seceded he attached 



himself to the Confederate cause. Two of his 
brothers were members of the Black Horse Cavalry. 
Always dining life a Democrat, although a Con- 
servative one, so he continued until his death. His 
attention to business was great, and he became a 
wealthy and successful man. 1 1 is death occurred 
in 1880. 

The eldest child of Mr. Guthrey is the subject of 
the following notice: John W. Guthrey was born 
in 1841, grew to manhood in this county, and had 
reached only the age of nineteen years when the 
Civil War broke out, putting to rout all of his 
plans for the future. Immediately John W. en- 
listed in the company commanded by Capt. Ed. 
Brown, and joined the Confederate army at Boon- 
ville under Gen. Price, but in the fall of the next 
year he was so unfortunate as to suffer capture, and 
was kept in prison until the close of the war. 

In 1863 John W. Guthrey was married to Miss 
Belly, the daughter of J. G. Tucker. She lived 
until 1878, and then passed away, leaving two 
children. Willie II. and Claud W. In 1880, Mr. 
Guthrey married Miss Mary E., the daughter of 
Rev. T. L. Austin, and to them have been born five 
blight and interesting children. These are Ollie, 
Austin, Harvey, Clarence and Ida. Mr. Guthrey 
might be called a "dyed-m-the-wool" Democrat, so 
firm is he in his allegiance to the principles of that 
party. The members of his family are Methodists, 
and in that connection are held in high esteem. 
Mr. Guthrey owns two hundred and sixty acres of 
valuable land, which he accumulated by his own 
toil. 



/*pj\ HARLEN J. IIADER. The present sketch 
(II is a memorial of one who in life was a 

^^T good neighbor, kind friend, a faithful fa- 
ther and husband, and a prominent and public- 
spirited citizen of La Fayette County, Mo. Mr. 
Ilader was a native of Germany, where he was 
born August 1. LSI I, and was a brother of Henry 
and Ernst Hader, whose biographical sketches ap- 
pear in other parts of this Recokd. While still a 



Portrait and biographical record. 



387 



lad, our subject came to America with his parents, 
and with them located in Indiana for a short 
time, later accompanying them to La Fayette 
County, Mo. 

As our subject grew to maturity, he obtained 
both a German and an English education, and at 
an early day became accustomed to work upon his 
father's farm. This occupation he followed all of 
his life, and at the time of his death left his wife 
and children a tine farm of eighty acres. Better 
though than this he left to them the memory of 
a good and kind husband and father, and a repu- 
tation of spotless integrity. In these days it is 
no light thing to say that a man's word is as good 
as his bond, but this could truly be said of our 
present subject. 

The first marriage of Mr. Hader occurred when 
he was united with Miss Paulina T. Guenther, and 
they were the parents of three children: James, 
Albert and Joseph, the last-named having passed 
away. The second marriage of our subject took 
place March 28, 1880, the bride being Mrs. Lou- 
isa, the widow of the late William Fetter, of War- 
ren County, Mo. By this union of Mr. Hader was 
born a family of seven children, as follows: Caro- 
line, Meta, Charles, Benjamin, John and Daniel, 
the last two remaining at home to the present 
time. The second daughter, Alvina, was removed 
by death. 

The birth of the present Mrs. Hader took place 
March 22, 1859, in Warren County, Mo. She was 
the daughter of Henry and Christiana Wagner, of 
Warren County. By her first marriage Mrs. Hader 
became the mother of two children, only one of 
whom, William, is living. Mr. Hader was a man 
of great energy and soon won the confidence of 
his neighbors and friends. He was. always in 
favor of any measures which he felt convinced 
would advance the interests of township or 
county, and held with great good judgment the 
office of School Director for a long time. In his 
politics lie was a stanch supporter of Republican 
principles. 

Mr. Hader was for many years a good and de- 
vout member of the Baptist Church, to which he 
contributed as liberally as he felt his means per- 
mitted. In this connection he was well known 



and highly esteemed. His death occurred July 1, 
1891, lamented by the whole community. His 
widow resides on the home farm, which she directs 
with care, showing her capability in this direction. 
She, too, is a member of the Baptist ( 'lunch, and 
with her children makes a pleasant and hospitable 
country home for their friends. The memory of 
the kind husband and father is kept green, and 
this slight memorial is a testimonial to the esteem 
and affection in which he was held by them. 



A 



Ife CLIFF KAPP. The name of the paper 

%wfl ° f wll ' c '' our s,1D J ect is proprietor aud 
WW editor, the Slater Weekly /uric,-, is very 
significant of its character, being truly an index- 
to the local and general news of the country. Mr. 
Lapp, although one of the younger editors of the 
county, ranks among the foremost in his work 
as a public and popular educator. All homes into 
which his weekly sheet finds its way are benefited 
thereby, the news being written up in a thoroughly 
agreeable and entertaining manner. 

Mr. Kapp was born in Clarion County, Pa., De- 
cember 5, 1867. His father is A. W. Kapp, and 
his mother was in her maidenhood Lvdon A. Mahl. 
They are both natives of Pennsylvania, but of 

German ancestry. Our subject was but six n ths 

old when his parents went to Livingston County, 
Mo., and there he grew to manhood. Until theage 
of fifteen the intervals from his school duties were 
passed on a farm. He later went to Aralon Col- 
lege, at Avalon, Mo., whence he graduated in 1887. 
About 1883 Mr. Kapp went to Alabama and se- 
cured a position in the Birmingham Business Col- 
lege, « here he taught book-keeping and penman- 
ship for two years. He was recognized as a first- 
class master and a highly accomplished cultured 
gentleman. Afterward he made arrangements to 
perfect himself in the art of printing, and was em- 
ployed until June. 1890, on the ( 'hillicothe Con- 
stitution. 



388 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



In 1890, he purchased the State Weekly Tndex, 
lis former proprietor having been Mr. Hez Purdom. 
since thai time his whole attention has been given 
to the sheet for which he is responsible. It has a 
very good circulation, its subscription list num- 
bering between eight and nine hundred names. It 
is Democratic in its political conceptions, and terse 
and spicy. Mr. Kapp was married in Moulton, 
[owa, .March 24, 1891, to Miss Ella Singley, who is 
a native of that town. 



i > ■ 1 1 1 1 p fc ! ■ in i 1 1 



f i i i ' < du 



/--v LIVER J. STALKY, an en 
;( ) popular young attorney of 
v ^^ County, Mo., is a nativi 



LINER J. STALKY, an energetic, able and 

>f Marshall, Sali nc 
ive of the Empire 
Stale, but for half a score of years has resided in 
Marshall, and all the interests Of his early man- 
hood are interwoven with the progress and ad- 
vancement of his present home. Identified with 
a religious organization, and a prominent member 
of the Young Men's Christian Association, act- 
ively engaged in lending a helping hand to the 
less fortunate, our subject has made a good start 
in the religious, benevolent and professional works 
of life, and possesses the esteem of many friends. 

Mr. Stalev was born near Pattersonville, Schen- 
ectady, County, N. Y., March 8, 1869. His father, 
Jacob, and his paternal grandfather, Oliver, were 
both natives of New York, and bom in the same 
county as our subject, but his great-grandfather, 
George Stalev, was a native of Switzerland and 
was brought to America by his father. Ilendrick, 
before the War of the Revolution was declared. 
They located in Schenectady County and this 
patriotic great-grandfather fought bravely in the 
battle of Saratoga, under ( I en. < Jat.es. He served as 
a private in that struggle for independence, and was 
a protector and friend of the Oneida Indians, who 
respected him and always aided him whenever it was 
in their power to do so. He did the Government 
great service as a scout, and was fearless and un- 
tiring in the discharge of duty. 

Our subject's grandfather, Oliver, for whom he 



was named, was a farmer, and also owned and op- 
crated a sawmill. The family were all Protest- 
ants, and in the Old Country Lutherans. The 
father of Oliver J. was a well-to-do farmer, and 
pursued the peaceful business of agriculture in his 
native State until 1880, when he came West and 
located in Missouri, at Chillicothe, then Blackburn 
Htll. Here he was in the insurance business, but 
has now retired from active duty. In politics he 
is a strong Democrat, and is an upright man and 
an honored citizen. The mother of our subject 
before her marriage was Miss Sarah M., a daughter 
of John Hoffman, and was born in the same 
county where she married. Her father, when 
about twenty-one years of age, engaged in land 
speculation, and handled the Mohawk Ditch Stock, 
and established a ferry across the Mohawk River, 
and ran it for some years. Mr. Stalev 's mother 
now resides here in Marshall. 

Our subject was one of two brothers who com- 
prised the family of their parents. Silas II. is a 
resident, of Marshall, and is a well-known business 
man, and a book-keeper in a store. Oliver .1. was 
reared upon the farm in the Empire State until 
eleven years of age, and then came to Missouri, 
locating in Marshall in 1882, in the month of 
February, lie continued his studies in the public 
schools of his new home, and finally entered a 
dry-goods house, and clerked there one year. He 
then obtained employment in a telegraph office, 
and at the age of nineteen years began the study 
of law, under the tutelage of the well-known 
Judge Strother, now of California. In 1890, Mr. 
Stalev was admitted to the Bar of Missouri, and at 
once opened up an office, and has been very suc- 
cessful in his practice of law, being an excellent 
pleader at the Bar, and also learned in the techni- 
calities of the profession. Although but compara- 
tively a brief time in the round of professional 
duty, our subject has won the confidence and es- 
teem of many clients, whose cases he lias con- 
ducted with skill and judgment. 

Mr. Stales is a regular attendant at the Old- 
school Presbyterian Church, and is a consistent 
member of the same. Always efficient and faith- 
ful in church work, and a most earnest aid in the 
Young .Men 's Christian Association, he finds em- 





r /us£ 





>0vwru&eL/W^ 








OJy?w-JLj2^z^ J 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



393 



ployment for the ability he has ever shown in the 
management of any duty entrusted to his care. 
A Democrat in political affiliations, he is alive to 
the needs of the hour, and is an earnest advocate 
for progress and reform, lighting the good fight 
of a true American citizen. 



H§€fiHNH*WI 



\|? OIIN CAEMEAN. Prominent anion- the 
farmers of township 49, range 23. Saline 
County, is the successful agriculturist and 
influential citizen with whose name this 
sketch is introduced. The owner of five hundred 
and lift}' acres, Mr. Carmean has brought his land 
to a good state of cultivation, and in his work of 
general farming and stock-raising has met with 
more than ordinary success. 

Born in Green Township, Ross County, Ohio, 
January 4, 1813, our subject is a son of John Car- 
mean, a native of Holland, who came to America 
an orphan boy, settling in the eastern part of 
Maryland, and in time becoming a farmer. He 
removed to Ross County, Ohio, in 1805, and be- 
came an early settler of Green Township, his 
home being near Kingston. There he lived up to 
the date of his death in 1847, at which time he 
was seventy-six years old. He served in the War 
(if 1812. In religion he and his wife were mem- 
bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The 

mother of our subject was known in maiden] d 

as Nancy Gray less, and belonged to an old Alary- 
land family. Her death occurred in 1837. 

Our subject was the youngest son, and is now 
the only survivor, in a family which consisted of 
six sons and three daughters. His childhood days 
were passed in the log cabin where he was born, 
and which was situated just west of Adelphi. < »hio. 
His educational advantages were limited, consist- 
ing of about two months' schooling each winter. 
The schoolhouses (which were also utilized as 
churches) were built of logs, and contained slab 
seats and other primitive furnishings. The boy- 
hood days of our subject were passed upon the 

19 



farm, which was located in a section where deer, 
bear and other wild animals were to be found. He 
remained at home until he reached the age of 
twenty-two. when he began working out by the 
month, earning about fifty cents a day and some- 
times $12 per month. He continued to work out 
for about five years, part of the time at the carpen- 
ter's trade. 

October 6, 1810, Mr. Carmean married Miss 
Susannah Dehaven, whose home was one mile east 
of Kingston. Airs. Carmean was born December 
I'll, is I 9, and was a daughter of Ilarman and Mag- 
daline (Gerhart) Dehaven, of Pennsylvania, who 
came to Ohio soon after their marriage in 1804, 
becoming early settlers of Ross County. The 
father died at the age of forty-three; the mother 
lived to the advanced age of eighty-two. There 
were six children in the family, four daughters 
and two sons, but Mrs. Carmean is the only one 
now living. After his marriage Mr. Carmean 
rented a farm for five years, and subsequently' 
purchased the place on which his wife was born 
and reared. In the spring of 186b' he sold his 
property in Ohio and came to Missouri, making 
the long journey by water from Cincinnati, Ohio, 
to Waverly, Mo. 

Mr. Carmean arrived in Elmwood Township 
April 1, 1866. He had been here during the fall 
of the preceding year and purchased two hundred 
and sixty-eight acres on section 8 of this town- 
ship. The land had formerly been the property 
of a slave-owner and contained very few improve- 
ments, but through his efforts has been brought to 
a high cultivation. On buying the farm he paid 
125 per acre, but its valuation has since materially 
increased as the result of the embellishments and 
improvements it now contains. 

Mr. and Mrs. Carmean have had six children: 
Liza Ellen, wife of John II. Coulter, whose life is 
sketched elsewhere in this volume; Magdaline, 
wife of Samuel II. Clinard. a farmer of Sumner 
County. Kan.: Baxter, who died November 15, 
1874; Millard F., who is married, and resides in 
Elmwood Township; Flora J., wife of Rev. W. Ar- 
nold, who is a Baptist minister, and also engages 
in farming near Grand Pass, thiscountj ; Lester, a 
blacksmith by trade, who is married, and resides in 



394 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Idaho. Mr. Carmean was a Henry Clay Whig, 
voted for William Henry Harrison in 1836 and 
1840, and is now a Republican. Both Mr. Car- 
mean and his wife are members of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, with which they have been con- 
nected for many years. The children have homes 
of their own, and altogether the record is that of a 
very prosperous family. 



_^i 



:^+^§ 



"S3 



f OHN [. PEAVLER combines several 
branches of agricultural life. Not only is 
he known as a successful farmer and stock- 
raiser, but he also has been fortunate in the 
management of fruit and apiaries, lie was born 
in Knox County, Ky.. and there in his childhood 
and youth attended the district schools. His 
memory carries him back, when the subject is men- 
tioned, to the log cabin, with its dirt floor and 
slab benches, to which he trudged in those primi- 
tive times. At the age of nineteen, the influence 
of the Westward tide was felt in the quiet old 
county of Knox, and his parents decided to join 
with others who were also turning their faces to 
the fertile lands beyond the Mississippi River, and 
he accompanied them to Sullivan County, Mo. 

The father of our subject was Lewis Peavler, a 
native of Tennessee, who married a Virginia lady 
by the name of Kate Head. From the union 
with this excellent woman were born eight chil- 
dren, of whom but six are living. Elizabeth 
is the wife of Thomas Standiford, of Oklahoma. 
.Matilda became the wife and is now the widow of 
John Stuffelbean. Isaac died during the war, hav- 
ing been in service for some time before his death. 
William now resides in Texas; .lames, in California, 
and Thomas resided in Oklahoma, while another 
is deceased. Our subject was third in order of 
birth. Although sixty years of age, Mr. Lewis 
Peavler would not allow a younger man to take 
his place, but went into the ranks himself, and was 
discharged for disability during the war. 

John 1- Peavler enlisted, in August, 1861, in 



Company H, Seventh Kentucky Infantry, and took 
part in the battles at Wild Cat, Ky., Vicksburg, 
Champion Hill, Arkansas Post, and Big Black 
Water; he also had the satisfaction of seeing the 
surrender of Vicksburg. Although he took part in 
sonic of the severest battles of the war. Mr. Peavler 
was fortunate enough to escape without wound or 
having served imprisonment. 

The marriage of our subject took place in 1864, 
when he was united in the bonds of matrimony 
with Miss Louisa, the daughter of William Bull, 
of Kentucky. To this union were born three chil- 
dren: Alice, who became Mrs. .John Logan, of 
Montana; Florida Jane, who became the wife of 
Douglass Logan, and resides at Durham, 111.; and 
Pascal L. After the death of his wife. Mr. Peavler 
married Miss Mary, the daughter of George Davis, 
and to them have come three children, but only- 
one of these, Delia, is living. 

Politically. Mr. Peavler is a Republican of the 
stan chest kind, and lives up to his convictions. He 
is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic 
post at Marshall. In 1878, he began to give at- 
tention to bee culture, and has made the same very 
profitable. There never seems to be an over- 
crowded market for honey, and Mr. Peavler may be 
laying the foundations of an immense income in 
this business. The farm of our subject consists of 
forty acres, and his fruit ventures take up a great 
portion of his time. He is an honest, pleasant 
gentleman whom it is a pleasure to meet. 



ffiOHN FREDERICK RITTER, the leading 
hardware merchant of the city of Higgins. 
ville, La Fayette County, is but another 
\~£/' example of what hard, persistent labor will 
accomplish, inasmuch as he started out a very poor 
boy and worked his waj- to his present position by 
his own unaided efforts. 

Mr. Ritter was born near Hopewell, Warren 
County, Mo., June 4, 1863, His father. Simon 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



395 



Ritter, was born in Germany, in Lippe-Detmold, 
while the grandfather of our subjecl was a brick- 
maker, who came with his family to Missouri and 
located in Warren County, where lie died. His 
son. father of our subject, came to Missouri in 
18f>7, and engaged in farming, by which means he 
amassed a large quantity of land in Warren County. 
In 1887 lie sold his property and located in La 
Fayette County, three miles easl of Higginsville, 
where he bought two hundred and eighty-six 
acres of land for $35 per acre. '1'his land lie i in - 
proved and operated until he sold it for *75 per 
acre and removed to Higginsville. He is a local 
preacher of the German .Methodist Episcopal 
Church. In politics he is a Republican, and has 
always advocated the principles of that party. 
His wife, Sophia Brinkmeyer, was born in Hillen- 
throp, Germany, and was married in the same coun- 
try. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. 
Simon Ritter, six of whom grew to maturity, viz.: 
Gust, a farmer of Dover; John F., our subject; 
Sam, clerk of our subject; Gerhord, attending 
Centra] Wesleyan College, at Warrenton, Mo.; 
Louisa and Martin at home. 

Our subject was reared on a farm, but. unlike 
many other farmer boys, he enjoyed the advan- 
tage of a good education, for, in addition to 
the learning he obtained at the district schools, 
he attended the Central Wesleyan College, at 
Warrenton, Mo., for three years, graduating in 
1880. After graduating, he formed a partnership 
with S. W. Brondon, and they started a hardware 
and implement business. This partnership con- 
tinued until 1887, when our subject bought him 
out and added stoves to his other supplies. Later 
he bought the place he now occupies and built a 
fine store and improved the adjoining property. 
He now owns two stores. 12^x80 feet, and a ware- 
house one hundred and twenty feet long. Here 
he carries on an extensive business in buggies, 
harness, hardware and implements of all kinds. 
He commands the leading and best trade of the 
city, and is very successful. 

Mr. Ritter was a member of the corporation that 
built the Merchants' Hotel, but afterward Mild his 
interest. He also was a stockholder in the Grangers' 
Store. Mr. Ritter married in York, Neb., Decem- 



ber 31. 1890, Miss Amelia Klineselum, who was 
born in Marthasy ille. Mo., a daughter of the Rev. 
William Klineselum. a minister of the German 
Methodist Episcopal Church. Two children have 
blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Ritter. namely: 
Atlanta and Minnetle. Mr. Hitter is a member 
of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in 
which he has passed all the chairs. He is also a 
member of the Knights of Pythias, and is the 
Banker of the Modern Woodmen of the World. 
Mr. Hitter is a member of the German Methodist 
Episcopal Church, ami i- Assistant Superintendent 
of the Sunday-school. In politics he takes an im- 
portant part in the councils of the Republican 
party. Mr. Ritter has been very successful in his 
business affairs, and is a very pleasant young man. 
By his own endeavors he has built up his present 
large patronage, and for that and his many ster- 
ling traits of character he enjoys the esteem and 
respect of all who know him. 



^NSffi 



1! • ®(DI! 




ILAS A. WRIGHT, a prominent business 
□can, and oneof the largest dealers in pianos, 
organs, and sewing-machines in Central 
Missouri, and a long-time and highly re- 
spected residenl of Marshall, Saline County, isalso 
a popular member of the People's Party, and Chair- 
man of the County Central Committeeof that live 
political body. Our subject is a progressive citizen 
and keenly interested in all that pertains to Na- 
tional and local Government, ami has been identi- 
fied with the cause of progress ami reform since his 
early manhood. 

Mr. Wright was born in Jersey ville. Jersey 
County, 111.. March ■'>. 1850. Hi- father. Silas W. 
Wright, was burn near Buffalo, N. Y.,and was reared 
on a farm. He afterward lived a short time in 
Kentucky, but went to Illinois in 1812, and located 
on prairie land near Jacksonville, and later farmed 
the homestead. In 1851 he journeyed to Wiscon- 
sin, and settled in Pierce County, on Lake St. Croix. 
and there engaged in agriculture until 1867, when 



396 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



he located in Johnson County, Mo. Here he 
bought a farm, and remained adjacent to Knobnos- 
ter for many years, finally going to Clackamas 
County, Ore., and there farming until his death in 
1887. He was a member of the Methodist Episco- 
pal Church, and a most excellent man and a good 
citizen. 

The mother of our subject, Mary (Redmond) 
Wright, was a native of Ohio, and came with her 
parents to Illinois when very young. .She became 
the motherof a family of twelve children, of whom 
Silas A. was the sixth. Seven of the brothers and 
sisters yet survive. Silas enjoyed the advantages 
of public school instruction mainly in Prescott, 
Wis., where the family resided for a time until, in 
I860, the farm was rented. In 1*68 our subject 
went to St. Louis County, Mo., and there operated 
a sewing-machine business for one year; then re- 
moving to Springfield, Greene County, conducted 
the same line of business there for five years. He 
handled sewing-machines in Johnson County for 
a time, and did business all through Southwest 
Missouri, locating at Sedalia, Pettis County, on 
( mio Street. 

With Sedalia for headquarters, Mr. Wrightspent 
several years on the road, wholesaling, but still ran 
the home business, lie represented the Domestic- 
machines, widely known throughout the United 
States, and achieved success as their agent and as 
proprietor of his store. In 1 8*4 he settled in Sa- 
line County, and in 1885 removed his family to 
Marshall, and opened a sewing-machine establish- 
ment here. During 1886 and 1887 he devoted 
much of his time to selling at wholesale through- 
out Missouri, and visited eveiy county in Western 
Missouri. In 1886 lie also went to Nebraska, and 
journeyed throughout the length and breadth of 
that Western State. At this time our subject in- 
terested himself in and handled the Howe machine, 
and now represents all first-class sewing-machines. 

In 1890 Mr. Wright included pianosand organs 
in his stock of merchandise, and handles the fol- 
lowing various makes: Schumacher, Bradbury, 
Sterling. Beohning, and the Mason & Hamlin pianos 
and organs, in live or six different styles; he also 
is well stocked with numerous makes of organs. 
Our subject does the largest business in sewing- 



machines, pianos and organs of any house in Cen- 
tral Missouri, and the sales are constantly increas- 
ing, and in the last eight years the business has 
prospered beyond all early expectation. 

In the year 1874 Mr. Wright was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Ella Heckendorn. a native of Penn- 
sylvania. The marriage was solemnized in Webster 
County, Mo. Mr. and Mrs. Wright are the parents 
of three children, Una, Ora and Baby, bright and 
promising from the little one to the eldest of the 
sisters. The family resides near the West School 
Building and enjoys all the comforts and pleasures 
of a happy and prosperous home. 

Our subject is a member of the Knights of the 
Maccabees, Triple Alliance, and is a Master Mason. 
In politics a member of the People's Party, Mr. 
Wright has served as delegate to various conven- 
tions. Successful in his business, our subject has 
exhibited his goods at the various fairs and cap- 
tured coveted prizes and premiums. He is an ex- 
pert operator on machines of every make, and does 
embroidery, fancy stitches and name-writing in the 
most attractive styles. He also thoroughly under- 
stands repairing of the machines, and makes a 
specialty of the work. Take it all in all, few States 
can show a more energetic and enterprising busi- 
ness man and thoroughly good citizen than Silas 
A. Wright 



!>-3£-<I 




(ev- 
en ry L. STARKEBAUM, of the firm of 
i Bear & Starkebaum, is one of the leading 



citizens of Higginsville, and is regarded as 
one of the most enterprising young busi- 
ness men of the place. He was born in Warren 
County. Mo.. September 3, 1867. His father, Fritz 
Starkebaum, was born in Lippe-Detmold, where 
he engaged in farming until he came to America 
and located in Warren County, Mo., where he pur- 
chased a farm of two hundred acres. In 1876, he 
came to La Fayette County and located on a farm 
of one hundred and sixty acres, one and one-half 
miles south of Higginsville, that he improved and 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



397 



on which he still resides. In religious matters, lie 
inclines toward the Evangelical Church of his 
country. His wife, Wilhelmina Biesemier, was 
also born in Germany. She bore her husband 
eight children, of whom our subject is the fifth. 

Henry L. was reared in Warren County until 
nine years of age, when he came to La Fayette 
County, and remained on the farm until he had 
attained his twentieth year. His education was 
received in the common schools of that section. 
In 1888, he accepted a position as clerk in the 
furniture store of Mr. Wade, where he remained 
for two years, and then engaged with Mr. Moiling 
for one year. His next departure was at La Crosse, 
where he engaged in the lumber business for one 
year; he then returned to Iligginsville and formed 
his present partnership, under the firm name of 
Bear & Starkebaum. They commenced business in 
a one-room store, 22x80 feet, but soon the stock 
became too large for that and they rented their 
present place, where the}' have a double store, 
Hixl33 feet, in which they carry on an extensive 
furniture, draping, decorating, upholstering and 
undertaking business. They also carry the Mason 
& Hamlin pianos and organs, Standard and White 
sewing-machines and leading bicycles. The high 
grade of their goods and work has convinced the 
people that this firm is one that can be trusted to 
the fullest extent, and in consequence Messrs. Bear 
& Starkebaum do a nourishing business. 

Our subject was married, October 22, 1891, to 
Miss Louisa Hoehn, who was born in Franklin, 
Mo., but reared in this city, a daughter of J. P. 
Hoehn, a retired farmer of Iligginsville, and a 
stockholder and Director of the Bank of Iliggins- 
ville. Like his father, our subject is an earnest 
member of the Evangelical Church. In politics, 
he votes with the Republican party upon occasion. 
Mr. Starkebaum is a born musician and plays both 
the piano and organ as only an artist can. So 
thoroughly does he understand these instruments, 
that his aid is invaluable in tuning and repairing 
either pianos or organs. When young and at 
home, he built himself a blacksmith shop and manu- 
factured all the tools and did all the work of that 
nature required on his father's large farm. 

Mr. Starkebaum has invented several mechanical 



contrivances that he uses himself, and is never so 
happy as when at work at the forge. There is no 
doubt but that he is a genius, and had he devoted 
his attention to mechanics, he would without ques- 
tion have made his mark in the world of inven- 
tion, and he may still do that, as his active brain 
is always busied in contriving new inventions 
calculated to benefit the human race. He is the 
genius of the firm, and his artistic taste is well 
shown in the decorating and draping department. 
The partner of our subject, Mr. Frank R. Bear, 
was born and reared in Lexington Township, and 
comes of one of the oldest families in that section 
of country. He is a graduate of the St. Louis 
School of Embalming, and understands his busi- 
ness thoroughly. lie attends to this branch of the 
business and every order received by the firm is 
promptly attended to. Mr. Bear is a member of 
the Uniformed Rank, Knights of Pythias. 






_y 



(•^^TIOMAS D. HAMMOND, a prominent citi- 
((f((S$\ zen t of the town of Mayview, is the subject 
^s^ of this sketch. At present he is holding 
the office of Postmaster of the thriving town and 
is giving excellent satisfaction to all parties. He 
is a native of this State and county, his birth hav- 
ing occurred March 29, 1853. His parents were 
John and Elizabeth (Kimbler) Hammond, residents 
of Odessa. John Hammond grew up in his native 
State of Kentucky, whence lie came with his father 
in 1811 to Lincoln County, Mo., remaining until 
1848. He then removed to Odessa, in La Fayette 
County, and became one of the early settlers. At 
that time his life was one of toil, but he did tin' 
best he could for his large family of nine children, 
educating them in the public schools, and, where 
practicable, sending them to higher institutions 
of learning. 

Mr. Hammond was a prominent man in the 
county many years ago. and for several years, both 
before and after the late war, served a- ( onstable, 



398 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



an oflice of great importance in those times, and 
he gave satisfaction during his whole official career. 
Now. he at the age of eighty years, and his good wife 
at the aire of seventy, are living a peaceful life in 
the town of Odessa, highly regarded and respected 
as the oldest pioneers of the county now living. 
Their places in the Christian Church are seldom 
vacant, and when the sad time comes when those 
places shall know them no more, great will be the 
sorrow among relatives and friends. 

The brothers and sisters of our subject bear the 
following names, familiar one.- in the localities in 
which they have found homes: Robert S.; Mollie, 
now the wife of Charles Mattingly; Maggie, now 
the wife of Clay I >elaney ; and Susan ; the rest of the 
family have passed away. Our subject was reared 
in this county on the farm and was educated in the 
public schools. Later, he went to the State Normal 
School at Warren sburgh, remaining there pursuing 
a studious life for a term of two years. After 
closing his text-books Mr. Hammond commenced 
teaching school, meeting with such flattering suc- 
cess that he made it a profession for many years, 
directing youthful minds throughout the- various 
parts of Missouri and Kansas. 

In one of the fair daughters of the county our 
subject found a bride, and on May 13, 1885, was 
united in marriage with Miss Anna Ilerr, a native 
of La Fayette County, and a daughter of John P. 
and Sarah II. (Fitzpatrick) Heir, both natives of 
this State. Mrs. Hammond was reared in Lexing- 
ton and educated in the public schools, afterward 
teaching for several years during the winter terms. 
In political belief, our subject is a Republican, and 
always favors all measures which promise good 
for the county or neighborhood. Socially, Mr. 
and Mrs. Hammond are important factors in the 
village, they nearly always having a hand in 
anything the least entertaining. 

I n the lodge of Odd Fellows Mr. Hammond is 
an important member, and takes an active part in 
the workings of the order. A line farm consisting 
of seventy acres of land is in his possession, but 
his official duties prevent him becoming an agri- 
culturist at present. In the spring of 1890 our 
subject was made Postmaster of May view, a posi- 
tion which he fills with great efficiency. Before 



closing this article, it is only meet to record a few 
lines concerning another of the pioneer settlers of 
the county. John P. Heir, the honored father of 
Mrs. Hammond, was the founder of the pretty lit- 
tle town of May view, where so man}' excellent peo- 
ple now find pleasant homes. He was born in Wash- 
ington County, Md., April 6, 1818, a grandson of 
a Revolutionary patriot. In 1836, John Herr jour- 
neyed to Missouri, and in 1837 located in La Fay- 
ette County, where he followed the trade of house 
builder and carpenter for many years. Sometime 
during the 'fids, he laid out the village of May- 
view, making that his home for some time, and 
while there founded the Christian Church at that 
place. During his whole life he was noted for his 
integrity and his interest in improvements of 
every kind. 



5i5jj|& i ****fc 



/p^EOROF W. OFACKENBUSH. Our suh- 
'II <_, ject is one of the most popular men on 

V_A the Kansas City Division of the Chicago 
A- Alton Railroad. Genial and cordial in his man- 
ner by nature, many are the favors sought at his 
hand. Mr. Quackenbush was born in Winchester, 
111.. April 28, 1863. He is a son of G. M. and 
Alvira (Wells) Quackenbush, residents of Murray- 
ville, 111. Their family comprised three children, 
of whom our subject is the only surviving one. 
He was reared in his native place, and in addition 
to his public school advantages received an excel- 
lent training in the business colleges both at Jack- 
sonville and Qui ncy. 

Equipped for active operations in the practical 
work-a-day world, Mr. Quackenbush first put his 
ability to the test in the insurance business, in which 
he was engaged with his father. In 1880 a posi- 
tion was offered him on the Chicago A Alton 
Railroad. He accepted it and became the operator 
and agent at Mason City, 111. He was afterward 
employed m the same capacity at different stations 
until 1886, when he accepted the offer of the posi- 
tion as general agent with a route between St. Louis 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



399 



and Alton. He remained on that line for a year, 
and then located at Venice, where he was em- 
ployed as agent for another year. Six months 
were subsequently passed at Marshall, and in 
1889 he came to Slater to fill the position of As- 
sistant to the Superintendent, since which time 
he has been a resident and an active citizen of 
this city. 



-# 



•fS* 



^fl' AMES P. DE PEW, chief clerk in the ma- 
chinery department of the Chicago >V- Al- 
ton Railroad Company at Slater, and one 
of the most highly valued employes of that 
substantial corporation, is one of the energetic and 
enterprising citizens who are continually aiding 
in the growth and local improvement of their 
neighborhood and vicinity. For many years 
identified with the prominent interests of Missouri, 
and especially of Saline County, our subject has a 
wide acquaintance, especially among the Knights 
of Pythias, in which society he has long been a 
leader. 

The paternal grandfather. James De Pew, was 
born in Virginia in 1800, and removed from his 
birthplace in an early day, first to Ohio, and then 
to Illinois, and settled near Blooming Grove, as it 
was then called. He entered land, improved it, 
and farmed there for thirty years, and died in 
1890. He was a member of the Methodist Episco- 
pal Church, and was a most excellent citizen, kind 
friend and good neighbor. The father of our sub- 
ject, William S. De Pew, was born in Ohio, and 
came with his parents to Illinois when he was 
twelve years old. Firsta cabinet-maker, and then 
a carpenter and builder, he found a ready business 
in Bloom iugton as a carpenter and builder, and 
there still continues in profitable employment. He 
is a Republican, and always one of the firm sup- 
porters of the party. 

The De Pews are of French descent, and trace 
their ancestry back to Benjamin Budon. The mo- 
ther of our subject was Fannie M. Schaum, a na- 



tive of Indiana, and a daughter ol Jacob 1'enal- 
ton, born in Pennsylvania, and a hatter by trade, 
lie was an early settler of Indiana, and from there 
went to Sangamon County, 111. He enlisted in the 
Mexican War. and remained in the service until 
peace was declared, when he engaged in business 
at Springfield, III., as a hatter; be then located in 
Bloomington, still remaining in the same kind of 
work. In 1862, this patriotic citizen enlisted in the 
Ninety-fourth Illinois Regiment as a private. He 
served faithfully three years, and veteranized. He 
was severely wounded in the head during a fierce 
battle, but returned to his regiment, and at the 
close of the war was breveted Captain, and soon 
after engaged as a decorator until he retired. He 
died in Bloomington in 1890. His wife now re- 
sides in Bloomington. 

The parents of our subject had four chil- 
dren, all of whom survive. William was edu- 
cated in Bloomington, in the public and High 
Schools. When Mr. De Pew was but seventeen 
years of age, he entered the service of the Chi- 
cago & Alton Railroad as a clerk in the store- 
keeper's department in Bloomington. Then he 
left that work, and for seven years engaged in 
Bloomington as a decorator. In 1879, he located 
in Mexico, Mo., and became the chief clerk in the 
machinery department of the Chicago & Alton 
Division there. In 1881, when the division was 
located in Slater, he came here, and continued in 
his present business, which has increased two hun- 
dred per cent. Our subject has been constantly 
connected with the Chicago it Alton Railroad 
since 1879, and has been chief clerk of two divi- 
sions. — between Kansas City and Roodhouse-, and 
from Roodhouse to St. Louis. 

Mr. De Pew was married in Bloomington, in 
1876, to Miss EmmaHesser, born in Hillsboro, Mo., 
but reared in Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. De Pew are 
the happy parents of three promising children, one 
young daughter and two sons. Mabel E., Earl R. 
and Joseph \V. are the light and joy of the pleas- 
ant and attractive home of their parents, and will 
have all the advantages of an excellent education. 
Long connected with the Knights of Pythias, our 
subject was Captain of Slater Division. Uniformed 
Rank, and is Lieutenant-Colonel of the Fourth 



400 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Regiment, Uniformed Rank, Knights of Pythias, 
of Missouri. 

Mr. De Pew represented the Knights of Pythias 
State Lodge at tlie last .session of the Grand 
Lodge, and is a member of the Knights of the 
Maccabees. He is interested in the local and na- 
tional management of affairs, and votes the Re- 
publican ticket. In church affiliations, lie is a 
member of the Methodist Episcopal denomination, 
and is a worker in the cause of religion, and has 
been Secretary of the branch of the Young Men's 
Christian Association located in Slater, and takes 
an active interest in the conduct of its affairs. Mr. 
and Mrs. De Pew are among the important factors 
in the various benevolent, social and religious en- 
terprises in Slater, and enjoy the confidence and 
regard of man} - true friends. 



^^)EORGE A. BEELER, a prosperous agricul- 
III __ turist and highly respected citizen now re- 
^^K siding on section 20, township 52, range 
20, Saline County, near the thriving city of Slater, 
has served with ability as Director of the School 
Board and is widely known as one of the most en- 
ergetic, industrious and upright men of this region 
of the country. Born in Germany in the year 1817, 
lie received his education in his native land, and 
there was early trained in the habits of thrift and 
taught the wise management which has ever dis- 
tinguished his exertions in life and materially 
aided him upward into paths of prosperity and 
success. 

The father and mother of our subject were hard- 
working and intelligent Germans. Born and 
reared in the Fatherland, they married there and 
surrounded themselves with a family of bright, 
ambitious children, but soon realizing the larger 
opportunities for their sons and daughters in a 
new country, emigrated to America in 1833 and 
located in Marion County, Mo., in 1836, where the 
father first obtained regular employment in the 



brickyards as a day laborer. There were in this 
industrious and happy family four brothers and 
one sister. Each member of the household cheer- 
fully did his or her daily share of the toil, and 
thus all were prospered. Years have passed and 
but three of the family who gathered in the home 
in Marion County now survive. 

Our subject was especially self-reliant and took 
up the burden of his life with ardent hope. Start- 
ing in America for himself, he was at first a laborer, 
continuing in this employment eight years with pa- 
tientand unwearying devotion to the amassing of 
a small capital with which to engage in an occu- 
pation more congenial and remunerative. At last 
he had acquired enough money to warrant him in 
the investment of a small tract of land purchased 
at a low rate from the Government. He improved 
these acres and met with profitable results, but 
when he had reached his twentj'-eighth year, he 
removed to Schuyler County and there bought a 
valuable farm and constantly added to its value 
by improvements, and as he was prospered added 
to the acreage. 

In the meantime, Mr. Beeler had entered into 
the marriage relation, wedding in 1847 Miss Adel- 
ine Palmer Gibbs, whohas borne him five children, 
but two of whom now survive. Rebecca C. Beeler 
was born in Saline County in 1848, and is well 
married and now a resident of Arkansas; Mary E. 
was born in Missouri in 1853 and married Mr. 
Holt. Mrs. Beeler added to her husband's prop- 
erty her one hundred and sixty acres of valuable 
land, located in Schuyler County, and he increased 
this acreage by the purchase of forty additional 
acres. Upon this land, the family remained until 
1850, when Mr. Beeler sold a portion of his well- 
improved farm and returned to Marion Count}'. 

Our subject next purchased eighty acres of 
farming land here and continued his agricultural 
duties, sowing, planting and reaping year by year, 
from 1862 until 1870, when he finally settled in 
Saline County, and purchased an excellent farm of 
three hundred acres. Here his wife passed away, 
in 1875. Mr. Beeler sold and traded off a portion 
of this property, retaining two hundred acres, all 
finely improved and under a high state of culti- 
vation. In 1874, Mr. Beeler married Miss Susan- 




John M £ Neel 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



403 



nah Riker. The family are well known and oc- 
cupy a position of usefulness and honor in the 
community where they have resided continuously 
for nearly a score of years. Our subject is a mem- 
ber of the Presbyterian Church and is one of the 
valued Elders and most liberal supporters of that 
religious organization. 

In political affiliations, Mr. Beeler is a Democrat, 
is public-spirited, and in common with all good 
citizens desires the appointment of the man best 
adapted to fill the official position with honor and 
integrity. Mr. Beeler has never aspired to polit- 
ical office, but when lie was made a Director in the 
School Board he gave his earnest and intelligent 
efforts in behalf of educational advancement and 
was ever faithful in the discharge of the duties 
intrusted to his care. Asa useful, law-abiding and 
worthy" citizen, our subject is interested in all mat- 
ters pertaining to the public good, and is ready to 
aid in the establishment of any enterprise of merit, 
being especially anxious to assist in local improve- 
ments and progress. 



.'JOHN McNEEL. The death of this well- 
I known and honored pioneer settler of La 
Fayette County was deeply mourned as a 
'^/ public loss, when upon April 3, 1892, at a 
good old age, he passed peacefully away. Mr. 
McNeel was born in Pocahontas County. Va., Sep- 
tember 7, 1810, and was the son of Abram and 
Elizabeth (Bridgers) McNeel, natives of the Old 
Dominion. John McNeel, the parental grand- 
father of our subject, was a pioneei farmer of 
West Virginia, and his marriage was blessed by 
the birth of two sons. Isaac and Abram. He was 
also the father of three daughters. Nancy, Miriam 
and Martha. His family were all members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. 

Abram McNeel was a native of Pocahontas 
County, Va., and resided all his life in the home 
of his childhood. He was a Class-leader in the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, and was bighh re- 



spected as a man of ability and integrity. He was 
thrice married. His first wife was Miss Lamb, who 
became the mother of one child, Elizabeth Hannah, 
and died in early womanhood. The second wife 
of Abram McNeel lived to share the home of her 
husband several years, and bore him seven chil- 
dren: Margaret, Martha. Nancy, Polly, Miriam, 
John and Abram. The third wife was Magdalene 
Kelly, who survived her husband, and was the de- 
voted mother of two sons, Hemy W. and Will- 
iam L. 

Our subject was reared in the Virginia home, 
and in the fall of 1837 journeyed slowly by wagon 
and team to La Fayette County. After forty-two 
days of constant travel the tired and wearied fam- 
ily located upon section 27, township 48, range 
27, and soon began the improvement of the land, 
two hundred and forty acres of which our subject 
had bought, and at the same time entered from the 
Government two hundred and seventy additional 
acres, in all five hundred and ten acres, which he 
cultivated; he afterward owned another valuable 
farm of one hundred acres. A man of more than 
ordinary ability, lie made his upward way, and, a 
kind husband and father, an obliging friend and 
neighbor, had a host of true and earnest friends. 
Like his paternal ancestors, he was a consistent 
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 
political affiliations he was in early life a Whig. 
and later became a strong Democrat. 

Mr. .McNeel was united in marriage October 24, 
1833. with Miss Nancy Gilliland, who was born in 
Greenbrier County, W. Va., March 7, 181 G, the 
daughter of George and Martha (Hill) Gilliland, 
who were long-time residents of the sunny South. 
The father, George Gilliland, was a native of 
Greenbrier County, born in 1793, and served with 
distinction in the War of 1812. He was Presiding 
Elder of his church for many years, and was by 
occupation a farmer and prosperously engaged in 
the duties of agriculture. His sons and daughters 
were seven in number: Richard, Nancy. Lydia, 
James, Elizabeth, Samuel and John. He had held 
positions of trust and served with efficiency as 
Justice of the Peace, and his deatli in 185.'! was 
widely mourned. His good wife was born Jan- 
uary 24, 179 1, and passed away January 8, 1875. 



104 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



They had come to Missouri in 1852 and were well- 
known residents of .lohnson County. 

The grandfather of Mrs. McNeel, James Gilli- 
land, was born in Greenbrier County, W. Ya.. 
where he died, leaving a family of six sons and 
six daughters, who lived to adult ages and mar- 
ried. Their mother in maidenhood was Miss Lydia 
Armstrong. George Gilliland, the father of Mrs. 
.McNeil, was the youngest of the family. Grand- 
father Gilliland was an Elder in the Presbyterian 
Church, an excellent man and an enterprising citi- 
zen. Mrs. McNeel is of Irish descent, the Gilli- 
lands having come originally from the Emerald 
Isle. 

Mr. and Mrs. McNeel were the parents of two 
children. Georg« W. enlisted in the Confederate 
service and was killed in the battle of Wilson's 
Creek. He was a brave and gallant young man, 
and gave his life in behalf of his convictions. 
Martha E., the daughter, is the wife of George 
Fox. Mrs. McNeel retains and ably manages the 
homestead, and in the daily round of her life dis- 
plays excellent judgment and more than ordinary 
business ability. 



itL^ ARVEY ,L HIGGINS, the enterprising 
j founder of Higginsville, in La Fayette 




County, Mo., well known as a progressive 
and public-spirited citizen, also a promin- 
ent Director of the Chicago & Alton Railroad, has 
been a leading and efficient factor in the rapid 
growth and local improvement of the nourishing 
city which bears his name. A constant resident 
here for over half a century, his ability and native 
energy have been wisely directed to the advance- 
ment of surrounding interests, and the develop- 
ment of many social, benevolent and business enter- 
prises is directly traceable to his untiring efforts 

The Iliggins family is of English, Irish and 
German descent The paternal grandfather of 
Harvey J. was a farmer in New Jersey and a 
settler in La Fayette County a hundred years ago, 



when the hostile Indians so harassed the early 
pioneers that they were obliged to seek refuge 
with their families in the nearest forts. He was 
engaged in the war against the murderous tribes, 
and after along residence in Kentuck}- died there. 
The father of our subject, Azariah, was a native of 
New Jersey, and became a prosperous farmer in 
Kentucky, where he died at sixty-three years of 
age. He was a Democrat in politics, and in religi- 
ous convictions was a Baptist and a missionary of 
that denomination. His wife, Eliza K., was born 
in Kentucky, and was the daughter of a Revolu- 
tionary veteran and hero, who served his country 
faithfully. He was wounded in the battle of 
Monmouth, and bravely engaged in other decisive 
encounters with the British troops. He was an 
early settler in Kentucky, and was of Scotch de- 
scent. The mother of our subject was an ener- 
getic, callable and most excellent woman, and a 
loving wife and mother. 

Harvey J. Iliggins was born on a farm in La 
Fayette County, near Lexington, Ky., September 
19, 1812, and was the fourth in the famil}- of thir- 
teen children, nine of whom grew up to mature 
age. Dr. W. W. Iliggins, of Deer Lodge City, 
Mont., retired from active practice, is the only liv- 
ing representative of the large family other than 
our subject. Mr. Iliggins enjoyed but limited 
educational advantages, and studied mainly by 
himself. Having attained his majority, he jour- 
neyed in 1835 to Liberty, 111., where his brother, 
the Doctor, was located. Here he became a part- 
ner in a general merchandise business, and con- 
tinued there until 1840, when he decided to re- 
move to Missouri, favorable reports of that country 
having reached him in the fall of 1839. On 
March 18, 1840, he arrived at Ilillman Landing, 
Mo., now Berlin, this county, having journeyed 
hither by the old Leavenworth boat. 

Mr. Iliggins bought over four hundred acres of 
land, and entered eighty acres from the Govern- 
ment. He built a substantial log house, and in 
partnership with his brother continued to clear 
the land and otherwise improve it for two years, 
when they divided the farm, and our subject re- 
ceived three hundred and twenty acres, to which 
he afterward added more land. Mr. Higgins 



PORTRAIT AND BIOORAPIITCAL RECORD. 



405 



cultivated hemp, wheat and corn, and devoted 
much time to raising valuable stock. The pro- 
duce of tlic farm was hauled to market in Lexing- 
ton by oxen, and it took :i whole day and part of 
the night to reach there. Before the war our sub- 
ject owned seven hundred and twenty acres, 
which were in the home farm. He was also the 
owner of twenty-one valuable slaves. During the 
war he lost 825,000. 

In L859 the Lexington Branch of the Missouri 
Pacific Railroad, then the Lexington A- St. Louis 
Railroad, was begun, and our subject became a 
stockholder, but the war ended all improvements 
for a time, and the old company failed. After the 
war the company was re-organized, and Mr. Hig- 
gins became a Director and stockholder. He se- 
cured a depot and bought two hundred and live 
acres here, and the town was by unanimous con- 
sent named Higginsville. The road finally com- 
pleted, he built a small hotel, laid out the main 
part of the town, fourteen blocks, and later laid 
out McMeekin's Addition, and in partnership with 
his son-in-law continued in the real-estate busi- 
ness. When the Chicago & Alton Railroad was 
talked of. or rather the Kansas City. St. Louis & 
Chicago Railroad, our subject was a corporator 
and Director, and has continued as such ever since. 
This road was completed and was a success, and 
Higginsville grew rapidly. Mr. Higgins has dis- 
posed of nearly all of his original property here, 
but has one-third interest in Asburv's Addition. 
The town, which at first had a hard struggle for 
existence, is now one of the most nourishing in 
the count}'. 

Our subject remained on the farm until 1883, 
when he erected a handsome and commodious res- 
idence on the corner of Shelby and Talmage 
Streets. The lot is 200x125 feet, and with its 
well-kept grounds and large two-story brick 
house, is one of the most attractive homes in the 
city. Mr. Higgins has had four wives. He was 
tirst united in matrimonial bonds in Kentucky, on 
May 8, 1839, wedding Miss Susan Tyler, a native 
of the State. This estimable lady died suddenly. 
when on her way back to Missouri, after a visit to 
her childhood's home in Kentucky. Attacked 
violently with cholera, she expired on July :'.. 



1854, while traveling between Jefferson City and 
Boonville. She was the mother of five children: 
Sarah E., married and resides in La Fayette, Ala.; 
Jennie (Mrs. McMeekin) lived in Lexington, Ky., 
and died there; William W., who served gallantly 
in Shelby's Brigade during the latter part of the 
war, now farms upon a portion of the old home- 
stead, and is a successful stock-raiser; Emma S. 
(Mrs. Moriis) makes her home in Lexington, Ky.; 
Benjamin is located upon a part of the old home 
farm, which our subject long since divided among 
his children. 

The second marriage occurred in St. Louis, the 
bride. Miss Llenora Holland, being a native of St. 
Louis County, Mo., though her parents were from 
Maryland. This lady left two children, of whom 
but one survives, Julia M., now Mrs. Knoble, of 
Higginsville. In 1868 our subject contracted his 
third marriage, wedding Mrs. Carry F. Young, who 
was born in Higginsville and died here, leaving 
no children. The present Mrs. Higgins was Mrs. 
Sarah (Suffine) Field, widow of Col. Frank Field. 
This well-known lady is a native of Ilarrodsburgh, 
Ky. Our subject served as Justice of the Peace 
in Davis Township for years, and so wise and in 
full keeping of the law. were his decisions, they 
were never revoked. For eleven years he was one 
of the City Fathers of Higginsville, and effected 
many needed local improvements. He has been 
extremely liberal to all church denominations 
here represented^ giving them lots, and aiding 
them in the construction of their houses of wor- 
ship. 

Mr. Higgins has been a member of the Old- 
school Presbyterian Church for forty years, and is 
one of its Elders, and has been Superintendent of 
the Sunday-school. In political affiliations our 
subject is a Democrat, and has represented that 
party at various State and county conventions, 
and has also been Chairman of the County Demo- 
cratic Central Committee, ever discharging the pol- 
itical duties entrusted to his care with the same 
resolution, energy and ability which have distin- 
guished the entire labor of his life. Mr. Higgins 
has served both upon petit and grand juries with 
integrity and excellent judgment, and has de- 
servedly won a high place in the confidence and 



406 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



esteem of friends and neighbors. He was an or- 
ganizer of the American Hank, in which he is a 
stockholder and Director, and was at one time a 
stockholder and Director of the Morrison & 
Wentworth Bank at Lexington, but withdrew 
from that business enterprise. Our subject is a 
stockholder and Director in the Higginsviile 
Milling Company, and lias stock in the Grange 
Store. The oldest settler in this vicinity, and a 
pioneer of Davis Township, Mr. Higgins has been 
prospered, and has achieved success by his own ef- 
forts and self-reliance. 



c=1 



£+£ 



e_ 



1=3 



/^EORGE NORTON OREAR, the popular and 
(If efficient Deputy Clerk of the Circuit and 
s^K Criminal Courts of Saline County, Mo., is one 
of the best accountants and finest penmen in the city 
of Marshall. A genial gentleman, and ambitious 
and energetic citizen, he has won an abiding-place 
in the confidence and esteem of all who meet him 
in either social or business relations. A native of 
the State of Missouri, our subject is at home any 
where within its borders, and go where he ma}' is 
sure to find a welcoming hand extended. 

Mr. Orear was born in St. Charles, St. Charles 
County Mo., February 18, 1869. His paternal 
grandfather, Thomas C. Orear. was a native of Vir- 
ginia, and an extensive and wealthy planter in the 
Old Dominion. His son, Nelson C, the father of 
our subject, was also born in Virginia, but early 
emigrated to Kentucky, and there practiced law, 
having prepared himself for the profession by a 
thorough course of study. He succeeded in legal 
work, but removed in 1»4 1 to St. Charles, where 
he engaged first in the real-estate business, but af- 
ter having resided in Missouri for some time, be- 
came an editor and publisher of a newspaper. He 
finally returned to his original occupation of farm- 
ing and raising tobacco. 

Manufacturing and wholesaling his crop, he re- 
tained his interest in St. Charles County, but was 
located most of the time in St. Louis. He met 



with reverses in his real estate, and soon afterward 
the family came to St. Louis, but in 1878 returned 
to Saline County, this time making their home in 
Clay Township. Here the father of our subject 
engaged in farming at the place now named Orear- 
ville, where he still resides. He is about sixty-eight 
years of age, and is now serving as Justice of the 
Peace, giving his earnest attention to the duties 
of the otlice and farming, and enjoying the esteem 
and friendship of the entire community of the 
township and count}'. He has always been a Dem- 
ocrat, upright and honorable. The mother of 
George Norton is about fifty-seven years old, and 
was Miss Anna Orear, no relation of her husband's 
family, although she bore the same name. She was 
born in Kentucky, and was the daughter of Thomas 
C. Orear, who was for years a prominent citizen of 
Lexington, Ky., and a well-known druggist of that 
city. He died at the advanced age of ninety-four 
years in Ma}', 1892. His wife. Anna Norton, a 
native of Kentucky, passed away in July, 1892, 
aged eighty-nine years, so the venerable, couple 
united in life, were not long divided by death. 

Our subject was the fourth Son and the sixth 
child in the family of ten sons and daughters. 
The family was located in St. Louis when Mr. 
Orear was seven years old, and he then began his 
education in the public schools there, but soon re- 
turned with his parents to the farm in Orearville, 
and there assisted in the duties of agriculture, at- 
tending the district schools meantime, and later re- 
ceiving instruction in the Marshall High School. 
During the session of the State Legislature of 1887, 
Mr. Orear held a clerkship on one of the House jour- 
nals, and also served in the same official position in 
the session of 1 889. He then was appointed by Mr. 
Matt Hall to his present position as Deputy Clerk 
of the Circuit and Criminal Courts of Saline County, 
and entered upon the duties of the position March 
13, 1889. Our subject is fraternally associated with 
the Knights of Pythias, and is a valued member of 
the order. Mr. Orear is a sturdy Democrat, and 
an active worker for his party, whose Jackson ian 
principles he firmly advocates. He is Secretary of 
the County Democratic Central Committee, and 
has been a delegate to various important county 
and State conventions, and has in every instance 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RKCORD. 



407 



expressed the wishes of his friends and constituents 
in a most able and convincing manner, using strong 
argument, and managing well the duties intrusted 
to his care. 



OIIX HOLTCAMP, a representative German- 
American citizen and a leading agricultur- 
ist of La Fayette County, Mo., is the subject 
of this sketch. His location is upon section 
26, range 25, township 49, where he has lived since 
1880, upon a fine, well-cultivated farm of four 
hundred and fifty-seven acres of land. Our subject 
is a native of Prussia, born March 2, 1832, and his 
parents were Casper II. and Catherine Holtcamp, 
natives of Germany. When he was but eleven 
years of age his mother was removed by death. 
This broke up the family, and his bereaved father, 
with himself and a sister, started to America, there 
to begin life over again among new scenes. At 
Bremerhaven the little family went aboard a sailing- 
vessel bound for New Orleans, and after a passage of 
six weeks and two days, they reached their desti- 
nation. From there it was eas}' to reach St. Louis, 
where were many honest German citizens, and 
among these the strangers remained for some 
months, later moving into La Fayette County, and 
settling in Freedom Township, near the present site 
of Concordia. 

The farm upon which Casper Holtcamp settled 
was new land, but upon it was a log cabin which 
served for a shelter, and before long signs of im- 
provement began to show that the owner of that 
place was a man of energy and industry. His 
death occurred May 18, 1871, near Higginsvi He, Mo., 
at the age of seventy-four years. lie had endured 
many pioneer hardships, and had lived a quiet, 
peaceful life. Upon this farm our subject, John 
Holtcamp, was reared to manhood. His exper- 
iences were those of the pioneers of the new 
country, and he remembers well the monotonous 
life of the farm in those days, when the breaking, 



and plowing of the land were all done by oxen 
and when the wild creatures roamed over the 
cultivated fields. The meat of the family usually 
«:is venison or wild turkey, both delicious and 
nutritious enough, but apt to become palling to 
the taste without variety. 

The country log school, generally erected in a 
bit of burned clearing, was our subject's temple of 
learning and here he was taught the rudiments. This 
primitive school was in great contrast to the educa- 
tional institutions which have been erected in the 
same locality since, but at the time they were con- 
sidered adequate. During the excitement of 1849- 
50, our subject became interested in California, and 
in the latter year was one of those who started to 
the Golden State. Leaving Waverly, Mo., with a 
number of others, the party crossed the plains with 
mule teams; consuming about one hundred days 
in the trip, they finally reached Hangtown, Cal. 
In this State our subject continued for six years, 
engaged in gold mining, at which he was moder- 
ately successful. 

In 1856 Mr. Holtcamp turned his eyes toward 
home. How inbred that longing is! The gentle 
poet struck the right sentiment when he sang, 
"There is no place like home." The journey was 
made by the Nicaraguan route, and after a trip 
of adventure and of new sights, our subject once 
more reached the pleasant borders of La Fay- 
ette County. Before taking his long trip, he 
had managed the running of a Hat boat for the 
accommodation of passengers between Waverly, 
Mo., and a point in Carroll County, but he con- 
sidered an agricultural life his occupation. In the 
spring of 1880 he settled upon his present place, 
which he has improved and made a fine home. 
Mr. Holtcamp naturally feels a just pride in his 
well-arranged farm, knowing that he has won it all 
for himself, for these broad acres did not come to 
him by inheritance, as witnesses of another's in- 
dustry. 

In connection with his excellent farming, Mr. 
Holtcamp raises Shorthorn cattle and Poland- 
China hogs. lie is very progressive, and is 
considered one of the best fanners of this neigh- 
borhood. The marriage of our subject was cele- 
brated in February, 1857, with Miss Anna Louisa 



408 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Kuhlman, a native of Germany, and eight living 
children now call them parents. These are: II. 
('.: I.vdia. the wife of Frederick Brand; John E.; 
Joseph; James; Sarah, now the wife of Milton 
Harris; William and Mary. Sarah and Captain are 
deceased, making a family of ten. For nine months 
our subject served in the militia during the Civil 
War in the Union service, and was engaged prin- 
cipally in hunting bushwhackers. 

Our subject is a prominent man in his locality. 
now serving as School Director, which position he 
lias held for many years, his ideas of progress suit- 
ing his fellow-citizens. The Missionary Baptist 
Church of Concordia is the religious denomination 
to which Mr. Iloltcamp belongs, and which he 
supports with presence and purse, and in which he 
is now a Deacon. In politics he is a Republican 
and is active in support of that party, and has 
great faith in its possibilities. In summing up the 
character of the above subject, we may say that he 
is a man of sound principles, and his actions are 
governed by an intelligent understanding. 



^ m iS -ft U H i*^~ 



ffiOHN II. COULTER is an intelligent and 
I thrifty farmer of section 2, Elmwood Town- 
ship, Saline County. He is a successful 
man in his chosen work, being engaged in 
general farming and stock-raising, and having a 
good farm and pleasant home. He is one of those 
who served as a soldier, and he cannot fail to in- 
terest many because of that, as well as for what 
he lias done in other lines. 

Mr. Coulter started a poor boy, and has made 
his way to independence by his own exertions. 
lie owns a farm that anyone might be proud of, 
and is prominent in church work, having been Sab- 
bath-school Superintendent for five years. He 
was made candidate for County Judge in 1888, 
against his wishes, and, although not elected, was 
ahead of his party ticket, being defeated on ac- 
count of the overwhelming Democratic majority 
in the county, that majority numbering fifteen 



hundred. These statements show the esteem in 
which he is held, and need no added words to 
make them stronger. 

Mr. Coulter, whose address is Elmwood, was 
born in Crawford County. Ohio, October 11, 1836. 
His father was John Coulter, born in Pennsylvania 
in 1803. His grandfather emigrated from Ire- 
land and was of Scotch-Irish extraction. John 
II. V father removed to Crawford County, Ohio, 
with his wife and one child. at an early date, being 
one of the old settlers of that county. He bought 
land and cleared a farm, working against many 
disadvantages, as may well be imagined. The In- 
dians and game were plentiful, and were not al- 
ways agreeable, but he persevered with the strength 
that characterized SO many of the first comers to 
the different States, and trained a home for him- 
self. He died in 1878, at this home. 

The family of John Coulter, as well as himself, 
were Presbyterians. His wife, formerly Jane Kerr, 
of Pennsylvania, is of Scotch-Irish descent, and 
was bom in 1809, and is still living. There were 
nine children, four of whom are deceased; the 
subject of this sketch is the second and the eldest 
of the living children. An older brother died 
in a hospital in New Orleans during the war. 

John II. was born in the house built by his fa- 
ther, which is still standing. His school days were 
limited, being confined to a few months each 
year. He remained at home, assisting in clearing 
the land, etc., until twenty-three years old, after 
which he worked out b\ the month for two years, 
and subsequently engaged in farming. 

When the war broke out, Mr. Coulter enlisted in 
Company K, Eighty-first < )hio Infantry, under Col. 
Adams, August 21, 1 802. He joined the regiment 
just after the battles of Corinth and Shiloh. when 
it was badly cut up. He did duty on the rail- 
road, guarding and destroying bridges, and was 
in the Atlanta campaign. Being taken sick July 
4. 1864, lie was confined to the hospital for three 
months, then returned to his regiment at Rome, 
Ga., and joined in the march to the sea, and 
thence through the Carolinas home. He witnessed 
the burning of Columbia, S. ('., and participated 
in the Grand Review in Washington, D. C. Al- 
though a Don-commissioned officer, he held the 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



4011 



highest position in that class, that of First Ser- 
geant. His discharge came in 1865. The record 
that we have so bravely traced is an honorable 
one, and between the lines we read of duty con- 
scientiously dune and dangers bravely faced for 
the sake of a beloved country. We remember 
that this service was given freely and nobly for 
the cause in which he believed, and for this we 
honor him, as we must honor all who have risked 
their lives for the sake of a cherished belief, 
whether they wore the blue or the gray. 

After the war. Mr. Coulter came home and 
worked out for a time, engaging in farming. No- 
vember 20, 1866, he married Miss Eliza E. Car- 
mean, of Ohio, daughter of John and Susannah 
(Dehaven) Carmean, both of whom were from 
Ohio, and whose biography is given elsewhere in 
this volume. Mr. Coulter came to Missouri for 
his wife, then returned to Ohio and engaged in 
farming for two years, at the end of which time 
he removed to Missouri, and located in Elmwood 
Township, Saline County, where he purchased two 
hundred acres of land, all of which was unim- 
proved with the exception of having a log cabin, 
14x14 feet, and there he proceeded to houskeep- 
ing, living in this cabin six years. His farm was 
quite extensively overgrown with hazel brush, 
but he proceeded to clear it up and improve it, 
gaining year by year, until in 1882 he built a sub- 
stantial house. 

Mr. and Mrs. Coulter have four children: James 
F., Llewelyn B., John E. and Olin H. Both he 
and his wife are members of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church, the former since the age of twenty- 
three, and, as we have stated, Mr. Coulter is Sun- 
day-school Superintendent and an active worker. 
The subject of this sketch has never cared for of- 
fice, although his party, the Republican, as before 
indicated, has wished to honor him, and has, in 
truth, insisted upon so doing. He is a member 
of the Grand Army of the Republic, and a solid, 
substantial man. He owns, in addition to his home 
farm, which consists of four hundred and twenty 
acres, three hundred and twenty acres in Sumner 
County, Kan. When it i> remembered that this 
has all been gained by his own exertions, starting, 
as he did, with nothing, our youth of the present 



day should feel encouraged to go forward bravely 
against any number of difficulties toward the suc- 
cess that must surely come if rightly sought, un- 
less, through the wisdom of an over-ruling Provi- 
dence, it should be mysteriously withheld. 



— * 



m>^£-<m^ 



-*-. 



V 



I M. SHAW, the eldest son of Fieldin 
Shaw, was born in Kentucky, and came 
W^ to Missouri with his parents in 1839. Ib- 
is one of the best farmers in this county of good 
farmers, making the business a profession, and 
proving that by so doing the most satisfactory- 
results may be obtained. Mr. Shaw was liberally 
educated, as might be inferred from the above 
statements. When the war between the sections 
broke out, he was one of the tirst to espouse the 
cause of the Confederacy, believing, as did so 
many true and noble men, that in so doing he 
was best serving the interests of all concerned 
and maintaining the just rights of the South. 
Our subject was wounded at the battle of Baker's 
Creek (Miss.), losing one-half of his right foot. 

While in the South, Mr. Shaw met and married 
Miss Ophelia Hendrick, whose father was Gran- 
berry Ilendrick, of Hinds County, Miss. Their 
family consists of seven children, viz: Sadonia, 
wife of L. G. Tucker; Theodosia, Katie, Celia, 
Bettie, Willie and Ophelia, the last two being 
twins. 

In 1867, Mr. Shaw came to Saline County, hav- 
ing been preceded by others of the family. His 
address is Fairville. He is recognized as one of 
the leading business men of the county, being a suc- 
cessful feeder of cattle and a tine farmer, one who 
proves that in this occupation, as in every other, 
brains and good judgment tell, and is altogether 
a more than ordinarily capable man. He is :i 
citizen that any county might well lie proud of, 
and one whom Saline County appreciates, ac- 
cording him a place in the foremost, ranks, as an 
example of what she most desires in her represent- 
ative men. His farm makes one wish to "go 



110 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



/ 



*==*s=* 



do likewise," so fully is it an example of what 
fanning should be. 

Mr. Shaw was formerly a Democrat, bat when 
the People's party bad its birth in Cincinnati, 
Ohio, in 1891, he became a prominent member of 
that organization, believing that in leaving his 
former Democratic affiliations he was acting for 
the good of the greater number. Whatever party 
feeling may be, all who know the gentleman 
whose life we are portraying in brief will freely 
admit that he is ever governed by his convic- 
tions of right and duty, and that whatever he 
does is done honestly. More of such men would 
be a blessing to the community, and would raise 
the standard of citizenship to a higher plane, 
while party feeling, however high it might run, 
would always be governed by judgment and the 
clearest insight that could be brought to bear upon 
it. Mr. Shaw's ancestry is more fully given in 
the sketch of his father, a noble man, and one 
whom any son might be proud to pattern after, 
and who has now passed to a fuller life. 



/^EORGE W. SHUMATE, residing on section 
fff (=- 12, township 51, range 2(1, in Saline 
\$^|l County, was born in the State of Virginia 
in 1822, the son of James and Jane (Conway) 
Shumate. The former was born in Virginia in 
1799, and the hitter was a native of the same 
State. The paternal grandfather was George 
Shumate, and his eldest son was a soldier in the 
War of 1812, in which struggle the maternal 
grandfather, Peter Conway, also participated. 

The parents of our subject came to Missouri in 
1837 and settled in Warren County. Early in 
1849 they came to Saline County and remained 
there until the death of the father in 1881. The 
family consisted of four sons and two daughters. 
James was born in Virginia, there married Miss 
Ella Baskett, and resides in Lewis County, Mo., 
where he is a farmer. Mary was born in Virginia 



and married David Hunter. Thomas Conway 
married Miss Elizabeth Duncan, and resides in 
Texas County, Mo. Virginia married Mr. Hunter, 
and resides in Kansas. John Oscar married Mrs. 
Evans, and resides in San Francisco, where he is 
Mayor of the city. 

The marriage of our subject took place in Lewis 
County, March 1, USUI, to Miss Hannah Dale, a 
native of Kentucky. Eight children have been 
born to them, as follows: John Preston, born in 
Lewis County in 1.H41), married Miss Evaline 
< (dell, and resides at Greeley, Colo.; George W., 
was born in 1852, married Miss Morgan, and 
resides in Saline County; Hannah, who was born 
in 1855, married Mr. Gaume, and resides in 
Sacramento, Cal., where he carries on a canning 
factory; Mary E., who was born in 1857, married 
Mr. Kellcv.a farmer residing in Saline County; 
Samuel G., who was born in 1859, married Miss 
Davidson, and resides at Ft. Morgan, Cal.; James 
Oscar, born in 1862, married Miss Goodman and 
is a farmer of Saline County; David L., born in 
1864, resides in Saline County; Saliie, born in 
1867, married Mr. House, and resides at Ft. 
Morgan, Cal.. where he is engaged in the cattle 
business. The children of this family were educa- 
ted in the schools of Lewis County, until they 
removed thence in 1868. 

Our subject was educated in the common 
schools of Ohio and Missouri, and the school 
houses were of the pioneer kind, with puncheon 
floor and split logs for seats, and a latch-string 
hung out of the door. At the age of twenty 
years he came to Saline County and worked for 
his father. When he was twenty-three years old 
he left home and engaged as a carpenter for a 
time. Later he settled on a farm of one hundred 
and twenty acres in Clark County, where he 
secured Government land at |1.25 per acre. After 
remaining there for some time, he sold the prop- 
erty to A. Barber, a country merchant, and lost 
$2,000. 

After this our subject purchased a tract of one 
hundred and sixty acres, which he improved and 
then sold. In 1868 he moved into Saline County 
where he purchased one hundred and twenty 
acres, paying therefor $3,000. This land is now 



rORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



413 



worth $3,500, and is well improved, and upon it 
our subject raises wheat, grass, corn and fruits. 
Mr. Shumate is a member of the Baptist Church 
and has been thus identified since he was nineteen 
years of age. For many years lie lias been a Dea- 
con in the church, to which his wife also belongs. 
Socially, he belongs to the Masonic fraternity, of 
which he has been a member for forty years. In 
politics he is a Democrat, but has never accepted 
an official position, except that of School Director, 
in which capacity he has served as President of 
the Board. 



H-5-5-5--H 



fc'fr'fr •!••!•£ 



"++++1 



<fl SALTER RAWLINGS is one of the most 
\rJf popular engineers on the Chicago & Alton 
W§(/ Railroad, belonging to the Kansas City 
and St. Louis Division. His genial kindness and 
courteous manners proclaim him a perfect gentle- 
man. Mr. Rawlings was born at Hindon, Wilt- 
shire, England, March 25, 1861. His father, Mor- 
ality Rawlings, was also a native of the same shire, 
having been born on Pertwood Farm, near Hin- 
don, which had been in the family for about sixty 
years. His grandfather, Stephen Rawlings, was 
the youngest son of ten children, whose names 
were as follows: William, Richard, Thomas, John, 
James, Joseph, Doctor, Stephen, Jane and Ann. 
Thus it may be seen that the family is one of 
many ramifications. Stephen Rawlings was a farmer 
in Wiltshire, and there lived and died. 

Morality Rawlings was the youngest of a fam- 
ily of five children, who were as follows: Justice, 
Fortitude, Temperance, Hope, and Morality, the 
only survivor being Fortitude, who lives in South 
Missouri. Our subject's father was a farmer in 
England, and came to Canada with his wife and 
four children, leaving Liverpool May 26. L864, by 
the Allan Line steamer "Damascus," Landing in 
Quebec fourteen days later, and from there proceed- 
ing to London, Canada. He engaged in farming 
near the latter city until 1870, when he came to Mis- 
souri and located in Howard County, remaining 

20 



there one .year, after which he removed to Saline 
County, near Orearville, where he lived for two 
years. He then bought one hundred and twenty 
acres a quarter of a mile west of Slater. He died 
September 7, 1890. Politically he was a Democrat. 

The mother of our subject was known in maiden- 
hood as Mary Maria Bailey, and was born in 
England, being one in a family of six children, 
viz.: Henry S., deceased; Sarah, Mrs. J. Adams, 
also deceased; Mary Maria; Bessie, Mrs. William 
Corbin; Annie, the wife of William Chambers; and 
Maria, who married William Short. The surviv- 
ing children, with the exception of Mrs. Rawlings, 
all make their home in England. The father of 
this family, Henry S. Bailey, was a farmer in Eng- 
land, and also followed the occupation of maltster 
and brewer. Mrs. Rawlings still resides at the 
old home in Saline County. She is the mother of 
nine children: Austin, who is engaged, in the 
general mercantile business at Napton; Emily, 
Mrs. L. C. Warner, of Slater; Walter, of this sketch; 
Albin M., who is in partnership with his elder 
brother at Napton; Esmeralda, who is at home; 
Mary M., the wife of J. J. Lienhard, of Slater; 
Minerva, Louise and Elian, who are at home. 

In the public schools near his home, the sub- 
ject of this sketch received his education. At the 
age of twenty-one he went to Gunnison City. Colo, 
where he was employed in a warehouse for one 
year. He had gone thither hoping to rid himself 
of the malaria with which he suffered, and returned 
home in December of 1882 fully recovered. He 
then entered the employ of the Chicago <fe Alton 
Railroad as fireman, February 8, 1884, and in May, 
1887, took a position as engineer, which he has 
since held. He runs a freight train between Kan- 
sas City and Roodhouse, and his engine number is 
158. Delias gained the confidence of the com- 
pany as a reliable and capable engineer, and dur- 
ing his entire service lias never had a serious acci- 
dent. 

Near Forest, Canada, November 4, 1890, Mr. 
Rawlings married Miss Lillie O. Whvte. They are 
the parents of one child. Yerna W. Mrs. Rawlings 
is the daughter of Hugh and Levenia (Rawlings) 
Whvte, natives of Scotland and England respec- 
tively. Her father was a school teacher in an early 



414 



PORTRAIT ANT) BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



day, but eventually became a farmer, and was thus 
engaged at the time of his death. The mother 
afterward married Simon Blundcn, and now re- 
sides near Forest, Ontario. Of the first marriage, 
Mrs. Rawlings is the onl3' child; six children 
were born to the second union, namely: Sandford 
C, Alinda Lcvenia, Bertie A., Alma, Florence L. 
and Lena A., all of whom live in Ontario, Alinda 
Levenia being the wife of William Hill, of Plymp- 
ton, Ontario, Canada. 

In the Brotherhood of Engineers, of which Mr. 
Rawlings is a member, he is serving as an officer 
in Division 8. He also belongs to the Knights 
of the Maccabees and is one of the Trustees of 
Finance. He is a member of the Slater Building & 
Loan Association and of a like association at Se- 
dalia. Besides his comfortable residence in Slater, 
he is the owner of a fine farm of one hundred and 
sixty acres in Rawlins County, Kan. Mrs Raw- 
lings is the owner of a farm of one hundred acres 
near Forest, Ontario. In his religious connection, 
our subject is a member of the Baptist Church, and 
is active in the support of all measures which are 
for the benefit of the people. Politically he is a 
Democrat. 



fc'f' r* 



&> 



jL-ARRISON LUTTRELL. 

K)j) country, and an honest 
Dhzs achievements, are char 



Ardent love of 
honest pride in its grand 
laracteristics of our 
vS©) subject, who also exerts himself to lift men 
above the degradation of drink, and place them 
upon the plane of virtuous citizenship, lie resides 
upon his farm .on section 2, township 48, range 
26, in La Fayette County, Mo., and was born Feb- 
ruary 3, 1839, in Clinton Comity, Ohio. His father 
was Richard Luttrell. a native of Virginia, and his 
mother was Polly (Groves) Luttrell, also born in 
Virginia, where they were married, near Winches- 
ter, and whence they went to Ohio, about the year 
1830. They settled in Clinton County, upon a 
raw farm, covered with timber, but energetic work 
Cleared the land, and in time produced a nicely 



improved place. Eleven children came to them, 
six of whom are living. Death removed the 
mother in 1842, and the father in 1851, both dy- 
ing as they had lived, earnest members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. 

Our subject remained at home with his parents 
until the time of his enlistment, October 10, 1861, 
when he joined Company D, Forty-eighth Ohio 
Infantry, and was made Corporal. After -drilling 
at Camp Dennison, he joined Sherman's army at 
Paducah. The following is a summary of his ser- 
vices in the army: He took part in the battle of 
Shiloh under Gen. Grant; was in all the battles of 
the siege of Corinth and aided in the building of 
seven lines of breastworks; marched to Memphis, 
and there did provost duty, beside helping to 
throw up breastworks; then to Vicksburg under 
Sherman; fought in the battles of White River, 
Arkansas River and Kansas Post; was wounded 
in the shoulder at the latter place, and was sent to 
Lawson Hospital, St. Louis, remaining until the 
following fall, when he was placed in Company 
A, Fifth Regiment Veteran Reserve Corps, and sta- 
tioned at Indianapolis; was mustered out in Octo- 
ber, 1864, after serving three full years, and re- 
turned home to settle upon the old farm. 

Mr. Luttrell was married October 26, 1866, to 
Margaretta Smith, a native of Fayette County, 
Ohio, born in 1841, and a daughter of Evan Smith 
and wife, Quaker-. After marriage he removed to 
Johnson County, Mo., near Warrensburgh, in 1867; 
three 3'ears later he came to La Fayette County, 
and settled upon a rented farm for one year, when 
he bought the farm where he now lives, taking 
possession in 1871. 

Mr. and Mrs. Luttrell are the parents of five 
children, as follows: Leoni, Anna, Georgiana, 
Katie and Euphemia. Leoni is the wife of F. W. 
McClure, of Oklahoma, having one child; and 
Georgiana is the wife of W. B. Wheatley. living 
at Oklahoma, having one child. Our subject has 
one hundred and sixty-five acres of land, and car- 
ries on general farming, growing grain and raising 
stock, taking especial interest in the raising of fine 
horses. He appreciates the benefits of education, 
having served as a member of the School Board, 
and has given his children excellent schooling, 



Portrait and biographical record. 



415 



supplementing that in the home district by an at- 
tendance at the Higginsville public schools. As 
are most old Union soldiers, he is attached to the 
Grand Army, of which he is a member. His Pro- 
hibition views arc widely known, his voice and his 
vote being with that party. 



VIMLLIAM L. ISH, a representative pioneer 
ill and honored resident of Slater, Saline 
ij County, Mo., was born in this State. 
and has resided here almost his entire lifetime. 
Active, energetic and ambitions, always extending 
his aid in behalf of educational advancement and 
general public progress, our subject commands the 
respect and confidence of the general public. 
Born January 4, 1819, in Cambridge Township, on 
the Big Bottom, over three score and ten years 
have passed since Mr. Ish began to be an eye- 
witness of the wonderful growth and improve- 
ments in the State of his birth. 

John Ish, the paternal grandfather of our sub- 
ject, was born in German}-, but earl}- immigrated 
to America, and settled in White County, Tenn. 
where he made for himself and family a home. 
Jacob, the father of our subject, was born upon 
the farm in White County, Tenn., and when lie 
was but a lad his father was killed by the Indians, 
while he was engaged in plowing in the Held. 
Jacob Ish was raised in Tennessee, and fought 
bravely in the War of 1812. Like his father 
before him, he pursued the peaceful avocation of 
farming. He was an ambitious man, and with his 
wife and children traveled from Tennessee by 
team to Missouri, and settled permanently in the 
Big Bottom. They crossed the La Mine River by 
cutting a cotton wood tree and making a raft. 

Jacob Ish was one of the first persons to cross 
the La Mine River, and lived in the Big Bottom as 
a squatter until the land offices opened at Frank- 
lin, Howard County, January 4. 1819, when lie 
located. A log house sheltered the family at first, 



and the surroundings were rude, but the land 
returned a rich harvest and they were happy. The 
father was the first Justice of the Peace appointed 
here, and the only one in the county. He served 
in this capacity, giving great satisfaction to the 
general public for a score of years, and was three 
.times Assessor of the county. In 1832 Mr. Ish 
located on the Bluffs, in the same township, then 
after a time removed to Miami Township, and 
finally settled in Holt County with his son, Judge 
John B. Ish, where he died, aged seventy-four 
years. He was a member of the Cumberland 
Presbyterian Church, and a true Christian citizen. 

The first wife of Jacob Ish died in the early 
part of 1817, and he married again. The mother 
of our subject was Mrs. Hindi, a widow, formerly 
Parthenia Gibb, who was a native of Kentucky, 
and a daughter of Samuel Gibb, also born in 
Kentucky, but an early farmer of Howard County 
Mo., and for a short time of Pettis County, at Cold 
Neck, where he died. The mother married first 
in Kentucky, came to New Madrid, and after the 
earthquake there settled in this county, where she 
subsequently was united in marriage with Jacob 
Ish. She had two children by her first marriage, 
and, a good and loving mother, passed to her rest, 
in April, 1872, aged seventy-live years. The 
children of the father's first marriage were five in 
number, all of whom are dead. Of the four chil- 
dren of the second wife, two survive. William 
was raised upon the farm, and early was called 
upon to assist in the daily round of agricultural 
work. 

The district schoolhouse which he attended was 
built of logs, and there were slabs for writing- 
desks. Three or four months a year was the length 
of time the boys of those pioneer days could attend 
school. In June, 1838, our subject married Miss 
Mary L. Wilhite, a native of the Big Bottom, 
and a daughter of James Wilhite, born in White 
County, Tenn., and who served in the War of 
1812. Mr. Wilhite married in his native State, 
but came to Missouri in 1815, and drove the 
entire way by team. He settled first in Howard 
County, but afterward lived in Big Bottom. In 
1832, he located on the Bluffs, and after farming 
some time, died there. The maternal grandfather, 



416 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Reuben, was born and died in Tennessee. The 
mother, Charity Hayes, was also a native of 
Tennessee, and a daughter of William Hayes, 
born in Tennessee, and a very early settler here. 
They dug a well at the foot of the bluff, and it is 
Still in use. Mrs. Ish is the second of eight 
children, and was educated in the district schools. 

After his marriage Mr. Ish bought a farm of one 
hundred and sixty acres, four miles south of 
Slater, and first farmed with oxen, and hauled 
rails nine miles to fence in his land. He also 
put up a log house and lived there until 1 ,H4 4 , 
when he sold out and entered land south of Slater, 
i 'iic hundred and sixty acres, and improved it. 
Our subject farmed this land many years, being 
exceedingly successful in agricultural work, which 
demands the energy, industry and careful judg- 
ment liberally possessed by Mr. Ish. In 1868, he 
forsook the peaceful farm for the battlefield, and 
enlisted in the Confederate army, at the first 
call, and was in the Robinson Regiment. At the 
battle of IJlack Water, upon December 10, he was 
captured and sent to St. Louis, and camped at 
McDowell College; lie was then sent to Alton, and 
kept until March, 1861, when, by taking the oath of 
allegiance, he was allowed to return home. Our 
subject then began trading in stock, and continued 
shipping to St. Louis by boat until the close of 
the war. He sometimes drove the cattle through 
to St. Louis himself, and succeeded in making his 
ventures profitable. 

Our subject then began to buy more land, pay- 
ing as high as 120 an acre. He owned some four 
hundred acres, and farmed upon it, until he 
retired from farming duties. In 1889, Mr. Ish 
located in Slater, where he now resides. He owns 
other valuable real estate, among the rest one 
hundred and fifty-two acres one mile north of the 
city, improved with substantial buildings, on 
which he has raised as high as twenty mules and 
sixty head of fine cattle a year. Mr. Ish gave 
$100 to the Chicago A' Alton Railroad. He is a 
Director in the Savings Lank and a stockholder in 
the Citizens' Stock Bank. He and his wife are 
the parents of three children: Thomas II. B., a 
farmer of this township, and a graduated phy- 
sician from McDowell College; Margery, Mis. 



Willis, resides in Clay Township; and J. C. B., a 
graduate of McDowell College, a traveling man, 
living in Springfield, Mo. Mr. Ish belongs to the 
I ndependent Order of ( >dd Fellows here, Dodge No. 
3 lit. He also belongs to the Old Settlers' Society, 
of which he is Second Vice-President. He is the 
oldest settler in this locality, and is possessed of a 
host of warm friends here. He is an Elder in the 
Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and was when 
that organization built the Missouri Valley Col- 
lege. Our subject is in political affiliation an 
ardent Democrat, and is at all times and on all 
occasions a thoroughly upright and true American 
citizen. 



) ' i 6 



m * I »C^ 




|f^ARVEY S. TUCKER, whose genealogy will 
be found to a fuller extent in the sketch of 
L. II. Tucker, is a good, strong citizen of 
Saline County, a man who has sense to 
back all his actions, and who takes a practical 
view of life, and does well the work that he finds 
to do. Just such men are needed everywhere — 
men who can go forward calmly and steadily, 
without excitement and without chimerical fan- 
cies. 

Mr. Tucker's birthplace was a short distance 
from his present home, and his natal day came in 
the year 1848. His parents were Joshua G. and 
Henrietta A. (Harper) Tucker. He is a true son 
of the county, having grown up here and received 
his earlier education in our common schools, al- 
though later he attended the Central College, of 
Howard County. 

In 187.5 Mr. Tucker married Miss Elizabeth, 
daughter of Field in Shaw, whose biography is 
given in these pages, and who was so well and fa- 
vorably known in the county. Mr. and Mrs. 
Tucker have been the parents of seven children, 
but have suffered the loss of three of them. Those 
who arc still living are ; BettlO M., Luther L., 
Claudia 1. and Floy B, 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



117 



Mr. Tucker was reared a Democrat, and up to 
the time of the inauguration of the People's 
party endorsed the principles of Democracy. lie 
still believes in the Jefferson ian Democracy, but 
not that of the present day. He is now an adher- 
ent and active advocate of the doctrines of the 
People's party, believing them to come nearest to 
the needs of the many who look to the Govern- 
ment of the United States for protection, both to 
themselves personally and their interests, financial 
and otherwise. Mr. Tucker is not rabid in his de- 
fense of the principles of his party, — he has too 
much sense for that, but he is in earnest and fully 
believes what he advocates, while he has the good 
of all at heart. 

The gentleman whose name heads this sketch is 
an extensive farmer and stock dealer, feeding and 
shipping cattle each year. He owns a beau- 
tiful home, situated on the same place where his 
father resided from 1850 till the time of his death, 
his post office being Fairville. Mr. Tucker is prac- 
tical in his farming as in all else, and the fruits of 
his industry and good judgment are plainly seen 
all around him, attesting far more than words can 
the truth of what we have said of him in this 
brief sketch. 



ffiOHN FRANKLIN PEN NOCK, an engineer 
on the Chicago & Alton Railroad, Kansas 
City Division, is a very agreeable and com- 
panionable man, well educated and fully 
abreast of the times. He is a man of wonderfully 
good judgment and great presence of mind. Un- 
der the most exciting and trying ordeals, he was 
never known to be lacking in cither respect. He 
takes in the situation, makes a decision, and acts 
upon it at once. His quickness of perception has 
brought him safely through many a danger, for he 
has had more than one narrow escape. 

There has been a sad tragedy in the life of Mr. 
Pennock, his father having been murdered in cold 
blood while returning with his wife from a visit to 



Canada, June"20, 1890. Mr. Pennock, Sr., whose 
christian name was', William, was the descendant 
of an Eastern family, and was born in New York 
State. He remained on a farm there untiljie was 
a young man, when he went to Ontario, Canada, 
and located in London; he ran the old Mont- 
gomery House in the latter place for a while and 
afterward engaged in farming, the two hundred 
acres of his farm now being in the city of Toronto. 
In 1870, he came to Missouri and located in Clay 
Township, Saline County, where he bought one 
hundred and forty acres of land from Capt. W. S. 
Ish, about half a mile south of the present city of 
Slater, and was engaged in farming up to the time 
of his death. He was a well-educated and well- 
posted man, a member of the Presbyterian Church 
and a Democrat. He was a Magistrate for years 
while he lived in Canada. On the occasion of his 
first visit to Canada, with his wife, in 1890, the 
tragedy above mentioned occurred. They were 
returning from the visit and were on the bridge at 
Louisiana. The train had stopped at the draw- 
bridge to let a steamboat pass through, and Mr. 
Pennock left the coach and never returned. He 
was murdered and robbed and his body thrown 
into the river. The murderer has not been appre- 
hended to this day. 

Mr. J. F. Pennock was in Kansas City and was 
telegraphed for at once, responding immediately. 
He instituted a search which lasted from Saturday 
until Monday night, at which time a message came 
from forty-three miles below Louisiana, saying 
that the body of a man was there awaiting identi- 
fication. The son proceeded to the point named 
and found the body ol his father. At this time 
there was but sixty-five cents in the pockets of the 
murdered man; this the robbers had probably 
overlooked in their haste. The head and face 
were bruised, as though a blow had been struck 
willi a link or coupling-pin. The son had gone 
down from Louisiana in a skiff with two men, and 
after finding his father's body he telegraphed for 
a tug from the city and also sent orders for a cof- 
fin. An inquest was held before the removal and 
the verdict was to the effect that the murder had 
been committed in cold blood and the body thrown 
into the river, as stated above. The body was 



lis 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



brought hack to Louisiana, thence to Slater, where 
the funeral was held. Deceased was seventy-nine 
years, eleven months and sixteen days old at the 
time of his death. 

The lady who was so cruelly widowed was be- 
fore her marriage Miss Eliza Montgomery, of Can- 
ada. She was of Scotcli descent, her father having 
been born in Scotland. He removed to Canada 
and was the owner of a large farm there, and also 
the keeper of an extensive hotel, the Montgom- 
ery, near London. He was a McKenzie man and 
took part in the Canadian Rebellion, the first gun 
being fired at his hotel, for which he was obliged 
to go into hiding. He was a Magistrate in Canada 
up to the time of his death. His great-great- 
grandfather was Lord Montgomery, of the High- 
lands of Scotland, so that he was directly descended 
from the nobility. The mother of our subject still 
resides at the old home in Slater, at the advanced 
age of seventy-six. 

Mr. Pennock was the fifth in order of birth of 
six children, five of whom are now living. He was 
born in Toronto, Canada, October 31, 1852. When 
he was two years of age, the family moved to near 
London, where he was educated in part, finishing 
his studies at the colleges at Hamilton and St. 
Thomas and the Commercial College in London. 

In 1870, the young man came with his parents 
to this vicinity,- remaining at home and assisting 
his father until lie reached the age of twenty-two, 
when he engaged in farming for himself. After a 
time, he went into the meat-market business here, 
keeping this up until 1881, when he was engaged 
by the Chicago & Alton Railroad as fireman on 
this division, where he has worked ever since. In 
1887, he became engineer, and is the oldest freight 
engineer on the division west of Kansas City, lie 
has never had an accident and has never laid off a 
day. lie has engine No. 145, a six-wheel Mogul, 
which he has run for four years. He has had 
some hair-breadth escapes, but his carefulness and 
clear-headedness have stood him and others in 
good part. 

Mr. Pennock was married in Marshall in 1876, 
taking for his bride Miss Ella .lenkins, who was 
born in Cooper County, Mo., and was reared in 
Marshall. They have one child, Lottie. The gen- 



tleman whom this sketch but poorly portrays is a 
member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engin- 
eers, Branch 8, and politically is a Democrat; he is 
a very popular man and everyone likes him and 
speaks well of him. He has been here in Slater a 
long lime, and has made for himself a warm place 
in the hearts of man}' friends, as well as a high 
position in the respect and esteem of all who know 
him. 



*+£ 



[^_ 



| WILLIAM H. HOLLIDAY, an honored and 
\/\/// re P re sentative citizen, and President of 
ffiif/ the Slater Savings Bank, Saline County, 
Mo., is one of the very early pioneers of the State, 
and to his enterprise and personal exertions many 
of its prominent improvements are mainly due. 
He was one of the leading factors in the early 
growth of Monroe County, and platted out and 
literally founded the town of Holliday, named in 
his honor. The paternal grandfather of Mr. Hol- 
liday was a North of Ireland man and emigrated 
to America in the latter part of the last century 
and settled in Kentucky, where he pursued the 
peaceful avocation of farming. 

The father of our subject was born in Kentucky 
in 1792, and was, like his father, a farmer. He 
was a brave and patriotic citizen, and served the 
Government of his country in the War of 1812, 
and fought under the victorious command of 
Gen. Harrison. In 1817 this veteran of the war 
came to Pike County, Mo., traveling all the way 
by team, and located near (larksville. In 1818 
he bought land and settled at Elk Springs, in the 
same county. He fanned there seventeen years, 
and then removed to Monroe County, near Paris, 
where Holliday now stands, and engaged in ex- 
tensive and profitable agriculture. lie was an 
Elder in the Piesbyterian Church, and was up- 
right in character, and when he died in 1870 he 
was lamented as a good man and honest citizen. 

The mother of our subject, Nancy McCune, was 
a native of Kentucky and a daughter of a farmer 
of the same State. Her father came to Missouri 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



419 



in 181 7, and located in Pike County, and fanned 
there until his death at McCune Station: he was 
Over eighty years of age when he passed away. 
Mrs. Nancy (.McCune) Ilolliday died in 1834. 
She was the mother of eight children, of whom 
our subject was the eldest. \V. H. Ilolliday was born 
August 9, 1817, near Paris, Ky. He assisted on his 
father's large farm and attended the little log 
schoolhouse, and afterward went one y r ear tp the 
Masonic College, one of the best in the State. 
Mr. Ilolliday spent one year in this institution of 
learning, and then returned home, and remained 
there until twenty-two years of age, when he came 
into possession of three hundred and twenty acres 
of land in Jackson Township, Monroe County. 
and improved the farm, on which he raised grain 
and stock. He also raised a fine large quality of 
mules and took them South to the number of one 
hundred, and disposed of them in the Red River 
country. 

This stock-raising enterprise was a successful 
venture, but it was an expensive trip and required 
considerable capital. In 1868, when the branch 
from Moberly to Hannibal was built, our subject 
became a Director and stockholder in the line 
called the Missouri Central Railroad. This road 
was completed and business started upon its line 
in the spring, and then it was handed over to 
the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad, to make 
it a through line. On this road a station was 
built near the farm of our subject, and was named 
in his honor Ilolliday. 

In 1876, .Mr. Ilolliday engaged in general mer- 
chandise in the town of Ilolliday, and was pros- 
pered, lie owned all the land when the depot 
was located there, but devoted forty acres to 
starting a town, and built the first houses and 
store, and established a lumber yard; he was Post- 
master, express agent, and manager of a general 
store, and after a successful termination of his ef- 
forts to found a town, retired from active busi- 
ness and came to Slater in 1.S82. In 18,h."i he was 
one of the organizers of the Slater Savings Rank, 
and has been its President ever since. Mr. Ilolli- 
day built a handsome residence in Slater, and also 
owns other valuable real estate in this city, and 
has property in Ilolliday. 



In 1849, our subject was married, in Monroe 
County, to Miss Jennie Harper, a native of Wood- 
ford County, Ky. She was reared in Monroe 
County, Mo., and is a most estimable and excellent 
lady. Our subject is a member of, and a ruling- 
Elder in, the Presbyterian Church, anil has always 
been especially active in forwarding its religious 
interests. He has always been a Democrat, and 
has frequently represented his party at State and 
county conventions. In all the relations of life, 
whether social or business, Mr. Ilolliday is always 
the same consistent and upright man, and com- 
mands the confidence and esteem of all who know 
him. 



^p^)EORt4E W. DEAL was one of the repre- 
II <^w" seiltat i ve raen °f Saline County while liv- 
^^M in o» anc l the memory of his just and honest 
life still remains with his family and friends. He 
was born in Augusta County, Va., in 1812, and 
was the first-born in his father's family. He was 
afforded the advantages of a very liberal educa- 
tion in the common schools and academy of his 
native place, and in 1833 he chose Miss Rebecca 
Coyuer to be his wife. To them were born eight 
children in Virginia, and one after coming to this 
State in 18.37. Mr. Deal had learned the trade of 
saddle and harness maker and this employment he 
industriously followed at Waynesboro, Va., where 
he owned an extensive establishment and manu- 
factured his own goods. 

After coming to Saline County, Mo.. Mr. Deal 
purchased a farm near Mt. Leonard, which con- 
sisted of two hundred and forty acres, and to this 
land he continued to add until lie had at one time 
almost more land than any one in the county; He 
thoroughly understood business methods and did 
general farming with success. His neighbors re- 
cognized him as one of the representative men of 
the county and his word always carried weight 
with it. The death of Mr. Deal occurred in 1883, 
when he passed away in the faith of the Lutheran 



420 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Church, with which he had connected himself in 
Virginia long years before. 

In his political preferences, Mr. Deal was a Whig 
until the formation of the Republican party, and 
then he enrolled his name under the Democratic 
Hag and continued a member of that party until 
the time of his death. He was possessed of more 
than ordinal'}' determination, and when he under- 
took a task he never turned back nor abandoned 
it until it was completed. 

The seventh child of this most excellent man 
was named George M. for his father. His birth 
occurred in Virginia in 1849, and he accompanied 
his parents to Saline County, where he grew to 
manhood. His education was liberal in the com- 
mon schools of the district and in Lexington, and 
when he had reached the age of twenty-four years 
he married Miss Mary, the daughter of J. R. Colvert, 
of La Fayette County. 

Mr. Deal has followed farming as an occupation 
all of his life. In March, 1891, he sold his prop- 
erty near Mt. Leonard and purchased three hun- 
dred and twenty-five acres of land of Thomas R. E. 
Harvey in sections 17, 18, 19 and 20, all of town- 
ship 51, range 21. He manages the whole farm, 
having some of it in grass. Four children com- 
piled the interesting family of Mr. Deal: George 
R., William L, M. Roy, and Erma K., who died 
November 10, 1892. Our subject and his excel- 
lent wife are members of the Mt. Carmel Methodist 
Episcopal Church South. As did his lamented fa- 
ther, Mr. Deal supports the principles of the Demo- 
cratic party. 



~^Ns|[ 



RS. M. C. YANCEY, for fifty-three years 
a constant resident of Missouri, and well 
known in Wavcrly as a lady of culture 
and intelligence, is a native of Virginia, 
and was born in Rockingham County in the year 
1831. Her father, Col. David Ilenton, was born, 
reared and educated in Virginia, and located in 
Missouri in 1889, making his home in Waverly, 




where for many years he was an important factor 
in the upbuilding and local advancement of that 
progressive city and its immediate neighborhood. 
He was a man of superior business ability, ener- 
getic in all the duties of life, temperate in his 
habits, and withal possessed excellent judgment 
and honesty of purpose. A citizen of rare integ- 
rity of character, liberal and public-spirited, he 
commanded the respect and confidence of all who 
knew him, and when he passed away his death was 
mourned as a public loss. He was a loviug hus- 
band and father, a kind friend and neighbor, and 
was among the tried and true pioneersof theearl}' 
days, whose memory will be enshrined in the hearts 
of the coming generations. 

The mother of our subject, Elizabeth (Me^yers) 
Ilenton, was a native of Virginia, and was reared 
and educated among the scenes of her early youth. 
She accompanied her husband to Missouri more 
than a half-century ago, and is well remembered 
as a lady of worth and a devoted wife and mother. 
The Ilenton family is of Scotch-Irish origin, and 
some of its members crossed the broad Atlantic in 
the early part of the last century. They made 
their home in the good old State of Virginia, 
where the paternal grandfather of our subject, 
Benjamin II. Ilenton, was born. The Meyers fam- 
ily originated in Germany. The maiden name of 
Grandmother Meyers was Barbara Hart, and her 
parents were from Switzerland. 

Mrs. Yancey was seven years old when she came 
with her parents to Missouri, and here she received 
such educational advantages as the community 
afforded. In 1855 she was united in marriage with 
Dr. John F. Yancey, a native of Virginia. Dr. 
and Mrs. Yaneey became the parents of four chil- 
dren, namely: Eola II., Paul W., Lay ton and 
David. Mrs. Yance}' is an extensive land-holder, 
owning twelve hundred acres of valuable land, all 
under a high state of cultivation. An energetic 
and capable woman, possessing fine business attain- 
ments, she ably manages her landed estate, and pre- 
sides with generous hospitality over her attractive 
home in the city of Wavcrly. For many years 
she has been one of the valued members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church South, and is num- 
bered among the efficient workers of that religious 




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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



1 23 



organization. Taking an active interest in public 
enterprise, benevolent and social, and always 
deeply interested in the progress of educational 
advancement and the welfare of the young, Mrs. 
Yancey has a host of lifetime friends and ac- 
quaintances. 



^=§MM 



F. LYON was, at the time of his death in 

E1882, the owner of one of the largest farms 
in Saline County, and a very prosperous 
man, making one more of the farmers of this vi- 
cinity who have proven that the calling of the 
agriculturist is a remunerative as well as an in- 
dependent and honorable one. 

Mr. Lyon was born in Boone County, Mo., in 
1836, his parents having come there at an early 
day from Bourbon County, Ky. The son re- 
mained in Boone County until he reached the es- 
tate of manhood, and about the year 18(51 came to 
Saline County, where he married Miss Sarah J., 
daughter of John Hunt, who was a pioneer of the 
county. 

Mr. and Mrs. Lyon reared seven children, and 
lost three at an early age. The family consists of 
Dovie, wife of R. M. Fountain, of Bonne County; 
Jesse II., whose address is Woodson Post-office, Sa- 
line County, and who resides on the old home; 
Irvine, engaged in teaching school in Saline 
County, and who was educated in the Central 
Business College of Sedalia; Henry J., of Warrens- 
burgh; Edgar, Mary E. and Robert. Jesse IT., who 
manages the old farm, was born in this county in 
1865, having lived here all his life, and received 
a common-school education. He was married in 
January, 1890, choosing for his wife Miss Minnie, 
daughter of Thomas R. Stamper, of Randolph 
County. Mr. and Mrs. Lyon have two children, 
Mary F. and Conue. 

The Lyons have always been agriculturists SO 
far as any record has been kept. E. F. Lyons 
brought but little property to the county with him, 
beginning, as so many of our solid men have done, 



as a poor man. Through good management and 
skill in farming, however, he was enabled to ac- 
cumulate a goodly share of this world's goods, 
his farm being very large — five hundred and 
sixty-live acres, most of which was plow and pas- 
ture land, making in all a piece of property that 
any man might well be proud of, and doubly so 
because of the fact that it was gained through his 
own industry and ability. 

Mr. Lyon was a member of the Baptist Church, 
and had been a stanch Democrat all his life. He 
was also a member of the Independent Order of 
Odd Fellows. He was a man of worth, and left 
many friends as well as relatives to mourn his loss. 



c *=•$•= 




ENRY SCHOWENGERDT is a promi- 
nent citizen of La Fayette County, and a 
native of the State, having been born in 
Warren County, Mo. His birth occurred 
September 26, 1842, and he is a son of Frederick 
and Louisa Schowengerdt, both of whom were 
natives of Germany, and were among the first Ger- 
man families to settle in Warren County. The 
father still survives, although he has reached the 
ripe old age of seventy-five years and past. The 
mother died in 1889. 

Our subject is the third in order of birth of his 
father's family. He was reared in his native 
county, and received an education in the public 
schools of that district, but, as may be imagined, 
the system and methods as then employed fell far 
short of what we consider good educational ad- 
vantages to-day. On reaching manhood, our sub- 
ject followed the example of the great majority, 
and May 1 I. 1869, he was married, his bride being 
Miss Louisa Schoppenhorst, also a native of War- 
ren County. Mo. She is a daughter of Henry 
Schoppenhorst, an early settler in Warren County. 
From this union seven children have been born: 
Louis F., William, Albert, Ernest, Lizzie, Robert 
and Emma. 



424 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



In 1884, our subject came to La Fayette County 
with his family, and lias since resided on the farm 
where he now lives. He owns two hundred and 
forty-nine acres of well-improved land, having a 
pleasant residence and good supplementary build- 
ings. The fertile lands of Missouri arc well 
adapted to repay the intelligent cultivation of the 
farmer bred with ideas of the thrifty German 
methods of cultivation, under which an acre is 
made to yield several crops during a single season, 
and all refuse matter is used for underplowing and 
fertilizing. In this way our subject has been able 
to accumulate a comfortable fortune, and can equal 
an}' of his neighbors in the advantages he is able 
to give to his children. He is a Republican in 
politics, although he takes but little active inter- 
est outside of the right of franchise. In church 
relations he, as well as other members of his family, 
worships with the German Evangelists. He is a 
well-known man in this district, whose reputation 
for honesty and integrity would stand him in 
eood stead at any time. 



j-J.'J.'J.-J. 



M««- 



****^®«***+F 




AVID GROVES, .lit., a widely and favor- 
ably known farmer and stock-raiser of 
Middleton Township, La Fayette County, 
Mo., was born of highly respected par- 
ents in the county named, in the month of May, 
1850. David, his father, a native of Tennessee, 
was one of the early pioneers of La Fayette 
County; his wife, the mother of our subject, Eliza- 
beth (Hutchins) Groves, a native of Kentucky, 
was of Scotch-Irish descent. 

The subject of our sketch is a man of superior 
intelligence and most excellent judgment. The 
days of his boyhood and youth were spent at 
home in his native county, where he attended the 
public schools, in the intervals of vacation work- 
ing upon the farm. When eighteen years of age, 
Mr. Groves entered Spalding's Business College, 
at Kansas City, Mo., applied himself diligently, 
and was graduated with distinction. His first ven- 



ture in life for himself was as bookkeeper and clerk 
in the storeof Mr. Ardinger,at Lexington, Mo., and 
he continued in that place six months. During 
all this time he felt that selling merchandise was 
not his proper vocation, and hence he gave it up 
and became an agriculturist, a calling he has fol- 
lowed ever since. 

The residence of Mr. Groves is located on a 
finely improved and highly cultivated farm of 
three hundred and twenty acres, situated on sec- 
tion 12, township 50, range 24. Besides general 
farming, he devotes especial attention to exten- 
sive raising and feeding of stock, particularly 
Hereford, Shorthorn and Polled-Angus cattle. 
Industrious as is Mr. Groves, and faithfully as he 
attends to the arduous duties of his personal busi- 
ness, he finds time to discharge the obligations of 
a Director in the Farmers' Savings Bank of Mar- 
shall, Saline County, Mo., and also to look after 
the interests of the church, to which he is de- 
votedly attached. Our subject is a stockholder in 
the Blackburn Bank, at Blackburn, Saline County, 
Mo., beside having other interests, all of which 
are carefully attended to. 

The brightest day in the life of Mr. Groves was 
that in which Miss Ida Catron became his wife. 
This happy event transpired in the year 1877, and 
the fruits of that union are five most interesting 
children, as follows: David G., Nannie V., William 
L., Roscoe C. and Emmett A. Mr. and Mrs. 
Groves are consistent and upright members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church South, the former be- 
ing a Steward in that body. Mrs. Groves is a 
daughter of Christopher Catron, a native of 
Cooper County, Mo., born December 5, 1817, he 
being the son of a father bearing the same name 
as himself and of Euphemia (Jones) Catron, both 
natives of Virginia. The father of Mrs. Groves 
died April 5, 1880. Nancy II. (Gordon) Catron 
is the mother of the wife of our subject, she being 
a daughter of Thomas Gordon, a native of Ten- 
nessee and still living. 

Mr. and Mrs. Groves have a most attractive and 
desirably situated home that well may excite ad- 
miration if not envy. They are a couple, who, in 
the light of intelligence and of consciences quick- 
ened by the Gospel, realize that happiness and 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



425 



contentment may be found in this life. The in- 
fluence of their bright and sunny Christian na- 
tures is felt throughout the neighborhood, where 
they are held in the highest estimation. In pol- 
itics Mr. Groves is a Democrat, and, being a man 
of strong convictions, is decidedly pronounced in 
his views; but his love of justice makes him lib- 
eral toward those who differ from him. 



€^T 



ffi OHN D. MASTERSON, the well-known and 
j very popular farmer who resides on section 
,~. I 1. township 50, range 24, Middleton Town- 
v$§£J ! ship. La Faj'ette County, Mo., was born in 
Marion County, this State, in the year 1836. His 
father was Hugh Masterson, a native of Kentucky, 
who removed to Missouri the year preceding his 
son's birth, and is said to be the first man that 
crossed the plains from Missouri, in the year 1849. 
The mother of our subject was Isabella (Hall) Mas- 
terson, a native of Kentucky, and a most estimable 
woman, greatly beloved by her family and friends. 
The paternal ancestor of John D., whose name 
also was John, was a soldier of the War of 1812, 
and was descended from Scotch-Irish ancestors. 

The childhood, youth and younger manhood of 
John D. Masterson were somewhat uneventful, be- 
ing passed quietly at home, attending the public 
schools, or working upon the farm, until grown 
up, when he took up regular agricultural pursuits. 
Now the tocsin of war sounded. Prompt to 
obey its call was our subject, who, in the year 
1861, enlisted in Company C, Gordon's Regiment, 
Shelby 's Brigade, Confederate States army. Ann mg 
the first to enlist, he was among the last to stop 
fighting for a cause he believed to be just and 
right. After four years of faithful service, Mr. 
Masterson came to La Fayette County, and began 
farming, an occupation he has followed very suc- 
cessfully ever since. The farm of three hundred 
and twenty acres upon which he resides is all un- 
der cultivation and well improved. 

Being domestic in his taste, it was not to be ex- 



pected that Mr. Masterson would long remain a 
bachelor. In the choice of a wife he displayed ex- 
ceptionally good taste and judgment, his life part- 
ner being Miss Sallie, daughter of R. II. Jones, 
a native of Kentucky. The children of this 
happy marriage are as follows: William, Linwood, 
John II., Zelda, Daisy and Elizabeth. A worthy 
and law-abiding citizen, Mr. Masterson takes, 
naturally, an interest in public affairs, and while 
it would not be proper to term him a politician, 
he is a Democrat, holding that that party best 
studies the interests of the country. In all the re- 
lations of life Mr. Masterson aims to be just and 
faithful, neglecting no known duty, and seeking 
to do to others as he would be done by. His 
neighbors hold him in esteem for his many sterling 
qualities of head and heart. The home of our 
subject is a happy one, tilled with what is calcu- 
lated to complete the sum of an ideal American 
home. Mr. Masterson is a member of Oriental 
Lodge, A. F. & A. M. Mrs. Masterson is a most 
worthy and acceptable member of the Christian 
Church, in the prosperity of which she feels an 
abiding and active concern. 



\r^^RITZ HASENJAGER is a representative 
|iWqS> farmer, whose place is located on section 
■lj> 13, township 49, range 26, La Fayette 

County. He is a native of Germany, and was 
born October 25, 184 I. a son of Christian and Lot- 
tie Hasenjager, both of whom are natives of Ger- 
many. When our subject was but three years of 
age the family started for America on a sailing- 
vessel. They embarked at Bremen, and after a 
tedious voyage landed at New Orleans. 

From New Orleans the Hasenjager family pro- 
ceeded up the Mississippi to St. Louis, and thence 
up the Missouri River to Washington. Mo., whence 
they proceeded to Warren County. There they 
located upon a farm, and were among the earliest 
German settlers in that county. They came while 



426 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



the country was still new, and found a very differ- 
ent condition of affairs from that they were accus- 
tomed to in the Fatherland. The parents still live 
on their home place. 

Of the children of whom our subject is one, the 
following survive: Ricka, Fritz, William, Henry, 
Minnie, Herman, Caroline. Annie and Louisa. 
These children have been brought up in the faith 
of the Evangelical Church, of which the parents 
are both members. Our subject was reared to man- 
hood in this locality, and was brought up to be 
thoroughly familiar with all the branches of farm- 
ing. He received his education in the public 
schools of Warren County, and also attended a 
German school conducted under the auspices of 
the church. He was married October 13, 1870, his 
bride being Miss Annie Neimenn, who was born 
in Warren County, a daughter of William Nei- 
menn, an early settler there. 

Our subject and his wife have been the parents 
of four children: Amanda was born August 18, 
1872; William, July 27, 1875; Ida, September 15, 
1882; and Otto, December 15, 1888. In March, 
1881, Mr. Ilasenjager came to La Fayette County, 
and has been a resident here ever since. His farm 
comprises one hundred and twenty-five acres of 
land, all of which is well cultivated. He is one 
who believes that the industrious unit makes 
a thrifty, prosperous commonwealth, and in ac- 
cordance with this idea gives his first and best at- 
tention to his own affairs. He is a Republican in 
politics, and a member of the German Evangelical 
Church. 



*->vn i ii i i 



i > ' i ' i i i — 



ENRY C. MEYER. Prominent among the 
farmer citizens of German birth located in 
La Fayette County. Mo., we find the sub- 
ject of this sketch, living in great comfort 
on his farm of one hundred and twenty acres of 
land in township 49, range 26, section 5. Our 
subject is of good German birth, having been born 
in the kingdom of Hanover, Germany, December 




3, 1842. John and Anna M. (Schnieder) Meyer 
were his parents, worthy and respectable people, 
who spent all the days of their lives in the Father- 
land. 

Our subject was reared to young manhood in 
Germany, and attended the common schools there, 
obtaining a very fair education in his native 
tongue. For two years he served in the army, 
according to the law of the country, and had vari- 
ous experiences, having been one of the soldiers at 
the time of the occupation of Holstein. In 1866, 
our subject came to America, by way of a German 
port, on a steamer of the same name, the "Bremen." 
a name so familiar to the German ear, and after a 
voyage of sixteen days across the Atlantic, landed 
in New York City. 

The destination of our subject was the State of 
Missouri, to which so many of his fellow-country- 
men had come and found home and fortune. For 
a few months he worked as a laborer at gardening 
in St. Louis, but later went into Warren County, 
where he obtained employment on a farm, and 
continued there for several years. In 1876 he was 
united in marriage with Miss Louisa Brueggen- 
johann, and five children have been added to this 
happy home, as follows: August, Annie, Lydia 
and William, the living ones, and one who died in 
infancy. 

In 1872, our subject came into La Fayette 
County, and remained long enough to find out 
what good people lived within her borders, and 
also to get a notion of the fine land for sale. 
Therefore it was to La Fa}ette he came after his 
marriage, and here he has remained, finally set- 
tling upon the present farm in 1881. This con- 
sists of one hundred and twenty acres of land, and 
he has been busy converting it into what he con- 
siders a fine place, fencing, building and planting 
trees, besides cultivating the ground. 

Mr. Meyer is one of those public-spirited men 
who do any neighborhood good. His ideas upon 
progress and advancement are worthy to be con- 
sidered at all times, as his opinions upon farming 
and kindred matters are based upon experience, 
since he began here with very limited means, and 
has become well off, and is still steadily advancing 
his financial condition. He will tell those who 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



427 



ask, that the sure road to success lies in the ex- 
ercise of energy and honest endeavor. Our sub- 
ject and family are faithful attendants upon the 
services of the German Evangelical Lutheran 
Church, of which they are members. 



_c as _ 



.'%?-_ 
-®^^ 



JOHN W. GOLLADAY is one of the drivers 
of an eight-wheel engine on the Chicago & 
Alton Railroad, and has been running be- 
tween Kansas City and St. Louis since 1884. 
He is a man of great concentration of interest 
and purpose, and finds that in the close attention 
to his railroad duties is the surest means of suc- 
cess. Mr. Golladay was born in Galion, Craw- 
ford County, Ohio, March 1), 1851. He is a son of 
Henry and Nancy (Ogden) Golladay, both Ohio- 
ans. 

Henry Golladay was born in Stark County, and 
was for many years a farmer near Mansfield, in 
Richland County. He is now a horticulturist, and 
a prominent member of the Horticultural Society 
of Ohio, (Jrandfather Golladay, who was of Ger- 
man descent, was born in Pennsylvania, but made 
an early settlement in Ohio, while Indians were 
still their most frequent visitors. He improved a 
farm there, but located later in Crawford County, 
where he died. Our subject's father was a de- 
voted Methodist and a licensed exhorter and 
Class-leader. His mother, Nancy Ogden, was born 
at Massillon, the daughter of an early settler there. 
Her death occurred when our subject was only 
eight years of age. She left six children, three 
boys and three girls, all of whom are living, the 
boys being all employed on the railroad. 

John W. was reared on the farm until twenty- 
one years of age. He attended the public schools 
in the winter time, and on reaching his majority, 
which occurred in 1*72, he was employed on the 
Ft. Wayne Railroad in laying track. May 1st of 
the next year he was appointed foreman on the 
same road between Crestline and Alliance After 
spending two years and eight months there he was 



transferred to the Atlantic & Great Western Rail- 
road, with a run between Kent and Dayton. In 
this employ he served as fireman, bis promotion as 
engineer on the same division taking place in 
1880. In 1881 he came to the Chicago & Alton, 
locating at Bloomington, 111. After one month he 
was transferred to the Kansas City Division. He 
has thus far been very fortunate, never having 
suffered a serious accident. His run is now be- 
tween Slater and Kansas City, also Slater and 
Roodhouse. 

Our subject was married in Galion, Ohio, Janu- 
ary 25, 1877, his bride being Miss Emma, a daugh- 
ter of Joseph C. Wonlen, a native of Coshocton, 
Pa. Mrs. Golladay's father was proprietor of a 
saddlery and harness establishment. His wife's 
maiden name was Margaret Pensinger. Mrs. Gol- 
lady is a lady of decided taste and refinement, 
and is very devoted to her family. She is the 
mother of three children, whose names are Estella, 
Clyde II. and Maudie B. In a fraternal way our 
subject belongs to the Brotherhood of Locomotive 
Engineers, being a member of the Eighth Divi- 
sion. He is also a member of the Knights of 
Pythias. In his religious belief Mr. Golladay is a 
Methodist, while his wife is a Presbyterian. In 
politics he votes for the party whose record for 
thirty years will go down to posterity without a 
blemish. 



/£p)\ ALVIN PFLEGER, a highly respected citi- 
(l( n zen of Grand Pass, has the honor of being 

Vi/ a native of Missouri. He was born in La 
Fayette County January I, 18.34, and comes of an 
old Virginian family. His grandfather, who was 
of German descent, died in Virginia. His father, 
David Plleger, was born in Floyd County, Va., 
about 18(17, and was one <>f a family of three >"i^ 
and two daughters. His sister Lydia was the 
only one who came to Missouri. In his native 
State he married Nancy, daughter of Christopher 
Slusher, and on the 28th of October, 1828, they 



428 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



reached La Fayette County, Mo., having come 
hitber in company with his father-in-law. He en- 
tered land, which he improved, and at his death 
owned a valuable farm of four hundred acres. In 
August, 1871, he started to Virginia on a visit, and 
the day before reaching his destination was taken 
sick. He died on the old homestead in that State 
on the 19th of November and was laid to rest in 
the family burying-ground, where his father and 
mother were interred. Before leaving home, he 
had settled up all of his affairs, thus leaving all 
free and unincumbered. He was a member of the 
Lutheran Church. His wife is still living on the 
old farm in La Fayette County. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Pfleger were born eleven 
children: Allen; Elizabeth, widow of John Staley; j 
Calvin; Susan, wife of James Plleger; Mary Jane, 
deceased wife of S. H. Moore; Rebecca, wife of 
Simon Pfleger; Lydia, now deceased; Maria, who 
married William Patterson; Mahala, who wedded 
W. C. Slusher; Martha, wife of F. Thornton, who 
is living on the old farm in J,a Fayette County; 
and William C. 

The schools of his native count}- afforded our 
subject his educational privileges. His boyhood 
days were quietly passed in the usual manner of 
farmer lads. After attaining to mature years, he 
was united in marriage, on the 17th of October, 
1858, with Miss Margaret, daughter of Joel Wilds, 
of La Fayette County. Their union has been 
blessed with four children: William, who is now 
living in Butte City, CaL; Elizabeth L.,wife of 
Willam Taylor, a fanner in Saline County; Mary, 
wife of Abrani Hart, of Franklin County, Kan.; and 
Annie, wife of Charles Younger, of Slater. Mo. 

After his marriage, Mr. Plleger engaged in the 
sawmill business for fourteen years, after which he 
turned his attention to farming. He owned and 
operated two hundred and forty acres of land, 
which he improved and cultivated, making it a 
valuable and desirable tract. After carrying on 
agricultural pursuits for a number of years, he 
at length determined to sell out, and in February, 
1890, removed to Grand Pass, where he has since 
resided. He built a comfortable residence, pleas- 
antly situated on the bluff, with :i charming back- 
ground of natural forest trees. He invested part of 



the proceeds of his laud in bank stocks and a part 
he put out at interest. His children have now all 
gone to homes of their own and he and his wife 
only are left. They are highly respected citizens, 
whose many excellencies of character have won 
them the high regard of all. Mr. Plleger votes the 
Democratic ticket, but takes no active part in poli- 
tics. His life has been well and worthily spent 
and his success is the just reward of his efforts. 



c« WILLIAM M. WILIHTE, a prosperous 
\pjfi iarrnei ' °f Saline County, near Gilliam, is 
WW located on his tine farm of three hundred 
acres on section 13, township 51, range 19. He 
was born in this county in 1837, and is the son of 
James and Charity ( Hayes) Wilhite. His father 
was born in the year 1796, and was eighty-live 
years of age when he died. His grandfather. 
Reuben Wilhite, was a Tennesseean by birth. The 
father of our subject was in the War of 1812, 
through which he served. He became one of the 
first settlers in Saline County, coming here when 
it was wild land. He purchased from the Govern- 
ment a tract of land, which he at once began im- 
proving, and at one time he owned over one thou- 
sand acres. The family of children consisted of 
three brothers and five sisters, of whom the sisters 
are still living. The}* are well known in their 
neighborhoods and we give a brief mention of 
them as follows: 

Mary was born in this county, married W. L. Ish, 
and they reside at Slater, where he is a farmer; 
Martha was born in Saline County, married Mr. 
Willard. and they reside in Colorado; Elizabeth, 
whose birth occurred in Saline County, married 
James Johnson, and they reside in this county; 
Sarah B. was born here, became the wife of Charles 
Dennis, and they reside in Texas; Naomi F. was 
born in this county and married P. Duncan, a 
farmer of this locality. Our subject was married 
in this county to Miss Mary F. Morrison in 1862; 
thej' have no family. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



429 



Mr.Wilhite was educated in the common schools ! 
and later attended Mc Gee College. lie left school | 
at the age of twenty years to engage in farm- 
ing upon a line three hundred acre farm, a portion 
of which was given him by his father. lie has 
made many improvements here, among which may 
be mentioned a new barn that cost §700, and the 
outbuildings compare very favorably with those 
in the surrounding country. Mr. Wilhite is an 
agriculturist of a high order, and his grain, hay 
and stock are the best in the market, lie thinks 
that the best always pays. 

In local religious matters, Mr. Wilhite is al- 
ways interested, and he and his good wife are con- 
sistent members of the Baptist Church, in which 
they have been active for several years past. Po- 
litically, our subject affiliates with the Democratic 
party, believing that in the success of it the coun- 
try will make its best progress. Both he and his 
wife are much esteemed in the neighborhood where 
they have so long resided. 







THOMAS C. SAWYER, a progressive agricul- 
turist and extensive stock-raiser of Lexing- 
ton Township, La Fayette County, is one 
of the ambitious and enterprising citizens of the 
State, who, ever ready to assist in the march of 
improvement, are the important factors in all local 
enterprise — social, benevolent, religious, or purely 
business. Born in Lexington, Mo., in 1853, our 
subject is the descendant of an intelligent and 
prosperous ancestry. His paternal forefathers were 
Scotchmen, his maternal ancestors Scotch-Irish. 
Grandfather Locke Sawyer was born in New 
Hampshire, and was a typical New England man, 
earnest and resolute. 

The father of our subject, lion. Samuel L. Saw- 
yer, was born in New Hampshire in 1813, and 
when a young man moved to La Fayette County, 
Mo., locating in his new home in 1838. He had 
received excellent educational advantages, and 



having successfully prosecuted his legal studies. 
entered upon the practice of his profession. A 
popular and able citizen, he was elected to the 
honored position of Judge, and upon the bench 
so efficiently discharged the duties of his office, 
that he gained the confidence of the entire com- 
munity, and afterward ably represented the con- 
stituents of the Fifth District in Congress. His 
wife, Mary (Callaway) Sawyer, was a daughter of 
Thomas Callaway, a native of Virginia, but an 
early resident of Missouri, having settled in La 
Fayette County in 1820. Mrs. Sawyer, like her 
father, was born in the Old Dominion, but was 
very young when her parents removed to the 
State destined to be her lifetime home. 

Thomas C. spent the days of early boyhood in 
Lexington, and attended the common schools un- 
til twelve years old. At about this period of his 
life he entered the preparatory department of the 
Westminster College, at Fulton, Mo., and after 
some years of study, was graduated in 1872 with 
honors from the scientific course. He then made 
his home in Maryville, Nodaway County, and en- 
gaged in the grocery business for the succeeding 
five years. In 1882 Mr. Sawyer located in Lex- 
ington Township, La Fayette County, and upon 
his present farm has since successfully conducted 
the various duties of a general agriculturist, and 
has handled a large amount of stock most profit- 
ably. 

In 1877 Mr. Sawyer married Miss Rena, daugh- 
ter of Granville I). Page, a native of Virginia, 
who was educated in the Old Dominion, and was 
there married, and partially reared a family be- 
fore coming to Jackson County, Mo., in the year 
I860. The maiden name of Mrs. Sawyer's mother 
was Natildia Ashby; she was a lady of refinement 
and culture, born and educated in Virginia. The 
Page family is of English descent, and its mem- 
bers are among the honored citizens of the Amer- 
ican nation. Mr. and Mrs. Sawyer are the parents 
Of three children: Samuel I'., the eldest of the 
family, is a manly lad; Fannie and Mary, the two 
sisters, complete the happy home circle. The fam- 
ily residence, located upon section 9, township 50, 
range 27, is a handsome and commodious brick 
structure, artistic in design and finish, and is at- 



430 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



tractively situated. The surrounding grounds, 
beautifully arranged, form an excellent setting to 
the fine dwelling, the abode of hospitality, where 
the large circle of friends finds ready welcome and 
cordial greeting. 

Mr. Sawyer is not a politician or an office- 
seeker, but he is a true American citizen, and has 
always been deeply interested in the local and na- 
tional conduct of affairs. As was his father be- 
fore him, lie is an ardent Democrat, and a firm 
believer in the principles and platform of the 
party. Widely known as a public-spirited and 
energetic citizen, he has ever been prominent in 
all enterprises of his locality, and is a special ad- 
vocate of the advancement of educational inter- 
ests. He and his wife are among the leading and 
influential members of the social world of the com- 
munity, and also posses-s a large acquaintance 
throughout their portion of the State. 



-*- 



ylLLIAM DAVIS. January 3, 1891, Mr. 
Davis entered upon his duties as Post- 
master at Slater, which responsible posi- 
tion he has filled with the greatest efficiency and 
success, aided in the work by his son and daugh- 
ter, James R. and L. Willie, the latter serving as 
clerk. Mr. Davis owns the largest apiary for 
many miles around, having eighty colonies of 
bees and all in fine condition. Previous to ac- 
cepting the position of Postmaster, he was engaged 
in gardening in connection with his apiary, and 
before that he had been a farmer for some years. 

The subject of this sketch is one of the boys in 
blue that always have a claim upon our hearts. 
He was born near Fayette, in Howard County, 
November 26, 1839. His father, Edward S. Davis, 
a native of Kentucky, came with his father when 
eleven years old and settled nine miles east of 
Fayette. His grandfather, Edward Davis, was 
a farmer in Kentucky, afterward moving to 
Missouri and taking up the same pursuit in 
Howard County, where he died. Edward S, was 



also a farmer in this State, where he owned eighty 
acres of land. He died at the home of his son, in 
Chariton County. 

The mother of our subject, Minerva (Lawrence) 
Davis, came from Kentucky to Boone County 
when a child, and died in Howard County. She 
was the daughter of George Lawrence, a Kentucky 
farmer and millwright, who had a mill on his 
farm and operated that in connection with his 
other work. Mr. Davis is the third of seven chil- 
dren, four of whom are living. There were three 
boys in the family, all of whom were in the war. 
Two of the brothers were in the State militia. 
William was reared on the farm, and attended a 
public school three miles away. He learned the 
duties of farm work in connection with his school 
studies, and remained at home until he enlisted 
in the war, in February, 1862, as a volunteer in the 
Ninth Missouri Cavalry, Company A, under Gen. 
O. Don Guitar. 

They were mustered at Columbia and served in 
the State of Missouri in the battles of Kirksville 
and Moor's Mill, as well as several skirmishes. 
Our subject served as bugler, and remained in 
service until February, 1865, when he was mus- 
tered out at St. Louis. After his discharge he 
stayed at 1 le until March, when he raised a com- 
pany, of which he was made Second Lieutenant, 
this being in the Missouri militia. He remained 
till the close of the war, then returned home and 
engaged in farming on eighty acres of land in 
Howard County. This property he cultivated un- 
til 1869, when he sold it and located in Saline 
County, five miles east of Marshall, renting for 
some years, but eventually purchasing thirty-four 
acres near Slater, which property he improved and 
worked till January, 1880, when he moved to 
Slater. 

After coming to this city, Mr. Davis was en- 
tjao-ed in running well augers and drills for eight 
years, and conducted a successful business in that 
line until 188*, when he changed to gardening 
and bee culture, which occupations he followed 
until January, 1891, when he was appointed Post- 
master, as before stated. Since his incumbency 
the Old office was burned out and. entirely new 
fixtures have been put in, 










// 




a-iyLstXo-i^L- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



4315 



In December. 1864, Mi-s Cornelia C. Ross, of 

Howard County, became Mrs. Davis, the ceren 3 

taking place in the above-mentioned county. 
Three children have blessed this marriage: James 
K.. who is Assistant Postmaster, as mentioned be- 
fore; L. Willie, clerk in the postofflce; andThomas 
M., «lii> died at the age of twenty-one years. The 
residence is in East Slater, the grounds consisting 
of four lots. Mr. Davis is a member of the Gen. 
Geo. <■• Crook Post No. 170. He is Past Com- 
mander and was Firs) Commander and an organ- 
izer. Politically he is a Republican, and has been 
a delegate to county and State conventions. He 
is a member of the St. Louis Building and Loan 
Association. In his religious convictions lie ad- 
heres to the doctrines of the Christian Church, of 
which he is an active member, and has served as 
Deacon. 



3*E 



£*^~ 



|^()N. WILLIAM MORRISON. The life of 
this gentleman furnishes an excellent ex- 
ample of what may be accomplished by in- 
dustry and untiring energy. Withoutany 
aid but his own indomitable will. and with but lit- 
tle education, he has fought his way from obscurity 
and poverty to his present prominent position as 
one of the most solid and influential men of Lex- 
ington. He was born in Pittsburgh, Pa., August 7, 
1817, being the elder of two children born to John 
and Nancy (Barns) Morrison. The Morrison fam- 
ily is of Scotch descent, the ancestors having set- 
tled in Wingham, N. II.. in 1719, stanch repre- 
sentatives of the old Presbyterian faith. The 
grandfather of our subject was one of the firsl set- 
tlers of Columbiana County, Ohio, having gon< 
there in 1798. The father was a tinner and COp- 
per-smith by trade. His brother and himself served 
as good soldiers in the War of 1812, under Gen. 
Harrison. 

Both the father and mother Of our subject died 
when he was quite young, his mother when he was 
but two years old. When William was bul a youth, 

21 



his father removed to New Lisbon, Ohio, where 
our subject attended school until he was twelve 
years of age, when he was compelled to leave; so 
that his education is chiefly a practical one, being 
what he has been able to pick up (luring a very 

busy life. The ly legacj he received from his 

father was his expressed desire that the son should 
learn the trade of the father. In obedience thereto, 
the lad went to Steubenville, Ohio, where he ap- 
prenticed himself for live years as a tinner and 
copper-smith. Terminating his apprenticeship in 
1836, he went South and worked at his trade in 
Mississippi, Tennessee and Louisiana until 1840, 
when he went to St. Louis. Once before he had 
started for the same place, but the steamer on 
which he sailed sank and he lost everything he 
had; returning to New Orleans, he worked dili- 
gently until the necessary funds for the trip had 
been again acquired. 

The next move of our subject, after a brief stay 
in St. Louis, was to Lexington, Mo., where with 
another gentleman he began business, his savings 
supplying him with a start. The co-partnership 
thus formed continued four years, when he began 
business alone and continued thus engaged for two 
years. Then again taking a partner, the two did 
business together for seven years, when this con- 
nection was dissolved and our subject again con- 
ducted his business alone until the outbreak of the 
war. In the meantime demand for his goods be- 
came so great that he erected a foundry in 1858, 
operating it with very decided success until 1861. 
During the continuance of the war, he was a pro- 
nouueed Union man. and a very generous contrib- 
utor to its support. 

In early days, .Mr. Morrison was accustomed to 
purchase his stock of goods in New York. To 
reach that city he traveled by steamer to Cairo, 
then to Pittsburgh, at which place he embarked in 
a stage and was thus conveyed to the east side of 
the Alleghany Mountains. A railroad journey via 
Philadelphia to New York completed the tedious 
trip. The goods purchased in the East were 
shipped on the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico 
to New Orleans, and from there up the Mississippi 
and Missouri Rivers, railroads in the West being 
then an unknown quantity. 



434 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



In 1852, our subject established a branch store 

in Kansas City for the sale of his goods, where 
fur ten years lie largely supplied .Mexican traders 
with stoves, camp equipage, etc. During the war, 
his foundry was destroyed by the Government of 
the United States, in order to prevent its falling 
into the hands of the rebel forces. He rebuilt it 
in 1862 and it is still in operation. In 1865, Mr. 
Morrison sold out and turned his exclusive atten- 
tion to banking, in which he has been engaged 
ever since. In 1844, Gov. Austin A. King ap- 
pointed him a Director on the part of the State in 
a branch of the Bank of Missouri, located at Lex- 
ington, which position he held until the extinction 
of the bank. Immediately succeeding it was the 
Farmers' Hank of Missouri, with branches at Lib- 
erty and Paris, he having during his attendance 
on the Legislature rendered valuableaid in obtain- 
ing the charter. During the twelve years of its 
existence, Mr. Morrison was a stockholder and one 
of its Directors. Owing to the ten per cent. Gov- 
ernment tax, banking operations were terminated 
without the loss of a cent to any one. 

Mr. Morrison then associated himself with Mr. 
Wentworth and opened a private bank in 1864 s 
under the firm name of William Morrison A- Co., 
he being Cashier. In February, 1875, the firm or- 
ganized under the State law as the Morrison-Went- 
worth Bank. From its beginning the bank has 
done a large and profitable business and is con- 
sidered one of the safest and most reliable in the 
district. Our subject was elected Mayor of the 
city soon after its charter was obtained, and in 
1857 and 1858 he represented his county in the 
Legislature. He has been President of the Board 
of Curators of Central Female College since its or- 
ganization in 1868; he also assisted in organizing 
the company which furnishes coal for the Pacific 
Railroad, being President of the Board; likewise 
Cashier of the Morrison- Wentworth Bank, as well 
as one of its principal stockholders. His travels 
have extended over most of the United States and 
Canada. He has been a Methodist for thirty years. 
Politically, he has always been a strong Democrat. 

Our subject wns married at Lexington, in 1844, 
to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Henry Funk, of 
Illinois. Four children have been born to Mr. and 



Mrs. Morrison, all living, one daughter and three 
sons. The daughter is the widow of Henry C. 
English, who was a teacher in the School for the 
Deaf at Fulton, Mo. The eldest son resides in 
Kansas City; the second and youngest are engaged 
in the coal business at Lexington. Mrs. Morrison 
died November 28, 1889, in the sixty-sixth year 
of her age. She was a devoted member of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, a good and faithful 
Christain mother and sympathetic wife, to whom 
Mr. Morrison ascribes much of his success in life. 
being profoundly grateful for her kind advice and 
interest in all his affairs. 

The city of Lexington owes more to Mr. Morri- 
son for its growth and prosperity than to any one 
person. He has conducted a large business ever 
since he settled there, and for nearly twenty years 
employed continually at his foundry from forty 
to sixty men. The building of the St. Louis & 
Lexington Railroad is due mainly to his efforts 
and he has shown himself to be a public-spirited 
and leading citizen in every enterprise of the city. 
A conscientious and reliable man in every respect, 
and upright and honorable in all his dealings, Mr. 
Morrison has the confidence and esteem of evcr\ 
one. He has amassed a fortune in business by the 
most industrious, energetic and painstaking care. 

( )ur subject is liberal in all his charities, his do- 
nations to churches and educational institutions 
being especially generous. In all benevolent 
schemes, he is the first to be called upon for advice, 
and his hand is always seen in the perfecting of 
such enterprises. Socially, he is amiable and agree- 
able, and his manners are easy and pleasing. In 
his home, a substantial brick house, well furnished 
and supplied with all needed comforts, he is seen 
at his best, being a model of affection, sympathy 
and liberality toward the members of his house- 
hold. 



CHOMAS M. CHINN, one of the leading 
/g\\ stock-dealers of La Fayette County, and a 

V ' resident of the pleasant little village of 

Mayview, was born in Shelby County, Ky., March 
8, 184'J. His parents were among the well-known 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



435 



people of their locality in the State of Kentucky, 
Hector A. and Harriet (Wells) Cliinn both being 
descendants <>f English ancestors. 

In 1859 I lie family migrated to La Fayette 
County, Mo., where the mother dieil in I860, the 
father surviving her until 1886, when his life 
closed in Higginsyille, Mo. He had been twice 
married, his second wife having been Mrs. Sarah 
Barton, and the children that survive are as fol- 
lows: Mrs. Eliza Lindsay, Thomas M., George W., 
Benjamin S., Alice and Sallie. In Shelby County, 
Ky., Mr. Chum served as Circuit Clerk for sixteen 
years: he was elected School Commissioner of La 
Fayette County. Mo., about 1867 but was disfran- 
chised by the Fletcher administration of that year. 
For a number of years prior to his demise he en- 
gaged in the practice of law, and was a man of en- 
erg}' and force of character, qualities which ad- 
mirably adapted him for the legal profession. 

Our subject was reared upon the home farm in 
this county, where he attended the public schools 
and passed his time in much the usual manner of 
farmer boys until he became old enough to think 
of engaging in business for himself. The stock 
business presented to him opportunities of which 
he was not slow to take advantage. For three 
years he served as General Live-stock Agent of 
the Chicago & Alton Railroad for the State of 
Missouri, and for a short time carried on a busi- 
ness of this kind in Kansas City. At the present 
time he is the owner of two farms, besides being a 
stockholder and Director in the American Bank of 
Iligginsville, and this prominence he has achieved 
for himself, having had little assistance in climb- 
ing the ladder of fortune. 

In L879 our subject married Miss Ottie V., a 
daughter of Mayor A. L. Benning and sister of T. 
B. Benning, a prominent citizen of Mayview, 
whose sketch appears in another part of this vol- 
ume. One child. Bessie Bell, has been born of this 
union, a bright and charming little girl. Mr. 
Chinn is a member of the Village Hoard of Trustees, 
having been Chairman of the same, and is consid- 
ered one of the stanch supporters of all measures 
for the public good. A Democrat in bis political 
opinions, he is always willing to give his time and 
means to. support that party, and has sen ed on its 



county committee. In his business ventures, Mr. 
Cliinn has been unusually successful, and if a 
man's happiness depends upon his popularity in 
his home neighborhood, then he should be a very 

happy man indeed. 



SILAS WRIGHT NORVELLwas for many 
years one of the most energetic, able and 
successful business men of Saline County. 
An enterprising and self-reliant citizen, 
ever interested in matters of "public interest and 
local improvements; a liberal supporter of relig- 
ious organizations, and always ready to assist the 
unfortunate; a kind father and devoted husband, 
our subject passed away lamented by the entire 
community, and most deeply mourned by his sor- 
rowing relatives and a large circle of friends. 
Few there be who can meet death as fearlessly as 
he, and dying leave behind them the lasting mon- 
ument of an unblemished reputation, and the 
spotless record of an upright Christian life. 

Mr. Norvell was born in Saline County, Mo., in 
1844, and at the time of his death was residin<j 
upon section 16, township 52, range 19. His 
fit her was Daniel Norvell, an early resident of 
Missouri, and a man highly respected. Our sub- 
ject was one of a family of six children, four 
brothers and two sisters, all of whom are yet liv- 
ing, with the exception of Silas, the second-bom, 
who was educated in the common schools of his 
home neighborhood, and in early life assisted his 
parents. 

Having passed the twenty-first anniversary of 
his birth, and now master of his own tune, Mr. 
Norvell was in 1866 united in marriage with Mis> 
\\ ood,a native of Kentucky, and a most estimable 
and worthy lady, born in 1.S44. The marriage was 
a happy one, and the pleasant home was blessed by 
the birth of three children, al I of whom are yet liv- 
ing: Joseph D.. born in Saline County in 1868, 
married Miss Flora Barnes; Mary, born in 1869 and 
a native of Saline County, is also married; Ollie, 



436 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



born in Saline County in 1871, is married to 
James I'.. Hawkins, who is engaged in business in 
the town of Slater. 

The son and two daughters were educated in 

the excellent schools of Saline County, and have 
well improved their educational advantages. They 
enjoy positions of influence and possess undoubted 
ability and integrity of character. Marrying 
early in life, our subject entered ardently into 
the daily toil of agricultural duties, beginning his 
work upon a farm belonging to his father, and lo- 
cated in Saline County. Prospering from the 
first, he soon added forty acres to his property, 
and built for himself and wife a cozy little house, 
where they resided for three years. 

At the expiration of this period of time, Mr. 
Norvell had an excellent opportunity to dispose 
of his land to advantage, and sold this property 
and purchased land near Gilliam, a valuable home- 
stead of two hundred and forty acres. Removing 
at once to his new possession, he immediately be- 
gan the improvement of the place, and his first 
care was to plan and commence the erection of a 
commodious and attractive residence, which was 
nearly completed when he was taken ill, never to 
he well again in this world. Mr. Norvell was a 
member of the Baptist Church of Good Hope, was 
one of its most liberal supporters and aided ma- 
terially in the extension and influence of its relig- 
ious and benevolent work. 

The sterling qualities and irreproachable charac- 
ter of . our subject had ever been apparent in his 
business dealings .and daily walk in life, and at 
his funeral services, conducted by the Rev. Mr. 
Bolton, this fact was made plain in the eloquent 
address, which depicted him as he was, a true, sin- 
cere and unselfish Christian man. Mr. Norvell 
was never a politician in the sense of the word as 
it is popularly understood. He had no desire to 
fill oflicial positions, but was always deeply inter- 
ested in the affairs of the day, and deemed it most 
essential that worthy men and good citizens should 
alone fill positions of trust and importance. He 
was in party affiliations a sturdy Democrat, and 
was an ardent supporter of his party. He believed 
in educational progress and the advancement of 
the masses, and throughout his entire life was 



ever ready to assist those less fortunate than him- 
self. ( If him and in loving remembrance it might 
be truthfully written, "He hath done what he 
could."' 




*f=Nf<^# 



.ILLIAM T. HILL. These few lines are 
intended as a brief memoir of one of the 
sterling men of Saline County, Mo., now 
passed away, he having died July ■">. 1892. During 
life he led an upright existence, and his memory 
i- tenderly preserved in the hearts of his family 
and friends, as well as in the record of prominent 
men of his section. William Hill was a native of 
Missouri, and was born in 1843, a son of E. P.and 
Malinda Hill. He was sent to the schools of his 
neighborhood, but at the age of eighteen, he left 
school books behind and offered his young life on 
the altar of his country. 

War calls were sounding at that time, in 1862, 
and under the command of Gen. Price our subject 
enlisted in a Missouri regiment and served three 
years. Though never wounded, he was taken 
prisoner and confined for one season in prison at 
St. Louis. After the war, he found in Miss Sarah 
Daniels a congenial companion, and they were 
married in 1866. Eight children have been born 
to them, all of whom but two remain to mourn 
with their mother the loss of a kind father and hus- 
band. The children are as follows: Elsie P., born 
October 14, 1867, resides at home; Mary .1.. born 
in 1869, married C. W. Franks; .lames T, born 
here in 1871, died in 1872; Dasie, born in 1874, 
died in 1877; Susan, born in 1877; Willie, in 1879; 
Samuel, in 1882, and Lemuel, in 1887. reside at 
home. 

After his marriage, Mr. Hill bought some one 
hundred acres, well-improved land, from Bowlen 
Swinney, and became one of the most successful 
farmers in Saline County. This land was situated 
on section 2. township 51, range 19, and here by 
hard work he accomplished much. Mr. Hill was a 
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, 
and was a liberal supporter of the same. He never 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



437 



held any offices of the church, bul hi* interest in 
church matters was deep and lasting. 

The order of Odd Fellows claimed our subject 
as a member. Politically, he was a Democrat, but 
this last year he was :i Farmers' Alliance man. lie 
was honest in all his business transactions, re- 
spected by all who knew him. A kind and loving 
father, and a devoted husband, Mr. Hill left in his 
own family great grief, for his place can never lie 
filled. His example, if followed by his six chil- 
dren, will make of them good and worthy people, 
an honor to the State of Missouri. 




CRT S. SANDIDGE is the proprietor and 
litor of the Weekly Progress, of the city of 
larshall. Aside from his superior ability 
as the moulder of public opinion, he is 
a whole-souled man who commends himself to the 
good graces of his patrons and fellow-townsmen. 
He has that hearty friendship and intuitive sym- 
pathy which appeal at once to the liking of the 
stranger. 

Our subject was born near Greensburgh, Kv.. in 
1838. He is a son of Aaron and Polly (Thompson) 
Sandidge, the formera nativeof Albemarle County, 
Ya..and the latter of Kentucky. Grandfather John 
Sandidge was a planter in Virginia, and declared ' 
his patriotism in early days by taking part in the ; 
Revolutionary War. lie served as Captain under 
Washington, and at a later (late went to Kentucky, 
where he was employed as a large farmer until his 
death. Our subject's father lived and died in 
Kentucky, and followed the calling which his 
father had inaugurated for him there. Mrs. 
Polly Sandidge was a daughter of John Thompson. 
a representative of a prominent family in Virginia, 
who later located in Kentucky, and there carried 
on an extensive farm. 

Robert S. is one of the youngesl of a large 
family. Orphaned when a lad of fourteen, the 
new period in his life then began, He was reared 



on a farm and educated in the common schools. 
After his father's death he came to Marshall. Mo., 
and became an inmate of the family of his uncle, 
John W. Sandidge, his coming hither taking place 
in March of 1855. For three years he was in the 
employ of Col. George W. Allen, of Saline County. 
He then entered college, becoming a student in 
the Miami Institute, from which he was graduated. 
He then taught school in the county until 1860, 
when he bought the paper known as the Saline 
County Standard. This lie edited until the war so 
depressed work of this kind that it seemed best to 
discontinue. 

In July, 1862. Mr. Sandidge volunteered and 
enlisted in the I 1 . S. Missouri Cavalry, joining 
Company E, and was mustered in at Lexington. 
Meantime three of his brothers were in the Con- 
federate army. He took part in the engagements 
at Prairie Grove and Little Rock. He was ap- 
pointed Sergeant under Gen. Steele on his expe- 
dition to Shreveport, La. During that time they 
were lighting every day and night. In 1864 and 
the spring of 1 86."). he served at department head- 
quarters. His advancement to the rank of 
Captain was recommended, but he did not receive 
his commission until the close of the war. 

Mr. Sandidge was mustered out of service at Lit- 
tle Rock in June 1865, and the following month 
he returned home and at once started the Weekly 
Progress, which he has edited ever since. He has 
taken an active part in politics, especially during 
what was known as the reconstruction period. One 
of the best services which he has done this Sena- 
torial district was the influence he brought to bear 
with Col. Ritter to remove the old Registrars and 
appoint a new set. whom he recommended as 
honorable and fitting subjects for the work. In 
1889, Mr. Sandidge estabished the Daily Progress, 
which is devoted to Saline County and the policy 
of the Democratic party. IK- lias a good job 
office in connection with this and does a large 
amount of business. He owns some valuable real 
estate, both at Marshall and at Sweet Springs, and 
has several pieces of residence property in this 
city. 

In 1874, the editor of the Progress was married 
to Miss Alice Chastian, who was born in Christian 



438 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



County, Ky. Although they have never had 
children of their own, they have reared to honor- 
able maturity two homeless ones, giving them the 
love and advantages of a beautiful home life. 
They are Robert and Alice Dunn. For two years 
Mr. Sandidge was Mayor of the city. Fraternally, 
he belongs to the Independent Older of Odd 
Fellows. In spiritual matters, he and his wife 
believe with the members of the Christian Church. 
Politically, he is a Democrat, and for years has 
served as Secretary of the County Central Com- 
mittee. 



-3K- 



|yj\ INOS ADAMS, M. D. Prominent among 
the physicians and capitalists of Lexing- 
ton is the subject of this brief notice, who 
by his honorable life is adding lustre to 
the name he bears. He is descended from patri- 
otic ancestors. His grandfather, Edward Adams, 
who was born in 1731. became one of the patriots 
of the Revolutionary War. The son of Edward 
was Minos Adams, born May 1, 177C. in the State 
of Maryland, where he became a merchant and 
farmer. He was a Captain during the War of 
1812 and, like his father, was a man of undaunted 
valor and patriotism. The mother of our subject 
was Margaret, daughter of James AVilson, whose 
birth occurred in England. Mrs. Adams was born 
in Maryland, where she married, and died at the 
age of eight}' years. The father of Dr. Adams at- 
tained his ninety-third year before death. 

In Dorchester County, Md., July 1G, 1826, our 
subject was introduced upon the stage of life. 
His happy boyhood and youth were passed in his 
native place, where he attended school and grew 
to manhood under the care of a wise and prudent 
mother. He was the seventh in a family of ten 
children, all of Whom grew to maturity, married 
and established homes of their own. The name is 
known in almost every State, everywhere in con- 
nection with the higher walks of life. At the age 
of twenty-two years, our subject became a student 
of medicine under the able tuition of Dr. J. B. 



Eavens, of Clarksburg, Ross County, Ohio, and in 
1849 entered the Starling Medical College, at Co- 
lumbus, Ohio, from which he was graduated in 
1854. 

Previous to his graduation, our subject prac- 
ticed medicine for two years in Arkansas, but after 
taking his degree he removed to Missouri and lo- 
cated at Pleasant Hill, Cass County, where he 
built up a good practice. At the opening of the 
Civil War. he returned to Ohio, where he contin- 
ued in the practice of his profession until 1866, at 
which time he removed to Lexington, Mo., and 
here he has since resided. Although not at the 
present time engaged in active medical work, he 
has been too well known as a skillful physician to 
permit him to entirely lay aside professional du- 
ties, but he is more particularly interested in the 
management of his excellent farm of five hundred 
and fifty-five acres of land in Clay Township, 
and his farm is in a fine state of cultivation, and 
at present he has it rented. 

The marriage of Dr. Adams in December, 1847, 
united him with Miss Miranda Clark, of Clarks- 
burg, Ohio, a sister of Judge Milton L.Clark, of 
Chillicothe, Ohio. The two children resulting 
from this union both passed away in infancy. In 
politics, the Doctor was an old-line Whig, casting 
his vote for Bell and Everett while first residing 
in Missouri, but later he affiliated with the Demo- 
cratic party. The pleasant residence of Dr. and 
Mrs. Adams is located upon Third Street, and is a 
modern brick dwelling, elegantly furnished and 
supplied with all the comforts of life. 



«i 



:|*^ 



Ip^OBERT 1!. BERRIE is the contractor and 
superintendent of the Lexington Triumph 
Pressed Brick Company. Mr. Berrie is a 
native of that aristocratic old Kentucky 
town which James Lane Allen has made so well 
known in bis pen pictures of Lexington life and 
society. Mr. Berrie was there born September 16, 
1854. He is a son of Thomas and Christina 




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



439 



(Brown) Berrie, and his father was a machinist by 
trade. The Berrie family is of Scotch origin, its 
first representative in this country having settled 
in Kentucky at a very early date. 

While our subject was still very young his par- 
ents removed to La Fayette County, Mo. Here 
Robert B. spent his boyhood and attended the 
public schools up to fourteen years of age. lie 
then began to learn the trade of a brick mason, at 
which lie was employed until 1882: at that time he 
began contracting, which business lie now carries 
on in connection with the superintendency of the 
Pressed Brick Company. 

September 6, 1882, the original of this sketch 
was married to Miss Jennie Chandlier, of Lexing- 
ton. Thus a happy family was inaugurated, the 
members of which have been increased by the ad- 
vent of three children. Their names are: Amelia 
G., Elona B. and Mary N. In politics Mr. Berrie 
is a strong Republican, lie is a member of Orion 
Lodge No. 45, I. O. O. F. 

The Triumph Pressed Brick Works, of which 
Mr. Berrie is superintendent, are located at the ter- 
minus of Lewis .Street and have a capacity for turn- 
ing out thirty-five thousand dry pressed brick per 
day. This is one of the important industries of 
the town and supplies its output for most of the 
public works in this vicinity. Mr. and Mrs. Ber- 
rie are devoted members of the Presbyterian 
Church. The family residence is located on 
Twenty-fourth Street. 



^OHN WALL, a prosperous and representa- 
tive agriculturist, a citizen of unflinching 
integrity of character, and widely known 
a> an excellent business man, now resides 
in township 51, range 20, near Norton, Saline 
County, Mo. lie was born January is. 1819, in 
Montgomery County, Ya. The paternal great- 
grandfather of our subject emigrated from Ger- 
many and settled in South Carolina. The pater- 
nal grandfather was a native of South Carolina, 



and served bravely in the War of the Revolution. 
and was one of Marion's men. He removed to 
Virginia, where he lived to a good old age, and 
died in 1824, having survived to see the Govern- 
ment, for whose liberty he had fought, prosper and 
increase yearly in influence and power. 

Samuel Wall, the father of John Wall, was born 
in Montgomery County, Ya., November 22, 1790. 
His brothers were Adam, John and Daniel. Adam 
served his country faithfully in the War of 1812. 
In 1811 Samuel Wall married Miss Margaret Utt, 
whose father, Henry Utt, of Montgomery County, 
Ya., was of German descent. In 1833 the hus- 
band and wife moved to Missouri, locating in 
Saline County in November, and in 1835 settled 
upon land where John Wall now resides. Samuel 
Wall was an energetic and upright man, and in 
political belief was a Democrat. He died August 
15, 1865, at seventy-five years of age. 

John Wall was but fourteen years old when he 
came with his parents to Missouri, driving a four- 
horse team and wagon all the way. The trip be- 
gan the 15th of September, and they did not 
reach their destination until November 3. The 
party passed safely over the < )hio below Louisville, 
Ky., near the last town in Virginia, Arlington, 
Washington County, at the Tennessee line, cross- 
ing the Mississippi at St. Louis, and the Missouri 
at Arrow Rock. 

Accompanying the Wall family were their old 
neighbors the Triggs. The party brought with 
them one negro, and camped out all the way. The 
three hundred and twenty acres Mr. Wall now 
owns were then taken up by his father. Two hun- 
dred and forty acres are in the home farm, and 
eighty acres are in the timber lot near. The mother 
of our subject died in August, 1885. at the advanced 
age of eighty-five years. The brothers and sisters 
of Mr. Wall were as follows: Klvine, the wife of 
William I.. Brown, resides in California; Eliza- 
beth, the widow of John Ryan, lives in California; 
the third child was our subject: Henry, a resident 
of Colorado; Mary Jane married Andrew Jackson, 
and is now deceased; Margaret is the wife of Will- 
iam Clark, and has a pleasant home in Marshall. 
Mo.; and William lives in Indian Territory. 

John Wall and Miss Mary Cault, a daughter of 



440 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



John and Salome Gault, of Saline County, Mo., 
were united in marriage in 185(5, and six sons 
have brought joy and sunshine into their pleasant 
home. They are Edward E., John E., Samuel G., 
Henry W. and George C, all men of usefulness 
and influence in their several homes and locali- 
ties. Charles G. died at the age of four years. 
In May, 1846, our subject volunteered in the 
Mexican War, and went to Ft. Leavenworth, where 
he was mustered into the United States service 
Mr. Wall served in Company I), First Regiment 
Missouri Mounted Volunteers. The regiment was 
commanded by Col. A. W. Donithan at the battles 
of Brazito and of Sacramento. Our subject was 
mustered out in June, 1847, at New Orleans, lie 
was at first under Gen. Kearny, afterward being 
in the command of Col. Donithan. Upon return- 
ing from the war, our subject came to his father's 
farm, and in the spring of 1849 went to Califor- 
nia with the great tide of travel which moved 
toward the setting sun. The company in which 
Mr. Wall journeyed was composed of fifty-four 
men, who with their outfit of sixteen wagons 
crossed the plains, starting from Marshall, Mo.; 
they tarried for a brief time at Grand Pass, Sa- 
line County, were there reinforced, and journeyed 
on, taking the old Oregon trail, striking the river 
at Ft. Kearney, then going via Ft. Laramie, South 
Pass and Ft. Hall, to the head of the Humboldt 
River, then down its current and by a certain pass 
across the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and then to 
Sutter's Fort, in Sacramento Valley, where the 
party scattered and went their several ways. At 
this time Sacramento was a tent-town, boasting 
only one house. 

Mr. Wall prospected and mined in different 
places for three years — first on Wood 's Creek 1 , then 
on the Yuba River, and at a mining town called 
"Rough and Ready," and lastly at the Chinese 
camp. Finally returning to the East in 1852, 
our subject settled in Saline County, Mo., and en- 
gaged in both the saw and flour milling business. 
He afterward handled merchandise in Cambridge, 
Saline County, and in 187* located where he now 
resides. During the Civil War Mr. Wall was in 
the State service in the Federal cause, from 1862 
to 1865, and liable to call at any time, but did 



not leave the State. He served in what was called 
the Missouri enrolled militia. He now draws a 
pension for his services in the Mexican War. Mr. 
Wall is a stalwart Republican in political affilia- 
tion, and held with ability the office of Sheriff 
from 1866 to 1*70. Universally respected by the 
community of his neighborhood, our subject, up- 
right and straight-forward in character, may be 
literally said to have won friendship from politi- 
cal enemies, who appreciate the virtues of their 
candid fellow-citizen. 




&I^£XL<^D^I 



ICIIARD M. BARLEY is a farmer in Dover 
Township. La Fayette County, and is 
greatly esteemed as a man of excellent 
V£) parts by his friends and neighbors. He 
was born in Winchester, Ya., that old town which 
during the late Rebellion was the battlefield and 
meeting-ground of North and South. Mr. Bar- 
ley's natal day was November 22. 1822. He has 
now reached that age that he can afford to look 
back with pleasant reminiscence over the years 
checkered by success and failure, happiness, and 
the usual modicum of trouble. 

Mr. Barley is a son of John and Sarah (Marsh) 
Barley, both natives of Virginia. His paternal 
grandsire, Frederick Barley, emigrated from Scot- 
land and settled in Frederick County, Ya. The 
maternal grandsire was John Marsh, also a native 
of Virginia. 

The original of this sketch spent his boyhood 
days in his native State and there attended the 
public schools, lie also helped his father on the 
farm and in that way acquired a good knowledge 
of agricultural duties in a practical way. In 1849 
he started across the country on a trip to Califor- 
nia in search of gold, and remained on the Pacific 
Coast for seven years. He returned to Virginia 
in 1856, and three years later moved to Missouri 
and settled on his present place in La Fayette 
County. He has a good farm of two hundred and 
forty acres of land, all of which is under cultiva- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



441 



fcion. Although he reaps the advantage secured 
in scientific methods of farming, he finds thai his 
practical knowledge of the calling is worth most 
to him. In politics he is a standi Democrat. 
Fraternally he is a member of La Fayette Lodge 
No. 137, of the A. F. & A. M. 

In L864 our subject was appointed Justice of 
the Peace, and lias held the oflice continuously 
until the present time. In 18.06 Mr. Barley mar- 
ried Miss Anna E. Nelson, a native of Virginia. 
She died in 1861, leaving two sons. L .X. and .1. II. 
Both are married and living on the home farm. 
In February, 1862, Mr. Parley married his present 
wife, who was Miss Mary V. Cooper. She is a 
thorough lady and an admirable Christian woman, 
a devoted member of the Presbyterian Church. 
Mr. Parlej- is an equally devoted worshiper with 
the Methodist Church. Their present home is lo- 
cated on section 2 of the township above-named. 




HARLES H. VANSTONE, the energetic 
and successful proprietor of the Marshall 
/' Mills and Elevator, is an important factor 
in the business world of Saline County, and is well 
known in various portions of Missouri as an enter- 
prising and self-reliant man, who, through excel- 
lent judgment and rare ability, has won his upward 
way unaided by capital or influential friends. Mr. 
Vanstone was born near Plymouth, in Devonshire, 
England, upon August 20, 1844. 1 lis father and 
paternal grandfather were both native-born Eng- 
lishmen, and farmers in the Queen's dominions. 
In 1810 Samuel Vanstone, the father of our sub- 
ject, brought his family to Canada, and located 
near Goderich, on Lake Huron, where he bought 
a large tract of heavily timbered land, and. dwell- 
ing in a humble log-cabin, industriously began the 
clearing of the four hundred acres which were in- 
deed a homestead in the wilderness. The family, 
which consisted of father, mother and ten chil- 
dren, had been seven weeks in crossing the ocean 
to Quebec, and many an hour upon the slow sail- 



ing-vessel was passed in discussing the probabilities 
and possibilities of their new home. Industrious. 
honest and ambitious to get on in life, the little 
hand of pioneers worked sturdily together to re- 
claim the land and bring it under cultivation. 
There was hard work in abundance, but as they 
from time to time burned the stumps and refuse 
to clear the land, the dancing flames lit up the 
merry, happy faces of tin' children clustering about. 
A few brief years went by, and in 18.02, when the 
father was hut fifty-two years old. he died. He was 
a religious man, a member of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church, and was mourned by friends and 
neighbors when he passed away. 

The wife and mother survived her husband un- 
til 1883, when, at the advanced age of eighty 
years, she was called to her long rest. Her maiden 
name was Mary Stephens, and Devonshire, Eng- 
land, was the place of her nativity. Her father, 
Thomas Stephens, an English farmer, emigrated to 
Canada in 1810, and settled within a short distance 
of the locality where his daughter and her family 
afterward resided. Mr. and Mrs. Vanstone were 
the parents of eleven children, and of the ten sons 
and daughters who came with them from the mother 
country, hut three survive. Our subject was next 
to the youngest, and was reared upon the farm, 
but after the death of his father lived with his 
brother Richard, who was a miller at Egmondvillc. 
He went to school there, and worked in the mill, 
and when he was sixteen years of age was ap- 
prenticed to Samuel Platte, proprietor of a large 
water-mill, and one of the most prominent and 
successful men in that .section of the country. Mr. 
Platte discovered the first salt found in Canada, 
and was everywhere regarded as an enterprising 
citizen. 

After an apprenticeship of nineteen months. Mr. 
Vanstone received wages, and remained seven 
months longer with Mr. Platte, afterward engaging 
as a journeyman-miller in several mills in that part 
of the country, and in the adjoining counties. At 
the end of about two years of experience in mill- 
ing for others, he bought a water-power grist, flour 
and sawmill, with a capacity of seventy-five barrels, 
and located at Bayfield, on Lake Huron. Here he 
successfully manufactured flour and lumber, and 



442 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



had put in a large circular saw, when a great freshet 
did much damage to the mill. In 1868, our sub- 
ject sold nut tn his brother James, now of Malta 
Bend, Saline County, and in the spring of the 
same year came to Lexington. Upon April 7 he 
engaged as miller at Dover, remained there four 
months in the employ of Flay Vivion, then went 
to Waverly, where he worked at milling by the 
day for W. F. Robinson, a Kentuckian, with whom 
he stayed ten months. 

Mr. Vanstone then settled in Laynesville, and 
bought a half-interest in a steam-power sawmill, 
and in eighteen months purchased from his part- 
ner, Mr. Layne, his share of the business, and con- 
tinued industriously for eight years to saw fifteen 
thousand feel a day of cotton-wood; he can lie 
truthfully said to have fenced in the whole county 
with the product of his mill. During this time, 
in about 1872, our subject built a tine fiouring- 
mill, and ran both together. In 1877, he com- 
menced shipping grain from Laynesville and Malta 
Bend Landing, on the Missouri River, where he 
built houses to receive if, and also erected a ware- 
house in Laynesville. He had previously removed 
his mill to Malta Lend, and sold out to his brother 
.lames, lie also gave a portion of his time to agri- 
cultural duties, and improved several tarms. 

In 187C, Mr. Vanstone built a mill on the pres- 
ent site of the Rea .V Page Milling Co., and in 
1878 made his permanent home, in Marshall. One 
year later, he bought out his partner, Mr. Holmes, 
ran the business alone one year, then took in as 
partner Mr. McCormick, but in 1881 sold out to 
Mr. Johnston, and started a lumber-yard on his 
present site. In 1882, he purchased an interest in 
a mill on his present site, having a capacity of 
fifty barrels. Mr. McCormick remained as his 
partner one year after he opened the lumber-yard, 
which was a successful venture. In 1883, our sub- 
ject built an elevator, and in 1««;"> put in mill ma- 
chinery. The well-known Marshall Mills, with a 
fifty-horse power steam-engine, and a capacity of 
one hundred and fifty barrels, roller system, is lo- 
cated upon four acres adjoining the Chicago ife 
Alton Railroad and manufactures Sweet Sixteen, 
High Patent, Crystal, Extra Fancy and King 
Fancy, as well as corn-meal. The elevator has a 



capacity of fifty thousand bushels and is an im- 
portant factor in the business of buying and ship- 
ping grain. 

Our subject owns and operates a fourteen hun- 
dred acre farm in the Bottom, and there raises 
stock, feeds cattle, and conducts general farming, 
planting five hundred acres in wheat; lie is also 
the proprietor of two hundred and twenty well- 
improved acres at Malta Bend. Aside from this 
valuable property, - Mr. Vanstone owns a fifty-acre 
tract at Raytown, seven miles from Kansas City, 
and also has four hundred and eighty acres in the 
State of Kansas. Our subject was married in 
Laynesville, November 8, 1871, to Miss Mary E. 
Blaine, who was bom in Ohio, and died January 1, 
1880, leaving four children, of whom Ethel, Ida, 
and Samuel survive. 

Upon September 10, 1884, Mr. Vanstone was 
united in marriage with Miss Lula, born in Win- 
chester, Ky., a daughter of Willis Sphar, born in 
the same vicinity. Her paternal grandfather, Capt. 
James Sphar. was the first male child born in Clark 
County, Ky.. his birthplace being Strodes Fort. 
His parents came from Virginia, and were early 
settlers and farmers in the State. Capt. Sphar 
farmed in Clark County, as did also his son, the 
father of Mrs. Vanstone. Willis Sphar entered the 
Confederate service in 1862, and held an official 
position. He was a member of the Christian 
Church, and an upright man and useful citizen, 
and passed to his rest in Monticello, Ky., dying of 
brain fever. The grandmother, Mary (Tracy) 
Sphar, was a native of Kentucky, and a daughter 
of Col. Tracy, who served in the Mexican War 
and in the Civil War, and who was an early set- 
tler in Winchester, Ky. Her mother, Mary, born 
in Kentucky, was a daughter of Roland Suther- 
land, born in Virginia, of Scotch descendants, and 
large planters of the South. 

Mrs. Vanstone's mother resides near Marshall and 
is now Mrs. Coats. Mrs. Vanstone is the youngest 
of her parents" children, was born in 1863, and 
came with her mother to Missouri, but went back 
to her native State and was educated there at Mt. 
Hope College, Midway, and graduated from that 
institution of learning in 1881. She is an accom- 
plished lady, and a fine music teacher, and is the 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



443 



mother of two sons, Dearborn S. and Charles N. 
The family reside in a handsome residence, No. 
326 Eastwood Avenue, have a large circle of 
friends, and arc among the prominent members 
and attendants of the Christian Church, and Mr. 
Vanstone is a member of the Building Committee. 
Mrs. Vanstone is a member of the Chautauqua So- 
ciety of Music, and the Arion Musical Society. 
Our subject affiliates with the Independent Order 
of Odd Fellows and in politics is an independent, 
using his judgment in the selection of the candi- 
date for the place. 




RNEST Y. HARVEY, the second of the 
family of four children born to Thomas R. 
E. Harvey and wife, saw the light for the 
first time in the house where he now resides, in 
September, 1861. His ancestry is more fully given 
in the biographical sketch of his father, which will 
be found elsewhere. Mr. Harvey was reared on 
the farm, educated in the subscription schools of 
the county, and afterward at Central College of 
Howard County. About 1882, he was graduated 
from the Gem City Commercial College of Quincy. 

In 1885, Mr. Harvey married Miss Ora Marma- 
duke, daughter of M. M. and Mollie Marmaduke, 
and engaged in farming for a short time, then re- 
moved to Kansas City, and after another brief 
period to Ft. Worth, Tex. In September, L890, 
he returned to the old home, where he has since 
lived, managing the farm and doing a successful 
business. 

Mr. Harvey espoused the cause of the people 
when the People's party was in its infancy, and 
has been true to the cause ever since. He is a 
man of earnestness and power, and lias done a 
greal deal of active work for the party with which 
he alliliates, having made several speeches in its 
interests, besides doing general work, and the 
numerous little things that go to make success. 
lie was appointed Assistant Lecturer of the County 
Alliance in the summer of 1892, and as such has 



found plenty to do. lie is honest in his convic- 
tions, and whatever personal beliefs may lie op- 
posed to him. he commands the respect of all. 

Mr. Harvey has one brother, Thomas II., who is 
Prosecuting Attorney of Saline County, and an- 
other, Horace G., who is a physician and surgeon 
of Denver, having been graduated from the St. 
Louis Medical College. He was assistant surgeon 
in the hospital there. Previous to this he was 
graduated from Central College, of Howard Coun- 
ty, as was also Thomas II., and both, at different 
periods, occupied the Chair of Languages there. 

Mr. Harvey comes of an influential family, and 
is himself a man of power in the community, 
and a citizen whom Saline County points to as 
one of her ablest. A young man, he is in a por- 
tion of responsibility and trust in the public gift, 
and in a business sense he is prosperous and fully 
equal to the duties devolving upon him. 



EREMIAI1 GRAVES, a prominent farmer 

of Saline County. Mo., resides upon a fine 
farm of two hundred acres on sections 21 
and 22, township 51, range 21. The par- 
ents of our subject were Edward and Nancy 
(Willis) Craves, both of whom were natives of 
Virginia, where they were married. They became 
the honored parents of nine children, as follows: 
Polly; Hannah, who married the Rev. William 
Whit taker; John W., who died near St. Louis 
when the cholera raged there; Sallie, who became 
the wife of Owen Curtley; Ann, Emily, our sub- 
ject, and two babes who died. Mr. Craves of this 
notice is the only one of the family now living. 

Grandfather Graves was a native of Virginia 
and an old Revolutionary soldier. He reared a 
family of twelve children, all of whom had good 
constitutions and grew to maturity. These chil- 
dren became in turn heads of families, and, no 
doubt, the numerous persons of this name in the 
United States came from this beginning in the 
Virginia home. 



444 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Our subject was bom in Boone County. Ky., 
January 1, 1818, and lived there until 18f>3, when 
he came to Saline County, Mo. In 1M7 he mar- 
ried Marietta F., a daughter of Robert Willis, of 
Virginia, in which State the marriage took place. 
In the fall of 1853 our subject and his wife came 
to this county, and here bought a farm of three 
hundred and forty acres; lie continued to accu- 
mulate land until he was the owner of six hundred 
acres. Here this couple have reared the following 
children: Laura E., who died at the age of seven- 
teen years; John W.; Ralph T., of Oregon; Hugh 
I.. Susan E.; M. Lena, who became the wife of the 
Rev. D. C. Bolton, of Miami; Edward L.; Emma; 
Nannie, who became the wife of E. K. Stevens, 
of Boone County, Ky., and is located on a part 
of the old farm; and Albert S. 

Mr. Graves has accumulated his valuable prop- 
erty since coming to this State. At one time he 
owned twelve slaves. Nov,- his land comprises 
many acres in this county, and a fine place of two 
hundred acres in Florida, where for the past seven 
years he has spent the winter. All of the family 
belong to the Missionary Baptist Church, and are 
much thought of in that connection. The politics 
of the family have been Democratic for long 
years, and Mr. Graves is a stanch supporter of 
that party. He is highly respected in every quar- 
ter, but especially so in his church relations, as he 
has been liberal and active in all matters per- 
taining to her advancement. He is one of, the 
men the county could not well spare. 



fl IfelLLIAM HARRIS is a native of the beau- 
\/\/// ^iful State of Tennessee, in which the 
VW diversity of Nature's pictures is as great 
as that of Switzerland. With its cloud-capped 
mountains, its tumbling rivers and waterfalls, and 
palisaded banks, it vies in picturesqueness with 
any portion of the country. Mr. Harris did not, 
however, remain in his native State long enough 



to become imbued with the sense of its superiority, 

for in 1828, one year after his birth, he was 
brought to Missouri by his parents. His father 
settled in Sniabar Township, La Fayette County, 
on land that is now in possession of our subject, 
and which is his place of residence. 

Mr. Harris' father was a native of old Virginia, 
and was born in 1804. He removed to Tennessee 
with the family when only twelve years old, and 
in 1821 married Miss Catherine Smith, a native of 
his adopted State. In 1828 the family removed 
to La Fayette County. Of his parents' nine chil- 
dren, our subject is the eldest now living. Grand- 
father Harris was a private in the Revolutionary 
War. 

After acquiring a practical education in his boy- 
hood days, William Harris started out in life for 
himself at the age of twenty-four. He then mar- 
ried Miss Mary Joyner, a native of North Caro- 
lina, who was born November 7, 1830. The young 
couple began housekeeping on the farm which is 
still the family home. It is located on section 32, 
Sniabar Township, La Fayette County. Here he 
owns two hundred and twent}- acres, which are 
under excellent cultivation. 

Mr. and Mrs. Harris are the parents of five chil- 
dren; they are all grown and are married, and 
have families of their own. A pleasant feature of 
their family life is that the children all live with- 
in a radius of a few miles of the parents. When the 
Harrises first settled in Sniabar Township, there 
were only nine voters, while the original inhabi- 
tants of the land — the turkey, deer and other small 
game — were still in possession, not having been 
frightened as yet away by the encroachments of 
the lords of creation. Mr. Harris has seen as 
man}' as fifteen deer browsing in a herd near the 
neighboring streams. Now there are nine hundred 
voters in the township, and the farming locality is 
well cultivated and nearly as garden-like as the 
best agricultural district of old England itself. Mr. 
Harris was elected Justice of the Peace, and has 
held the office for twelve consecutive years. Dur- 
ing that time he has married six couples, and the 
humorous feature of this duty has been that he 
has started them in life by paying the Recorder's 
fee, never having received a fee for himself. In 



PORTRAIT AM) BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



II.'. 



politics our subject is a Democrat, and the Baptist 
Churcb is the one with which he is connected in a 
religious way. 



LARK W. ROBINSON, a well-known resi- 
dent of LaFayette County, Mo., located 
'{! upon his large and productive farm of four 
hundred and fifty-six acres of land on section 8, 
township 19, range 26, is the subject of this no- 
tice. He was burn in the same county, Novem- 
ber 1, 1827, the son of John and Euphemia (Jones) 
Robinson, both of whom were natives of Virginia. 
John Robinson went from his old Virginia home 
into the wilderness of Missouri some time in the 
'20s, before many settlers had crossed the great 
Father of Waters. His choice of home was in La 
Faj'ette County, where he located a short distance 
east of the present site of Lexington, thus being 
one of the earliest inhabitants. 

At this pleasant home John Robinson resided 
for many years, and then removed into township 
49, range 26, on section 8, where he lived for 
many years more, lie became one of the largest 
farmers of the county, but later removed to Texas, 
where his death occurred shortly after the close 
of the war. Of his family of four children, our 
subject is the only remaining member. His early 
days were passed on the farm. At that time there 
was but little improvement around his home. 
Farming was still done by the use of oxen, mar- 
kets were far away, and game was plentiful over 
the country. 

The education of our subject was received in 
the schools called ''subscription," but at that time 
it was difficult to have even these carried on, and 
one might say that for all practical purposes Mr. 
Robinson has been self-taught, and sometimes in 
the sad school of experience. 11 is early life was 
passed in agricultural pursuits, and since that time 
he has not cared to make any change. To the 
real farmer, the upturned earth, the opening buds, 



the growth of cereals, responding to the labor of 
the farmer, and showing great fields of waving 
grain, are truly delightful, and would not be ex- 
changed for the vicissitudes of life in any other 
path. 

In this locality Mr. Robinson grew up as a pio- 
neer, and has seen with pleasure the development 
which has taken [.lace all over the county. Where 
once was but the unbroken prairie, green in spring 
with wild grasses and sprinkled with brilliant 
flowers, he hears the church and school hells and 
the hum of the railroad engine or manufacturing 
machinery. In his political faith our subject is a 
follower of Democratic principles, and is one of 
the most highly respected men in the community. 
His integrity is unquestioned, and his simple 
promise goes as far as does the sworn word of 
many. 



- ~ : S ~^ $ s> "^H g £IP 



-5- 




i 1,'S. ELIZA PEARSON, a lady of intelli- 
gence and worth, an early settler of Mis- 
souri and widow of ( ). 15. Pearson, a man 
of sterling integrity of character, was 
born in Halifax County, N. C, November 8, 1819. 
She is the daughter of John D. and Elizabeth 
(Hutcherson) Eelbeck, who were of English de- 
scent, and it is supposed that the paternal grand- 
father of Mrs. Pearson was a native of England. 
He was Henry Mumford Eelbeck and well known 
in North Carolina, where he settled in an early 
day in the history of this Republic. The children 
of Henry Eelbeck were John D., his only son and 
the father of our subject, and three daughters, 
Sarah, Dorothy ami Elizabeth. John D. Eelbeck 
was born December 29, 1783, and died in Halifax 
County, N. C, November 15, 1820. His children 
were Daniel. Henry J., and Eliza, our subject. 

( ). B. Pearson, the husband of our subject, now 
deceased. was one of the prominent and enterpris- 
ing citizens Of Saline County, and highly respected 
for his energy, ability and upright life. His death 
was mourned as a public loss by the entire com- 
munity among whom he had so long dwelt. Mr. 



446 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Pearson was bom iu South Carolina, October 22, 
1794, at Spartanburg, and died May 10, 1871. 
The father of Mr. Pearson died when O. B. was 
a mere boy, and soon after the death of her 
husband the widowed mother took her children to 
Louisiana and there made her home. Her children 
were William, O. B., Lucinda and Keziah. After 
attaining to manhood, Mr. Pearson went to Nor- 
folk, Ya., and there spent a number of years. lie 
was a successful trader and soon made himself a 
home, marrying for his first wife Miss Sarah Wight, 
by whom he had five children: Austin W., Amanda 
D., Harriet W.. Elizabeth P. and Sarah B. 

Soon after his marriage, Mr. Pearson removed 
to Mississippi and located near Vicksburg, where 
his mother was then living. Mr. Pearson's first 
wife died December 28, 1841. lie then brought 
his mother from Mississippi to Arrow Rock, and 
here his faithful and devoted parent passed away, 
December 5, 1851. lie engaged in merchandising 
upon his removal to Arrow Rock, and bought the 
land where the family now resides. In time he 
oave up his business and located upon the land, 
which consisted of some six hundred acres in town- 
ship 50, range 19, which he afterward brought 
under high cultivation, the value of which has 
been doubled and trebled since its purchase so 
many years ago. After the death of his mother 
Mr. Pearson returned to Virginia and traveled 
upon business throughout that State and Ninth 
Carolina. 

Mr. Pearson met the subject of our sketch, 
Miss Eliza F. Eelbeck, when in North Carolina, 
and they were married February 26, 1845. and 
with her he returned to Missouri and there settled 
upon his farm. The children who blessed with 
their presence the home were George F., Richard 
Z., Henry C. and Roxana,all well known in Arrow 
Rock and esteemed by a large circle of lifetime 
friends and acquaintances. Mr. Pearson was never 
an active politician but had an abiding interest in 
both national and local issues, and was a Democrat 
stanch and true. He firmly believed in the right 
and justice of the Southern Confederacy, and al- 
though his advanced age prevented his taking an 
active part in the scenes of those troublous days, 
his heart was iu the cause, and Richard Z., a lad 



of tender years, enlisted in the service of the Con- 
federate Government and was distinguished for 
his gallant conduct and bravery amid scenes of 
danger and death. 

Mr. Pearson was a member of the Southern 
Methodist Episcopal Church and was a liberal 
giver in its support and church extension. He 
suffered great financial losses by the war, as he 
owned a large number of slaves, but with his native 
ability and energy he adapted himself to the situ- 
ation and did the best to make good what he had 
lost. Mr. and Mrs. Pearson enjoyed the esteem 
and confidence of a host of true friends, and when 
death deprived our subject of her husband and 
companion of many long years, she had the full 
sympathy of all the community and surrounding 
neighborhood. Descending into the vale of years, 
Mis. Pearson rests content, knowing that in that 
better land the tears are wiped from all eyes and 
all will be well with God's beloved. 



^la^i | i i H 




EV. HENRY HOEFER, the pioneer minis- 
ter of the city of Higginsville, is pastor of 
the German Evangelical Church. He is a 
Vf) native of Germany, having been born in 
Lippe-Detmold, September 25, 1836, and his father, 
Herman lloefer, was also a native of Germany. 
(For further history of the family, see sketch of 
Charles lloefer.) Our subject is the fifth of six 
children, and was reared on his father's farm until 
he was eighteen years of age. During that time 
he enjoyed the school advantages of other boys, 
and in the fall of 1854 came to America from Bre- 
men on a sailing-vessel, which was named "Diana." 
He landed in New Orleans, and from that city 
made his way to Warren County, Mo., where he 
entered the Evangelical Missouri College, at 
Marthasville (at present at St. Louis), from which 
he was graduated in 1858. He was then ordained 
and stationed near Evansville, Ind., as a minister 
of the Evangelical Zion's Church, and there he 
remained seven years, during which time the con- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



447 



gregation increased rapidly and built a school at 
that place. In 1866, he was called to the pastorate 

of the German Evangelical st. John's Church, at 
Freeport, 111., and remained there for four years. 
In 187D, he came to this city and organized the 
German Evangelical Church here. 

As soon as he arrived, Mr. tlocfer began his 
work of organization, and a small church was 
built under his management. Moving to Con- 
cordia, he organized a congregation there and 
built a church, but in 1877 returned to Higgins- 
ville, and has since continued to till the pulpit of 
the church his efforts built. Not satisfied with his 
work in the church, Mr. Hoefer taught in the par- 
ish school here while it was still in its infancy, 
and gave religious instruction to the children of 
the congregation. He is so popular a preacher 
that very soon the congregation outgrew the old 
building, and in 18S2, on the old site, a new edifice 
was erected, which is the largest church in the 
city. In 1892, the congregation built a fine par- 
sonage for their minister, at a cost of *-_'.■_'! hi, and 
this commodious residence is situated on grounds 
comprising half a block. 

When Mr. Hoefer began his work of organiza- 
tion in 1870 there were about eight families; now 
his congregation numbers sixty-five families. In 
the Sunday-school he is doing a great deal of good, 
as he has about one hundred and fifty-five pupils 
at present, and the attendance is constantly in- 
creasing. This earnest pastor teaches a Bible class 
every Sunday and preaches two sermons on that 
day. In addition to the work already mentioned, 
he organized a congregation and built a church at 
Mayview, this county, in 1<S7*, but when they he- 
came self-supporting he withdrew. In politics, he 
is a stanch Republican, and, next to his religious 
duties, he regards his responsibilities as a citizen 
most binding. He has been honored by his Synod 
with several offices, among which was that of Vice- 
president of the West Missouri District of the 
Evangelical Synod of North America, and he is 
now serving as Cashier of the same. 

The Rev. Henry Hoefer was united in mar- 
riage in Warren County, Mo., in 18;V.>, to 
Miss Minnie Schnieder. a native of Germany, 
who was reared in Warren County. This lady 



bore her husband four children, who are liv- 
ing now, namely: Theodore, a graduate of Elm- 
hurst College, and at present a teacher in the Ger- 
man school; John, Emelia and Martin, who are at 
home. Mr. Hoefer is an earnest worker, and has 
accomplished much good during his long pastor- 
ate. He has gained the hearts of his people, and 
is worthy of the esteem and confidence he inspires 
in all. 



•S-=-5*:=V / 



+==*3E* 



A 



vip^DWIN HAY NIK, the subject of these me- 
1W| moirs, was one of the pioneers of Saline 
I t — v County, Mo. He came of good Scotch an- 
cestry, and his parents, Lawrence and Judy Haynie, 
were natives of Virginia, where the}' were engaged 
in farming. 

Oursubject was born in Northumberland County, 
Ya.. in January, 18<>:?. He grew to maturity in 
his native county and received his education in 
the common schools there. His first marriage was 
with a young lady who lived but a few months 
afterward. January 22. 1836, he took for a life 
companion Miss Polly, the daughter of Nathan 
Moore, and one son, Rufus W.. was horn of this 
marriage. In the fall of 1836, the family landed 
in Saline County. Mo., a few miles southwest of 
Miami, and took up and bought forty acres of 
land, afterward proving up and securing another 
eighty acres. On that farm were born three sons, 
Edwin M., Austin II., and Ethelhert, all of whom 
are good, substantial farmers. 

Mrs. Haynie died here in January, 1852, and 
our subject afterward married Lurany, the widow 
of John Williams, anil to this union were born six 
children, as follows: Lurany, who hecamethe wife 
of Charles Heisel, of Miami: James B., of Florida; 
Elizabeth I... who married Thomas Bankhead; 
William 11.. of Nelson; Lawrence: and Annie L., 
who married Patrick Duty, of Nelson. In his po- 
litical convictions, Mr. Haynie was a Democrat. 
and boldly upheld* the principles of that party. 
Rufus W., Edwin M. and Austin all served in the 



448 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Confederate service, the first-named taking part 
all through the war. Edwin M. enlisted in May, 
1861, and was under Gen. Marmaduke, in Com- 
pany E, of the cavalry. He was afterward with 
Shelby in Company E, First Missouri Cavalry, 
and was captured at Cape Girardeau, and taken 
hi Camp Douglas, where he was held for seven- 
teen months, lie received a four-ounce minie- 
ball through his leg, but the wound soon healed 
and he became perfectly well again. At the close 
of the war Edwin came home, and in 1867 en- 
gaged in farming on a rented farm; in August 
lie married Miss Sara E. Grayson, although at this 
time he was over $300 in debt. 

However, Edwin Haynie was not easily discour- 
aged, and after marriage entered with added energy 
into the business of farming. His first purchase of 
land was in 1871, when he bought one hundred 
and fifty-four and one-half acres where he now 
lives, and has since added to this until he now owns 
six hundred and five acres in the county, all of 
which he has made by his own efforts. He raises 
cattle and hogs, and has been in all of his under- 
takings visited with the most signal success. Mrs. 
Haynie is a member of the Baptist Church, hut 
Mr. Haynie affiliates with the Christian denomina- 
tion. His choice in political matters is the Demo- 
cratic party, and he is ready at all times to give 
good and sufficient, as well as convincing, reasons 
why it is so. An interesting family of eight 
bright children have grown up about his hearth, 
and they are named Edwin II., John R., Robert 
I,., Elmer J., Sarah E., Price G., Mary J. and 
Angie F. 






~S) 



£+£ 



i=i 



yWLLIAM GRIFFITTS, a farmer and stock- 
raiser on section 12, township 51, range 
'^fl 21, Saline County, where he owns eighty 
acres of land, was born in Morgan County, 111., 
February 11, lS.'i.'i, and lived in that and Hancock 
County until lie reached maturity. He is the eld- 
est of five children who reached mature years, and 



were the offspring of John and Mary (Stanley) 
Griffltts, who were natives, respectively, of Ken- 
tucky and Tennessee, and were born in the years 
1807 and 1809, respectively. These children are: 
William and Richard, of Illinois; James, of Iowa; 
George, of Illinois; and Susan, wife of John 
Shanks. 

William's paternal grandfather, James Griffltts, 
was probably a native of Virginia, and served 
four years in the Revolutionary War, under Gen. 
Wayne, and also in the War of 1812, at the latter 
time being under Gen. Jackson for three years. 
He was in the battle of New Orleans, that mem- 
orable battle in which the British lost their gen- 
eral and about seventeen hundred men, killed and 
wounded, while the American loss was only eight 
killed and thirteen wounded. James Griffltts was 
a son of German parents, and was a successful 
farmer, as was also his son, the father of William. 
The family have, in fact, been farmers all down 
the line. 

Mr. Griffltts was married in January, 1858, 
choosing for his wife Miss Martha J., daughter of 
John Stanley. They remained in Hancock County 
after their marriage, the latter event having oc- 
curred there, until 18(59, when they located where 
they now live. Mr. and Mrs. Griffltts have a fam- 
ily of eight children living: Ambros G.; Mary 
A., wife of Thomas Burke; Nancy J., wife of C. 
C. Mrller; Susan V., whose husband is John Yates; 
Virginia G; Mrs. George Brown; John T., and 
James R. 

William Griffltts came to Saline County a poor 
man, and has made his way up to a position of 
prosperity and security through his own exertions 
and by his own ability. Not every farmer suc- 
ceeds, for the profession of agriculture, and it is, 
if properly conducted, a profession, — one that re- 
quires skill arrd good judgment just as truly as 
that of law or medicine, — is beyond the scope of 
many who engage in it. It is satisfactory to 
trace the progress of men who rise, unaided by- 
others, to independence and a place in the history 
of anv section of our country. America fosters 
and encourages such striving toward a self-sus- 
taining and influential life, and she is ever ready 
to give the deserved meed of commendation to 



: 



f *«TKK. 



^ •** 




'&: 







■ft^U 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



451 



tin who so rise. A self-made man is not partic- 
uls -ly rare, and yet the d umbers of those who 
mi .»• little or no effort toward advancement in 
thi besl ways arc so much greater, that everyone 
wl o wills for himself more than an ordinary post- 
bit n is worthy of note, and in these sketches of 
the men of Saline County we find many such. 

Mr. Griffitts is a member of the Old-school Bap- 
tist Church, and politically is a Democrat, as are 
the majority of the prominent men of this 
county. He is not an aggressive politician, but is 
firm in his convictions as to the right of his side. 
Hi post-Office address is Norton. 



=*Sf 



m 



Hi 



!M^ 



6C. ROSS, one of the wealthiest and most 
progressive farmers of Saline County, re- 
sides on section 23, township .">2, range 21, 
near the town of Miami. His farm, which is fa- 
miliarly known as Locust Grove contains first-class 
improvements, and its value has been greatly en- 
hanced by the high cultivation to which it has 
been brought, as well as by the substantial buildings 
with which it is embellished. 

The ancestry of our subject on his mother's 
side is traced to England, while his paternal fore- 
fathers were Scotch. He is the son of John and 
Nancy (Ellis) Ross, natives of Virginia, and is one 
of a family of nine children, all of whom were 
born in the (lid Dominion. Mary A., whose birth 
occurred in 1812, married Philip Ellis, and now 
resides in Davis County, Mo.; Sutherland was 
born in 1814 and died in Missouri: our subject, 
the next in order of birth, opened In- eye- to the 
light in 1816; John was born in 1818, married Re- 
becca Johnson, of Virginia, and tin \ now reside 
in Kentucky; Armstead, who was born in 1820, 
married Catherine Johnson and died in Virginia; 
Derinda, whose birth occurred in 1822, married 
Mr. Arnot, and died in Virginia; Nancy, bom in 
1826, became the wife of a Mr. Colter, and after 
his death married Robert Blunt, and now resides 
in Richmond, Ya.; Ellen, whose birth occurred in 

22 



1828, married a Mr. Bobbitt and resided in AVest 
Virginia; and Robinson, born in 1830, married 
Miss Ellen Maddy, and died in Texas. 

After having gained a limited education, our 
subject left school at the age of sixteen and de- 
voted his attention to agricultural pursuits upon 
his father's farm, lie early displayed a talent, for 
architecture and building, and no doubt if it, bad 
been properly cultivated he would have become 
celebrated in that line. His first attempt was the 
designing and building of a modern house upon 
the farm. There he lived for a short time, and 
then went into partnership with his brother in the 
business of carpentry and building, lie was very 
successful even in his early attempts, one of which 
was the construction in Virginia of a tlouring-mill 
for Joe Aldeson, where, although he had never 
learned the trade of millwright, he performed the 
difficult operation of placing all of the machinery, 
constructing the pulleys, and setting up the entire 
shafting for running the mill. 

Becoming dissatisfied with the opportunities for 
advancement in the Old Dominion, our subject 
and his brother determined to seek a new field, 
where more extensive operations could be con- 
ducted. Accordingly, armed with their carpen- 
ter tools, they bade adieu to friends and hopefully 
started out to seek a new home. The journey was 
made with carriage and horses, and on April 17, 
1837, they anchored in Lexington, Mo., where our 
subject embarked in business as an architect and 
designer. In that city he remained until 1841, 
when he came to Saline County and continued to 
follow his trade of a carpenter here until 1844, 
when he made his first purchase of land. 

Our subjeel and his brother went into partner- 
ship in buying from the Government a farm, for 
which they paid $1.25 per acre. The place con- 
tained live hundred and sixty acres of land, which 
Mr. ROSS has improved and added to until he to- 
day owns a well-cultivated farm of six hundred 
aeies. valued at $65 per acre. His residence, 
erected at a cosl of $6,000, is one of the finest and 
mosl elegant iii the county, and is placed upon an 
eminence which commands a view of the surround- 
ing country. 

After iikiii\ year- of -ingle blessedness, our sub- 



452 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ject married on the 31st of October, 18<;i, Miss 
L. F. McDaniel, the estimable daughter of R. E. 
McDaniel, one of the foremost citizens of Saline 
County. Their union was blessed with four chil- 
dren, only <nie of whom survives. One died in 
infancy, another at the age of two years, and in 
the year 1891 Stella Price was taken away. She 
was born in the year 1872, was a beautiful and 
accomplished girl, and her death was a sad blow 
to the family. Uallie, born in 1870, is the only 
one left to cheer and comfort her father's declin- 
ing years, and nobly does she perforin this duty. 
In his political belief, our subject clings to the 
principles of the Democratic party, but has never 
had any aspirations to serve his party in any 
i 'Dice. 




^ANIEL BIXLER is one of the most ex- 
)}) tensive stock-raisers in Saline County, 
owninga line farm in section 15, Salt Pond 
Township, lie is an enterprising and suc- 
cessful man, a good financier, with a superior head, 
which is full of progressive ideas. He is Republi- 
can nominee for County Treasurer, a position 
wholly unsolicited by him, and the nomination to 
which came to him as a complete surprise. 

Mr. Bixler is a native of Holmes County, Ohio, 
where he was born April 27, 1815. His father, 
George Bixler, who is now a resident of Holmes 
County, is a native of Maryland, having been bom 
at Baltimore in 1806, but removed to Ohio with bis 
parents at the age of seventeen. The grandparents 
of the subject of this sketch. .1 oh n and Elizabeth 
Bixler, were from Maryland and Pennsylvania, re- 
spectively; the great-grandfather was a native of 
Germany, from which country he emigrated to 
Maryland; while the grandfather, John, was a 
farmer and an early settler in Holmes County. He 
died at about the age of ninety, and his wife at 
about eighty years of age. 

The father of Daniel has always been a farmer. 
He has been a member of the Evangelical Lutheran 



Church for many years. The mother, Elizabeth 
(Close) Bixler, was born in Pennsylvania and is 
nf ( rerman descent. She is still living and is eleven 
years younger than her husband. 

Daniel is the only son left of the three that were 
born to his parents, although he has three sisters. He 
was reared a farmer, attending the common schools 
until sixteen years of age, with the exception of a 
period at the Vermillion Institute, of Hayesville, 
( )hio. When he was sixteen he went to Springfield, 
Ohio, and entered the Wittcnburg College there. 

At the age of eighteen Mr. Bixler commenced 
teaching school, which occupation he followed 
during the winter seasons fur thirteen years, in the 
fall of 1865 coming to Illinois and teaching one 
term in Champaign County. In September, 186B, 
lie came to ftl ISSOUri and located near Sweet Springs, 
purchasing land in the fall of that year in section 
15, Salt Pond Township. His purchase consisted 
of two hundred acres of partly improved land, 
upon which he settled, teaching school winters and 
farming summers. He has done nearly the whole 
of the improving of his property, showing much 
ability in the work. His postoffice is Elmwood. 

May 22. 1878, Mr. Bixler married Miss Lybbie 
J. Houston, who was born in California. Her par- 
ents, John and Ellen Houston, are of I rish descent. 
The father was born in Columbus, Ohio, moved to 
Illinois when unite young, and subsequently to 
California, where he remained for a time, coming 
to Saline County, Mo., in 1870. He is now a 
farmer of Elmwood Township and does quite an 
extensive business. 

Mrs. Bixler is a member of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church. Mr. Bixler is a Mason, and in poli- 
tics a Republican, as suggested before. That he 
is a popular man, is shown by the fact that his fel- 
low-Republicans of the County have chosen him 
to act for them in a public capacity, and that they 
have done so independently of any effort on his 
part to win the appointment. He is no office- 
seeker, but being elected, there is no doubt that he 
will do well and faithfully the duties that devolve 
upon him. 

Mr. Bixler is very successful in stock-raising, 
which he makes his specialty. It is interesting to 
visit his farm, and note the nourishing condition 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



453 



of everything that meets the eye. A Bne stock 
farm presents a scene of animal life thai is instruc- 
tive to him who wishes to learn, n ml that is beau- 
tiful to <me who views it simply from an artistic 
standpoint; both of these conditions are fully met 
on the farm of Mr. Bixler, and in that his work 
and judgment are clearly and characteristically 
shown. 



d-5"S"5"! , i 



&.$m{m{m{*U 



^•i"i"i">^m&? '**+*h 




LARENCE VIVION, the popular and suc- 
cessful general practitioner of law in Higgins- 

/' ville. La Fayette County. Mo., is well versed 
in professional duties, and is widely known as a 
skillful and experienced lawyer. During his ten 
years of residence in Iligginsville, our subject has 
identified himself with the interests of the city, and 
is numbered among its leading men and represen- 
tative citizens. His paternal grandfather, Tl las 

Vivion, was a native of the Old Dominion, but in 
early manhood left Virginia, and located in Ken- 
tucky, where he was one of the pioneers of Clarke 
County, and there passed a useful and busy life, 
and died in that State. 

Willis D. Vivion, the father of our subject, was 
born and married in Kentucky, but later removed 
to New York City, where he engaged in mercan- 
tile business with the firm of Lathrop, Luddington 
& Co., wholesale and retail dry-goods dealers. 
With this linn he remained until L869, when he re- 
moved to Mexico, Mo., and brought his family 
from Kentucky to this State. For seven years he 
devoted his attention to the grocery business, which 
he successfully conducted in Mexico until 1876, 
when he retired from active business duties, and 
spent his last years in Audrain County. His death 
occurred in 1891, at the home of his son Clarence 
in Iligginsville, at seventy-one years of age. lie 
was an earnest Christian gentleman, and was highly 
respected by all who knew him. 

Xannie'S., the mother of our subject, was a native 
of Mciccr ( ounty. Ky., and a daughter of John 
Woods, who was born in Virginia, hut was an early 
settler of Kentucky, and a successful agriculturist. 



Mrs. Nannie S. ( \Y Is) Vivien died in Kentucky 

in I860, leaving four children, all of whom now 
survive. Clarence, the second, was reared upon 
his father's farm in the Blue Grass Region and at- 
tended the private schools of the neighborhood un- 
til ten years of age, when he went to Harrodsburgh 
Ky., and studied in the excellent schools of that 
city. Lorn in Winchester, Clarke County, Ky., 
August 27. 1 855, our subject was but fourteen years 
of age when he went with his father to Mexico, in 
1869. Energetic, ambitious and industrious, he 
worked in the store during vacations, and after a 
full course df instruction, graduated with honor 
from the High School in Mexico. At eighteen 
years of age he began teaching school, and was suc- 
cessively Principal in the schools of New Bloomfleld 
and Cedar City, in Audrain and Callaway Coun- 
ties. 

During this time, Mr. Vivion studied law under 
Kennon A- Mclntyre, a prominent legal firm, and 
in 1881 devoted his entire time to acquiring a 
thorough knowledge of the profession. In June, 
1882, he was admitted to the Missouri Bar by Judge 
Elijah Robinson, now of Kansas City. Mr. Vivion 
remained for a few months in the office where he 
had prosecuted his studies, and then went to Pleas- 
ant Hill, where he spent six months. In the sum- 
merof 1883 he came to Higginsville, which had at 
that time about seven hundred inhabitants, and has 
continued to reside here ever since. Mr. Vivion 
has an excellent practice here, and has especially 
distinguished himself by the expert handling of 
desperate criminal cases, being mostly employed 
for the defense. He has established more than a 
local reputation in this particular branch of his 
profession, but is also an unusually able and suc- 
cessful general legal practitioner, and occupies a 
convenient office on Russell street. 

Our subject was married in Higginsville, in 1885, 
to Miss Jennie Warren, who was born in La Fay- 
ette County, a daughter of .lames L. Warren, a 
respected and a prominent citizen of the State. 
Mrs. Vivion was educated in the home schools, and 
is a highly esteemed lady, a favorite in social cir- 
cles, and the mother of three children, Warren, 
Nannie, and Clarence I... bright and promising 
little ones. Mr. and Mrs. Vivion are members of 



454 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



the Christian Church, ami are ever ready to aid in 
the benevolent and social enterprises of that relig- 
ious organization. Mr. Vivion is a member of the 
Democratic County Committee from Davis Town- 
ship, and always takes a deep interest in both na- 
tional and local politics. An eloquent advocate 
for educational advancement, progressive in his 
logic and arguments, he is an important factor in 
the upbuilding and growth of public enterprise and 
improvement. Occupying the position of City 
Attorney for two years, our subject has given ju- 
dicious advice and valuable assistance to his 
adopted home, and has well earned the confidence 
of his fellow-citizens. 



«es- 



&> 




ETER A. CHAMBERLAIN, deceased. This 
I) lamented gentleman was one of the worthy 

•^ and prominent farmers of Saline County, 
Mo., where his death occurred. Mr. Cham- 
berlain was a native of Kamouraska County. I Que- 
bec, Canada, his parents being Noel and Lucy 
Chamberlain, both French-Canadians. Our sub- 
ject resided in the place of his birth until his 
eighteenth year, when he emigrated to the State 
of Missouri, and settled in Saline County in 1852. 
Here lie worked at the trade he had learned in his 
native place, that of carpenter, until I860, when 
he purchased a farm and engaged in agricultural 
pursuits. 

Mr. Chamberlain was a poor boy when he landed 
in Miami, his cash in hand consisting of but 
twenty-five cents, but by persistent effort he ac- 
cumulated enough to purchase a good farm. That 
same year he had the pleasure of gaining the hand 
of Mary A., daughter of Michael Langan, and to- 
gether they began the struggle of life on a farm 
in the wilds of Missouri. Hard, persistent labor 
and close economy enabled them to purchase ad- 
ditional land, until at the time of his death they 
were the owners of two hundred and forty acres 
of valuable land, which the widow now manages. 

Ten children were added to this family during 



the years of happy married life, as follows: Emily, 
wife of James Mitchell; Einiiiett, a resident of 
Kansas City; Nora, wife of Robert Bennett; Noel, 
a resident of Illinois; Peter A., of California; 
Mary, wife of Frank Campbell; Salina, George, 
Lucy and Chester. Mr. Chamberlain's death oc- 
curred in 1882, and he is still mourned by his 
faithful wife and loving children as a good de- 
voted father and husband. All his friends miss 
the kindly, honest neighbor, who never hesitated 
to aid anyone who desired his assistance in any 
way. 

Mrs. Chamberlain was the fifth child in the fam- 
ily of twelve children born to Michael and Mary 
(Moran) Langan, both natives of North Carolina. 
The grandparents of Mrs. Chamberlain, .lames and 
Margaret Langan. and John and Mary Moran, were 
all from County Mayo, Ireland. Mr. Langan was 
a merchant in South Carolina, but after coming to 
Saline County in 1*4C>, he followed agricultural 
pursuits, and at the lime of his death was the 
owner of seven hundred acres, on which was a 
large number of stock. He was a very popular 
man, and one who never had a difficulty with 
anyone. His death was much lamented, not only 
by his family, but by all who knew him, on ac- 
count of his many good qualities. The whole 
family, root and branch, were and are firm adher- 
ents of the principles of Democracy. 



„g-:^-ci 






■■. 



J. McMAHAN. For twelve years our sub- 
ject has held the responsible position of 
jE\V Clerk of Saline County, and during that 
time has established himself not only in the 
liking and confidence of the people, but high in 
their esteem, because of his diverse and thorough 
ability. He was first elected to the office in 1880, 
and after a service of two years was re-elected, and 
served four years, and in 1890 was re-elected for 
another term of four years. 

Mr. MeMahan was born in Cooper County, near 
the line, January 23, 1833. He is a son of James 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



155 



and Helena (Jones) Mr Mai mi, both natives of Ken- 
tueky, win i came to Missouri while the Indians 
were still possessors of the land. They first went 
tu Cooper's Fort, and later took up some new land 
which the father bent his efforts in improve, and 
to which he added until he had a farm of five hun- 
dred and eighty acres in Cooper County. There 
he made his home until his decease, which occurred 
in 1857. He and his wife were the parents of nine 
children, named as follows: Araminta, Asenath, 
Jesse, Jane, Melissa, Laura L., Mary, Sophia T. 
and Robert J. The eldest daughter is now Mrs. 
John H. Sutherland; the second is Mrs. Robert K. 
Taylor; Jesse is deceased; Jane married W. II. Wal- 
lace, but is now deceased; Melissa is .Mrs. W. H. 
Wallace, having married her brother-in-law on the 
decease of her sister Jane; Laura I,., who became 
Mrs. Howard, is also deceased; and Sophia is the 
wife of George A. Murrell. The mother of this 
famil3 r died in 1867. 

Mr. McMahan was educted in Cooper and Saline 
Counties and remained under the parental roof 
until 1854, when he joined a company who went 
to California by the overland route. On returning 
from the Pacific Coast he remained at bnme until 
the war.when he enlisted in the Confederate serv ice. 
under Robinson, being first Aid to Col. Brown, at 
Boonville. He was captured at Black Water, and 
was sent to McDowell College and later to Alton, 
where he remained in prison forseven months. On 
the Doctor's advice he finally took the oath and 
came home. In the meantime his father had 
traded his farm in Cooper County for one in Mar- 
shall Township. This continued to be his home 
until 1865, when he went to Montana with a mer- 
cantile stock, and was engaged in freighting goods 
for a year. On coming back he engaged in farm- 
ing until 1871. 

At the last-named date our subject went to Arrow 
Rock and was engaged as a merchant there until 
the fall of 1880, when he was elected County Clerk. 
During the interval between his election and tak- 
ing office, he was in the grain business, in which he 
still continues. He is interested m the Marshal) 
Elevator, on the Chicago & Alton track, which has 
a capacity for thirty thousand bushels. He is a 
member of the Masonic lodge at Arrow Rock. 



Mr. McMahan was married November 1, 1859, to 
Sarah E. Wing, of Cooper County, a daughter of 
Freeman Wing. They are the parents of live 
children, who are named as follows: Virginia 
C, Helena R., Stella 15., Robert W., Jr., and Sophia 
A. The only son is now at college at Quincy, HI. 




ENJAMIN M. LEWIS. A stranger visiting 
La Fayette County in search of the home 
'iM I of the subject of this sketch, would only- 
have need to make inquiry of the first per- 
son he encountered, so widely is Mr. Lewis known. 
He is a well-to-do farmer, residing on section 19, 
township 50, range 24, and was born in Wood 
County, W. Va., in 18:53. His father, Charles Lewis, 
a native of Loudoun County, Va., was born in 1803, 
and resided with our subject until December 22. 
1892, when he passed quietly away. The mother 
of Benjamin was a most estimable woman and bore 
the maiden name of Elizabeth Mayberry. She was 
a daughter of Benjamin Mayberry, a native of 
Virginia. The paternal grandfather of our sub- 
ject was Jonah Lewis, whose ancestors came to the 
United States from England. 

The worthy subject of this life record has but 
little recollection of the mountain-locked county 
where he spent the first six years of his life. At 
this immature age he became a traveler, journeying 
with his parents from Wood County to .Marion 
County, Mn. Subsequently his home was made in 
La Fayette County, where he now resides. The 
schools of his youth were not so thorough as those 
of the present time, nor were the terms so long, 
still our subject realized that he attended them for 
something besides plaj',and by faithful application 

obtained a fairly g 1 com n-school education, 

one that has served him well in his business life. 

Our subject was married to Miss Anna E. Lewis 
in L871, and by this union two children have 
blessed their home, namely: Robert L. and Margaret, 
the latter being a student, at Central College. Mrs. 



456 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Lewis is a daughter of George V. Lewis and is a 
native of the State of Virginia. The affiliations of 
our subject are with the Democratic party, whose 
principles he strongly endorses. 



-*— = 



=!>*<! 



\| J. WARDEN, who resides on section 11, 
township is. range 26, La Fayette County, 
Mil, is a farmer who believes in the dignity 
of labor and the value of husbandry to a 
nation. He is a son of John Warden, a native of 
Kentucky, born in 1801, son of Elijah Warden, a 
native of Virginia, and a soldier in the War of the 
Revolution, his ancestors being from Virginia. 
The mother of our subject was Martha (Kelly) 
Warden, a native of Kentucky, born in 1801, and 
daughter of Giles Kelly, a native of Virginia. 

The parents of our subject were married in 
Kentucky, always lived there on a farm, and had 
nine children, seven of whom arc now living. The 
father died in 1845 and the mother in 1865. Our 
subject was born on the 9th of February, 1834, 
in Allen County, Ky., was reared on the farm, 
and received a fair district-school education, and 
anally left his home at the age of twenty-three 
years, lie was married in 1857 to Miss Mary Mor- 
gan, a native of the same county as he, born in 
1838, and whose demise occurred in 1870. She was 
the mother of five children, four of whom are now 
living, as follows: Mary Anna, wife of Calvin 
Smith, has three children; Lycurgus, married to 
Lillie Woods, has one child; Mattie, wife of Jona- 
than Smith, has four children; and Charles, who 
lives in Texas. 

Our subject was married a second time, in 1871, 
taking as his wife. Mrs. Nancy Jane Melton, a 
daughter of George and Elizabeth (Wallace) 
Hodge, both natives of North Carolina, but who 
removed to Alabama. The father died in 1834, 
and the mother in 1875. Of their three children, 
Mrs. Warden is the only survivor. Mrs. Warden 
was born May 12. 1841, in Perry County, Ala., 
and has borne her husband four children: William 



T., Eddie II.. Bennie E. and James L. After his 
first marriage our subject settled on a farm in Al- 
len County. Ky., but in 1859 removed to Barren 
County; then, in 1863, returned to Allen County. 
where he remained for three years: he then went 
to Warren County and remained until 1882, when 
he settled in La Fayette County, Mo., upon his 
present farm. 

This farm consists of one hundred and fifty-four 
acres, which are under good cultivation and all well 
improved, Mr. Warden being a careful and clever 
farmer, carrying on general farming. He is a 
Deacon in llic r.aptisi Church, where he is greatly 
esteemed, while his wife is also a member of 
and much beloved in that body. The cause 
of education is always dear to him, and when 
elected a member of the School Board, he served 
with great efficiency. This, however, is the only 
position he has ever accepted, although he has 
been frequently nominated for office and pressed 
to run. He is a stanch Republican, yet cast his 
first vote for Bell and Everett; but, as he saj s, 
came up all right in 1864, when he voted for 
Abraham Lincoln, and has cast his ballot for Re- 
publican«ominees ever since. Mr. Warden finds 
pleasure in the field of politics. In Warren Count} . 
Ky., he was a member of the County Central Com- 
mittee of his party, and has been frequently elected 
a delegate to conventions of his party in Missouri. 
Mrs. Warden has one daughter by her first mar- 
riage, Lizzie, now Mrs. Joseph Johns. She is the 
mother of two boys, Herbert, five years old, and 
Watson, two years of age. 



I « ^ «, < ,! ■ fa 



\fl AMES W. GOODWIN, a farmer and stock- 
raiser of Middleton Township, La Fayette 
County, Mo., born in Rappahannock 
' County, Va., in the year 18:if, is the son of 
James Goodwin, a native of Virginia, who settled 
in Missouri in the year 1839. The father of our 
subject, a retired farmer and a venerable and 
highly respected citizen of Waverly, La Fay- 



PORTRAIT AXD BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



457 



ette County, Mo., was born in Prince William 
County, Va., January 9, 1804. He was a son of 

John Goodwin, a native of Virginia, and Eliza- 
beth (Adams) Goodwin, a daughter of Goven 
Adams, a native of .Scotland. The Goodwins who 
emigrated to this country in the eighteenth cen- 
tury were originally from England. 

James Goodwin at the age of two years re- 
moved with his parents to Fauquier County, Va., 
where he attended the common schools and as- 
sisted his father on the farm In the year 1828 he 
began merchandising at Flint Hill, Rappahannock 
County, Va., in which business he continued until 
183:1, when he came to La Fayette County, .Mo., 
where he settled upon a farm, and continued the 
vocation of an agriculturist until the year 1868. 
Mr. Goodwin then returned to the mercantile 
trade in Waverly, and remained in it twenty 
years, when he retired. 

James Goodwin was united in marriage in the 
year 1828 with Miss Elizabeth J., daughter of 
Vincent Corder, a native of Virginia, who came to 
Missouri in 1839. By this marriage there were 
live children, namely: John T., George E., Eliza 
J., Elizabeth II. and James W. The second wife 
of Mr. Goodwin was Miss Evaline, daughter of 
Martin Corder, of Virginia, whom he married in 
1837, and by whom he had five children, namely: 
Robert Russell. Martin C, Calvin, Virginia and 
Henry II. On the Kith of January. 1848, he 
was wedded to his present wife, whose maiden 
name was Martha Marshall, and who is a 
daughter of Louden Marshall, of Virginia. She 
has borne him seven children, f'o.ur of whom are 
living, namely: Alice, Walter, Albert and Birdie. 
In politics, Mr. Goodwin is a very pronounced 
Democrat, taking a lively interest in all matters 
relating to the National and State administration 
of affairs. Mi-, and Mrs. Goodwin are devoted 
members of the Presbyterian Chinch. 

James W. Goodwin, the subject of our sketch, 
was but a little child when his mother, Elizabeth 
(Corder) Goodwin, died. lie came to Missouri 
with the family in the year 1889, when but live 
years old. His boyhood and youth were spent in 
going to school and in assisting his father upon 
the farm. When he attained his majority, he 



went to farming upon his own account. Our sub- 
ject is an extensive breeder of high-grade cattle, 
and also buys and feeds extensively. His resi- 
dence is located on section 15, township 50, range 
21. Middleton Township, upon a splendid tract 
of sixteen hundred and twenty-five acres of 
good land, all of which is under cultivation or 
in pasture. Besides caring for his extensive farm- 
ing interests, Mr. Goodwin gives strict atten- 
tion to the business of the Bank of Saline 
County, of which he is President. He married in 
the year 1857 Miss Lucy (order, daughter of 
John (order, a native of Virginia, who came to 
Missouri in 1839. By this union there are three 
children, namely: John G.; Minnie, wife of Cam- 
illus Barnett, Jr.; and Sarah E., wife of R. E. L. 
Smith. As all good citizens should, Mr. Goodwin 
takes a lively interest in governmental affairs, and 
from honest conviction is a pronounced Demo- 
crat. Both himself and wife are devoted members 
of the Presbyterian Church. 



r 



*=*s* 



\ F. GARRETT, an enterprising and promi- 
nent business man, and the well-known 
proprietor of the Waverly Livery Stables, 
came from the Southland to Missouri more 
than a quarter of a century ago, and, engaging since 
in various occupations, has for some time past re- 
sided in La Fayette County, where his integrity of 
character and honorable methods of business have 
won him many friends and well-wishers. Oursub- 
jecl was born in Loudoun County, Va., February 
23, 1851). The Garrett family is of English ances- 
try, but some of its members located in the Col- 
onies of America prior to the struggle for indepen- 
dence and figured in the War of the Revolution, 
and many of their descendants are numbered 
among the useful and law-abiding citizens of the 
United Stat<<. 

The father of our subject was Joseph Garrett, 
who was born and educated in the Old Dominion. 



458 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



His wife, Elizabeth Hardin, w:is connected with 
the Hardin family, which has been well and favor- 
ably known these many years in the South. The 
name of Hardin has been perpetuated in the United 
States in the naming of Ave counties in as many 
States. Hardin County, 111. .was named in honor of 
that brave and gallant soldier, John J. Hardin. who 
was killed when courageously facing the enemy at 
the battle of Bnena Vista. Mr. Garrett passed his 
boyhood among the familiar scenes of his early 
life, and attended the common schools of Loudoun 
County, also assisting his father. At sixteen years 
of age, he removed with his parents to Missouri, 
locating in his new home in 1866. 

For twenty years our subject unweariedly tilled 
the soil of Missouri, and from a comparatively 
unbroken acreage brought his farm under a high 
state of cultivation. He also raised some excellent 
stock and continued to successfully conduct the 
duties of general agriculture until 1886, when he 
embarked in mercantile pursuits. He entered into 
partnership with W. E. Fry, which connection 
lasted four years and a-half. At the expiration of 
this time, Mr. Garrett sold out and began in his 
present business, which has been an assured success 
from its opening, supplying a ready and reasona- 
ble service to the residents of Waverlyand enjoy- 
ing an extensive transient custom. 

In 1879, our subject was united in marriage with 
Miss Mollie E., daughter of Joseph Woolfskill, a 
native of Missouri. By this marriage, Mr. Garrett 
became the father of four children, of whom 
but one child, a daughter, Mary L., survives. 
Our subject contracted a second marriage in 1889, 
his present wife having been Miss Anna De Moss, 
a lady highly esteemed and possessing a large cir- 
cle of friends and acquaintances. Mr. and Mrs. 
Garrett are the parents of two children, James F., 
Jr., anil Milnor, bright little ones whose presence 
gladdens the pleasant home of their father and 
mother. Mr. and Mrs. Garrett are devoted mem- 
bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and 
are aetive in the social and benevolent work of 
their denomination. In political affiliations our 
subject is an earnest Democrat, and while never 
anxious for political office is deeply interested in 
national and local issues, and in common with all 



good and loyal American citizens desires that the 
reins of Government shall be placed in worthy and 
able hands, thus forever insuring our national 
prosperity. 



=K+^~ 




^S AMl'EL M. AYRES. For very nearly two 
years our subject has been Sheriff of Sa- 
line County, to which office he was elected 
in November, 1890, and qualified January 
1, 1891. Mr. Ayres is a native-born Missourian, 
his birthplace being near Slater, and the day of his 
nativity November 27, 1857. lie is a son of Ben- 
jamin F. and Martha J. (Woolbridge) Ayres, the 
father being a farmer and stockman, and a native 
of Buckingham County, Ya., as was also his wife, 
but their marriage took place in Missouri. 

Benjamin F. Ayres came to Saline County when 
nineteen years of age, and his father, with whom 
he came, who was born February 27, 1821, was one 
of the earliest pioneers. He died February •!, 

1889, leaving a family of three sons. He and li is 
son had improved their farm until it was one of 
the best cultivated tracts about Slater. Our sub- 
ject's father held the office of Constable for 
twenty years. His farm comprised six hundred 
acres of land. 

Samuel M. acquired his education in the public 
schools of Saline County, and then gave his time 
to the development of the farm until he was 
twenty-one years of age. At the age of twenty- 
two, he was appointed Deputy Sheriff of the 
county, and at the age of twenty-three ran for 
the office of Sheriff and was known as the "boy 
candidate." Although he failed in securing the 
fust office he ran for, the vote was very much of a 
compliment to him. He served as Deputy until 

1890, and then, although there were live other 
nominees in the field, he was elected over them all 
by a majority of live hundred. The duties of the 
office were familiar to him by virtue of his work 
as Deputy, and since enjoying the full honors of the 
office he has in no wise ceased hiscarefuland pains- 




Jt 




m 





lAl/rvi/UA/t 




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



461 



taking policy, and lias filled the office with great 
credit to himself. He devotes his whole attention 
i" the affairs of his official appointment, allowing 
no outside interest to distract him, and has the 
municipal welfare thoroughly at heart. Mr. 
Ay res was re-elected November 8, 1892. 

Sheriff Ayres was married to Miss Allie Winning, 
whose home was near Miami. She is a daughter 
of Thomas J. Winning,a prominent farmer of that 
locality. Their marriage was solemnized February 
24, 1886, when they inaugurated a happy home. 
•It now contains two children, whose names are 
Lester Lageal and Nevore M. Mr. Ayres belongs 
to the fraternity of the Knights of Pythias. 



«jf 



0' 



1^ 



/p^EOROF W. BREMZER, M. I)., an early 
III g— -, and successful physician and surgeon of 
\^A Saline County, has returned to Slater after 
an extended absence. His departure from the 
county in 188,? was felt by his fellow-citizens to 
be an irreparable loss, and numerous friends of 
other days as well as a large circle of new acquaint- 
ances welcomed back this most trusted and effici- 
ent medical practitioner when he returned in 1891. 

A native of Pennsylvania, our subject was born 
in Silver Springs Township, Cumberland County, 
March 10, 1834. He is of German descent. His 
great-grandfather, who was born in Germany, emi- 
grated to America in an early day and settled in 
the good old Quaker State, where the family re- 
mained and prospered. The grandfather, George, 
and the father, David, were born and reared in 
Pennsylvania, and there received such educations 
as were possible in their locality. David Brenizer 
for a long time followed the pursuit of agriculture 
and was also a contractor and builder. In politi- 
cal affiliations, he was a Democrat and was a most 
worthy and respected citizen. 

The mother of our subject, Mary (Trimble) 
Brenizer, was born in Pennsylvania and now re- 
sides in Cumberland County, that State. Her fa- 
ther, who was of Irish descent, was born in the 



Keystone State, where he followed the calling of a 
farmer. Our subject is one [of six children, 
namely: Mrs. Elcetta Hemp, of Cumberland 
County. Pa.; Emily, Mrs. Shawl, deceased: Oliver, 
who was a wagon-master in the Army of the 
Potomac during the Civil War and now resides in 
Decatur County. Iowa; Theophilus, a physician, 
and Winfield. a farmer, both of whom served as 
teamsters under their In-other Oliver in the war; 
and our subject. 

George W. Brenizer was reared on his father's 
farm, and there learned the carpenter's trade. In 
early boyhood, he attended the primitive log 
schoolhouse of the neighborhood. In 1852, he 
went to Dayton, Ohio, and after working there at 
his trade for a short time returned home. Sub- 
sequently, he again went to Dayton, where he pur- 
sued the study of medicine under one of the best 
physicians of the city, and afterward studied un- 
der Dr. Frieze, of Mechanicsburgh, Pa. Later, he 
entered the old Homeopathic College in Phila- 
delphia, from which he was graduated, receiving the 
degree of Doctor of Medicine, and at once began the 
practice of his profession in Cumberland County, 
Pa. In I860, he located in Wapello County, Iowa, 
and made that place his home for nine months. He 
then settled in Decatur County of the same State, 
and engaged in successful practice there for three 
years. 

In 1869, (he Doctor journeyed to the South, and 
when the legal examination was passed in Mis- 
souri, he became a registered physician, and opened 
an office in .Marshall. Saline County. In 1871. he 
located on a farm near Orearville. and still con- 
tinued his practice. In 187s, he began to practice 
his profession in Slater, where he built one of the 
first dwelling houses. His professional duties were 
very wearing here and he had but little rest. At 
one time he worked nine days and nights without 
removing his clothes for the sleep which seemed 
so necessary for the preservation of his own health. 
In 188.",, hi. greatly over-taxed strength failed 
him. and he went to Vernon County, thence to 
Hume, Bates County, afterward to St. ( lair Count v, 
then to Deepwater, Henry County, and finally, in 
1888, located in Kansas City and started a prac- 
tice at Centropolis, Fifteenth Street. 



462 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



During the month of June, 1891, Dr. Brenizer 

was called to Slater to see a patient, and was pie- 
vailed upon to again resume practice here among 
the many friends who thoroughly appreciated his 
skill and excellent professional judgment. His 
office is located over the Savings Bank and his 
time is closely occupied with his practice. Dr. 
Brenizer was married in Cumberland County, Pa., 
in the 3'ear 1850. to Miss Ann Catherine Beck, a 
native of Maryland. Our subject and his wife are 
the parents of eight children: Loamma A., a car- 
penter and builder; Lovell T., also a carpenter by 
trade; Clara L., Mrs. Nolen, who resides at home; 
George, Grace, Zinnie. Mary, and Annie, who arc 
at borne. The Doctor and Ids family are among 
the important social and religious factors of Slater. 
They are attendants at and members of the Meth- 
odist Church, and are active in the benevolent and 
social enterprises of that organization. Never an 
office-seeker, our subject yet takes an interest in the 
local and national conduct of public affairs, and 
votes the Democratic ticket. Faithful in profes- 
sional duties, an able and intelligent citizen, Dr. 
Brenizer has a high place in the esteem and respect 
of the entire community. 



EDWIN THEODORE GUERIN, well known 
for many years as a prominent money- 
r loaner of Saline County, was a citizen of 
unusual honor and integrity of character. For 
four years he served the public faithfully as Jus- 
tice of the Peace, and was ever wise and just in 
his legal decisions, discharging the official duties 
of the position with satisfaction to the commu- 
nity and with credit to his efficient and able con- 
duct of the numerous cases intrusted to his care. 
Interested in public improvement and progress, a 
kind friend and generous benefactor and a devoted 
husband and father, his deatli was an an irrepar- 
able loss to the family and the general public. 
Born in Lexington. Ky., January 22, 1823, Mr. 



Guerin was long a resilient of Saline County, 
and passed away July 20, 1880, upon section 
33, township 52, range L9, his home for many 
years. 

Our subject was the son of (Ten. Bertrand A. 
and Frances (Hiekcy) Guerin. The mother was a 
daughter of Judge Hiekev. a well-known jurist of 
Kentucky. The father was a native of France 
and did service in the army of Napoleon Bona- 
parte. Their family consisted of four children. 
the others beside our subject being Bertrand, who 
was born in 1831; Thomas; and Maggie, now 
Mrs. Nise. Edwin Theodore Guerin was a grad- 
uate of St. Mary's (Ky.) College. After complet- 
ing his studies there, he became a dealer in mer- 
chandise in lluntsville. Mo., and remained in 
business there from 1815 to 1855. About this 
time he met Miss Gilliam, and after their union, 
in the spring of 1855, they immediately removed 
to Glasgow. He there engaged in the mercan- 
tile business until the breaking out of the war in 
1861, when he removed to Cambridge, Saline 
County, and made this latter place his home until 
1865. 

Our subject then settled upon a tract of land 
which now forms a part of the town of Slater. 
and actively engaged in agricultural pursuits for 
three years, at the expiration of which time he 
embarked in business at Cambridge as a private 
banker and money-loaner. For four years he re- 
sided in Cambridge, and then located upon a 
farm of eight3 - acres adjoining the place given to 
him and his wife by his father-in-law, William 
Taylor Gilliam. To this gift Mr. Guerin added 
other tracts of land until he had increased his 
acreage to four hundred. He also continued to 
act as a private banker and money-loaner. as his 
capital enabled him to conduct a safe and profit- 
able business. He was noted for his generosity 
and justice in business dealings. In the thirty- 
three years of his life devoted to mercantile trans- 
actions, lie was never sued, nor did he ever have 
to result to law with any of his numerous debtors. 
Although not a church member, he was ever ready 
to assist in the support of religious organizations, 
and encouraged all aids for the betterment of his 
fellow-men. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



463 



Mrs. Guerin, formerly Judith Elizabeth Gilliam, 
and daughter of thai enterprising and pioneer 
settler of Missouri, William Taylor Gilliam, and his 
wife, Mary (Stewart) Gilliam, was a native of 
the good old State of Virginia, and was born in 
the year 1837. Mr. and Mrs. Guerin were blessed 
with a large family, eleven children gathering 
around the hearth of their pleasant home. Six of 
the sons and daughters are yet living, namely: 
Fannie, Lucian, Rollie, Hairy. Gustine and Aubrey. 
These children, bright, intelligent, and already oc- 
cupying positions of usefulness and honor, were, 
with two exceptions, educated in the excellent pub- 
lic schools of their home and immediate vicinity. 
Fannie is a graduate of a female college, and is an 
accomplished and attractive lady. 

Few faces could have been missed out of the 
community more than was the kindly one of 
Edwin Guerin. He was an acknowledged just 
arbitrator in matters of dispute in his section of 
the country, and many a young and ardent man 
to-day blesses his memory for assistance given him 
in an hour of boyish trouble. To aid. comfort 
and relieve others of sorrow and suffering was for 
him one of the most precious privileges of life, 
and it may be truthfully said that none knew him 
but to love him for his grand and noble traits of 
character. 



_.;..;--!--:- s 



6|+***t 



3 **+*ll5iS? -i-{"5"5-<= 



tf-s^ EVERHART. Each man is the builder of 
^^4 his own fortune, and our subject clearly 
'v^UP built his, for he started out in the world 
with nothing but his head and his hands. 
He i-. a farmer, living on section 10, township I'.i, 
range 29, La Fayette County, and is tin- son of 
William and Catherine (Axline) Everhart, both 
natives of Virginia and who lived and died there. 
The Everharts are of German descent, the grand- 
father having come over from that country. The 
father of our subject was a farmer and a soldier in 
the War of 1812. He died in 1835, and his wife in 
1815. They were the parents of five children, 



three of whom are now living, the eldest eighty- 
four years of age, the next eighty-two, and our 
subject seventy-nine. Lawrence Everhart, an un- 
cle of our subject, wa> a prominent soldier in the 
Revolutionary War. 

Our subject was born December 19, 1813, in 
Loudoun County, Va., where he was reared and re- 
ceived his schooling, but left there when seventeen 
years of age to learn the carpenter's trade, which 
he followed nearly all his life. In 1835, he was 
married to Mary A. Wenner, a native of Loudoun 
County, Va., and daughter of William and Eliza- 
beth (Shcrt) Wenner. both natives of Virginia. 
The father was a farmer and a soldier in the War 
of 1812. They were the parents of eight children, 
two of them yet living. After their marriage, Mr. 
and Mrs. Everhart remained in the county of 
their nativity until 1857, when they came to this 
county and settled at Napoleon, remaining for six 
yeais and then going to their present home. The 
farm was wild land, and Mr. Everhart has placed 
the improvements on the one hundred and sixty 
acres which are now all under cultivation. He 
worked hard, conducting the farm and working at 
his trade as well. The wife during his absence at 
work carried on the farm industriously and satis- 
factorily. 

The residence of our subject is a very neat one. 
costing 19(10, and the barns and other outbuildings 
are ample for their requirements. The wife, who 
was born .Ian nary '.», 1814, became the mother of 
nine children, six living: Betty, Marietta, Jennie, 
George R., Adelaide 15. and Sallie. One son, W. B., 
an inspector of public buildings at Kansas City, 
Mo., died in July, 1892, leaving a widow with 
seven children. Our subject and his wife are 
members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church 
and have been for a great many years, he being an 
Elder in the same; the children likewise are mem- 
bers of that church. lie is a Democrat, having 
cast bis first vote for .Martin Van Linen, and from 
that time forward lias unwaveringly stood by his 
ticket through good and evil report. It has been 
his good fortune to see many of the older Presi- 
dents of the United states. Mr. and Mrs. Ever- 
hart started in life poor and have had to work hard, 
but the}' have given their children good educations 



4G4 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



and now have ample means for their wants. They 

lived on their farm during the war, but Mr. Ever- 
hart took no part in the great struggle. The 
golden wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Everhart was 
celebrated seven years ago, and it is the wish of 
their hosts of friends that they may he spared for 
many years in health and happiness. 



«& 



"'j^ I* 



eUARLKS STRASBURG, a prominent 
German-American citizen of La Fayette 
County, Mo., resides upon his farm of one 
hundred and forty-five acres of land located in 
township 49, section 7, range 2(i. His birth took 
place in Prussia April 16, 1838, he being a son of 
Charles and Minnie Strasburg, both of whom were 
natives of Germany. In that country he passed 
a happy boyhood and youth, and in 1857 accom- 
panied his parents to America. The great city of 
Hamburg is a favorite place of embarkation, and 
from C'uxhaven, its port, Mr. Strasburg and fam- 
ily took passage in a sailing-vessel for their new 
home. After landing at New York City, having 
passed eight weeks upon the ocean, they went 
across the country until they readied Jefferson 
County. Wis. Oftentimes while traversing the 
broad green prairies of Illinois or Iowa were they 
reminded of their own country, near Hamburg, 
and possibly the owners of many of the familial' 
looking farm houses had been former residents of 
the Fatherland. 

In the State of Wisconsin, our subject remained 
until 1861, when, by enlisting for her defense, 
lie proved most forcibly his affection for his 
adopted country. In September of that year, he 
became a member of the Thirteenth Wisconsin In- 
fantry, and subsequently re-enlisted in the same 
regiment, taking part in the battle of Nashville and 
several others of minor importance. lie was sent 
to Texas after the surrender of Richmond and re- 
mained from .Inly, 1865, to the following January, 
when he went to Minnesota, where he resided until 
1873. Since that time; Mr. Strasburg has been a 



resident of La Fayette County. Mo. .where lie owns 
the tine farm mentioned at the opening of this ar- 
ticle. As Mr. Strasburg is a self-made man, hav- 
ing had no wealthy or powerful relatives to push 
him up the ladder of life, he may well be proud 
of the position of influence and prominence he 
has gained by his own efforts. 

One of the most judicious ventures of the life 
of our subject was his marriage, March 13, 1804, 
with Miss Henrietta Drager, a native of Germany. 
She has been a careful, worthy helpmate, and lias 
become the good and faithful mother of nine chil- 
dren, who will ever remember her love and care. 
They are as follows: Charles, Henry, Edward, 
George; Lizzie, who is now the wife of Charles 
Daggs; William, Herman, Albert and Arthur. This 
is a noble array of sons, and if they make as fine 
men as their excellent father, the county of their 
residence may well be proud of them. As far as 
possible, Mr. Strasburg will bring them up to follow 
the principles of the Republican party, for in that 
party our subject has been an active member for 
many years. As Road Commissioner. Mr. Stras- 
burg has given his township the utmost satisfac- 
tion and has shown himself one of the intelligent 
and progressive citizens of the place. Both Mr. 
and Mrs. Strasburg are connected by membership 
with the Methodist Episcopal Church, where they 
are very highly esteemed. The war record of our 
subject is an honorable one, he having entered the 
ranks as a private; he was promoted two years later 
to be a Corporal, serving as such until the close of 
the strife. 






mmm&*m& 



i NDREW M. DICKERSON, an energetic 
L*7 J! and successful general agriculturist and 




Stock-raiser, is located in township 51. 
Qj range 20. near Orearville. Self-reliant 

and industrious, he lias won his way upward and 
commands the esteem of all who know him. Mr. 
Dickerson was born in Jessamine County, Ky., in 
1811. and is of Scotch descent. His paternal grand- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



465 



father, John Dickerson, was also bom in Jessamine 
Countj .and .spent his boyhood and youth in his na- 
tive State, where he married .Miss .Mary Sisson, also 
a native Kentuckian. He was a lifelong farmer, and 
(lied in the State of his nativity in 1841. 

The father of our subject, named in honor of the 
paternal grandfather, John, was the eldest in a 
family of six children, four sons and two daughters, 
lie was born in the year 1806, in the county of 
Jessamine, on the old Kentucky homestead. Hav- 
ing reached man's estate, he began life for himself, 
settling upon a farm four miles from his birthplace, 
and was both a farmer ami carpenter by trade. He 
married Miss Paulina Cravens, a daughter of John 
and Elizabeth Cravens, of the same county. Of 
this marriage were born seven children, two sons 
and five daughters. Mary E. is deceased; Virginia 
('. is married to Robert Bibb, of Jessamine County; 
Sarah is the wife of William Mackey, of Kentuck}'; 
our subject is the fourth child; Louise is the wife 
of B. F. Super, of Boyd County, Ky.; John resides 
at Nicholasville, Jessamine County; and Ann is the 
wife of R. P. Soper, of Nicholasville, the county 
seat of Jessamine County. 

In 1864, Mr. Dickerson was married to Miss Lucy 
M. Young, a daughter of Richard Young, widely 
known throughout Jessamine County. After the 
death of his faithful companion and devoted wife, 
our subject removed in 1881 to Missouri, and lo- 
cated at first in Pettis County, remaining there two 
years. He then settled upon the farm where he 
now resides. The seventy acres are under high 
cultivation, and yield a bounteous return for the 
tilling of the soil. The improvements are all of 
the best, and the home is attractively located. 
Thrift and industry have wrought a change in 
I he acres, which are yearly increasing in value. In 
April, 188.3, Mr. Dickerson was a second time mar- 
ried, his present wife having been Miss Nannie C. 
Smiley, daughter of Sylvester Smiley, <>f Polk 
County, Mo. 

Aside from the duties of general agriculture, our 
subject is raising graded Shorthorn cattle, and has 
achieved success in this venture. Mr. Dickerson 
has never aspired to political promotion, but is in- 
terested in the disposition of local and national 
olHces, and is a Democrat, lie and his wife are 



members of the Christian Church, and are among 
the valued workers of that religious denomination. 
A useful and honored citizen, Mr. Dickerson is also 
enterprising and progressive, ever ready to aid in 
the good work of his home neighborhood, and is 
numbered among the important factors in the de- 
velopment of the leading interests of his portion 
of the State. 



fl'ACKSON CORDER, a representative citi- 
zen of La Fayette County, is a man who has 
taken an active and hearty interest in the 
s/ upbuilding of his township, has been a wit- 
ness of almost all of the improvements that have 
taken place here, and is now one of its most pros- 
perous citizens. His line stock farm is located 
upon section 1, range 2.1, township 49, where he 
owns over five hundred acres of cultivated land 
and is engaged in raising Denmark horses, regis- 
tered Shorthorn cattle, and Poland-China hogs. 

Our subject was born in Rappahannock County, 
Ya.. October 28, 1837, and is the son of Nathan 
and Nancy (Holloway) Corder, both of whom 
were natives of Virginia. Nathan ('order, in 1839, 
thinking to better his condition, packed up his 
household goods, and with his family and quite a 
large number of slaves removed to this county, 
where he Located on the farm now owned by Maj. 
G. P. Gordon. At that place Mr. Corder remained 
for some time, but subsequently settled upon the 
farm which our subject now owns, and which was 
obtained from the Government. He was one of 
the pioneer settlers of the place and built the 
house in which our subject now lives. This was 
erected in the '50s and was the third house be- 
tween Lexington and Sweet Springs, a distance of 
thirty miles. At this time there was nothing to 
he seen but boundless prairie, and no prophetic 
sight had yet revealed to them the thriving little 
town which should arise near this site and should 
bear the name of (order, in honor of the family. 



466 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Maj. Corder, as the father of oiir subject was 
familiarly known, was a man of high intelligence 
and possessed a wide acquaintance. His influence 
in the county was very marked, and when death 
called him away in March, 18.59, La Fayette ( mini v 
lost <me nf her best citizens. The mother of our 
subject survived him until 1886, when she passed 
away at the age of eighty-four years. 

Our subject has but one brother, Nathan, and he 
was reared to manhood in this county. At that 
time the educational advantages were few in this 
vicinity, although in almost all of the pioneer 
towns the schoolhouse is erected among the ear- 
liest buildings. The country was then overrun 
with game, and our subject has seen as many as 
eighteen or twenty deer in a herd upon his farm. 
lie became acquainted with all of the trials of 
pioneer life, such as long distance from markets, 
rough forest and prairie roads, unbridged streams 
and depredations of beasts and savages. Through 
all these scenes of struggle he passed unscathed 
and now enjoys peace and plenty. 

Before settling down to the business of an agri- 
culturist our subject took advantage of the sub- 
scription schools, taught near by in a little log 
cabin, and later went as far as Lexington for a 
short time. Since then he has kept abreast with 
the times. The lady who became the wife of our 
subject bore the maiden name of Bessie Wall, 
the marriage ceremony taking place July 5, 1860. 
She is the daughter of Benjamin and Susan Wall, 
and a native of North Carolina, but was reared in 
Johnson County, Mo., where her parents resided. 
By this happy union, Mr. and Mrs. Corder have 
become the parents of the following-named chil- 
dren: Susan, now the wife of W. II. Walton; 
Leona A. and Henry F. The family resides upon 
the tine farm of live hundred and forty acres of 
choice Missouri land, respected by their neighbors 
and esteemed by the whole county. 

Not only has Mr. Corder made a success of his 
fanning and stock-raising, but he also has a fine 
record as a brave soldier. For three of the best 
years of his life he was a soldier in the Confederate 
army under Gens. Shelby and Marmaduke, be- 
longing to Col. Gordon's regiment. The conflicts 
in which our subject bore a pari have become a 



part of history. Long will be pointed out the 
spots where were fought the battles of Lexington, 
Cane Hill, Cape Girardeau, and many other en- 
gagements of minor note, where danger was just as 
imminent. At Hcntonville, Ark., our subject was 
captured just before the close of the war, but he 
was soon exchanged and returned to La Fayette 
County. In his political convictions, he isa Dem- 
ocrat, and exerts quite an influence in the county. 
Both he and his wife are esteemed members and 
hearty workers in the Methodist Episcopal Church 
South. Socially, he is connected with the Ma- 
sonic order, and in the community he is regarded 
as one of the most prominent of its citizens. 



=€>-*<; 



iQv— 



IL_^ON. J. W. DANIEL, elected to the Bench 

|f )), of Saline County in 1890, and again al- 
most unanimously returned to the honored 
position of County .bulge in 1892, is not 
only one of the most popular citizens of Missouri, 
but is distinguished by his ability and efficiency 
in the discharge of the duties entrusted to his care. 
Possessing a strong character, energetic and wise 
in judgment, he is well fitted to become a leader, 
and now commands the confidence and esteem of 
the entire community among whom he has resided 
many years. Deeply interested in all matters per- 
taining to public progress, and a liberal giver in 
behalf of religious and benevolent enterprises, 
Judge Daniel is widely known as a thoroughly 
unselfish, true-hearted, Christian gentleman. Born 
in Virginia in 1846, he removed to Missouri in 
very early life, and is an old-time settler of his 
present locality, upon section 3, township 51, range 
19. contiguous to the flourishing town of Gilliam. 
E. J. Daniel, the father of our subject, was a 
man universally beloved and respected, and was 
deeply mourned when he departed this life in 
1869. He had two brothers who served in the 
War of 1812, and was himself made Captain under 
the administration of William Henry Harrison. 
The mother, S. H. Daniel, was a lady of culture 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



467 



and worth, and became the mother of seven chil- 
dren, four sons and three daughters, all of whom 
were born in Virginia. S. V., Harsh I,., .lames R. and 
Sarah Hill reside in Saline County; the second 
daughter, Etta Lesley, resides in Chariton County; 
and Jennie Lncas makes her home in Carroll 
County. In 1870, our subject was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Anna Lucas, who was born in 
Carroll County, .Mo., in 1849. Four children have 
blessed their happy home, and one by one enter- 
ing school, have proved by their bright intelli- 
gence their adaptability for the useful and pro- 
gressive work of life. 

Judge Daniel attended the common schools of 
both Virginia and Missouri, and at twenty years 
of age engaged in Carroll County in the pursuit 
of agriculture; he also was a trader. Although 
unassisted in the battle of life, he prospered from 
the very beginning of his business career, and in 
a comparatively brief time owned three farms in 
Carroll County. His present home farm in Saline 
County is pleasantly located and extensive in 
area, comprising five hundred acres, all under a 
high state of improvement. Aside from the pur- 
suit of general agriculture, Judge Daniel has been 
very fortunate in handling large droves of cattle, 
accumulating handsome returns from his various 
investments in live stock. He has also given 
special attention to the raising of fine blooded 
stock, principally horses, and has owned some of 
the best thoroughbred racing horses in the State. 
Everything upon the farm is in exquisite order, 
and well portrays the energy and thrift of the 
owner of the valuable property. The home is an 
attractive and modern house, commodious and 
well arranged. The outbuildings correspond in 
size and exterior finish, and the general appearance 
of the farm denotes prosperity and success. 

Judge Daniel and his family enjoy an undoubted 
position of influence, and are prominent factors 
in the social world of their neighborhood. Fra- 
ternally, our subject is a member of the Independ- 
ent ( trder of Odd Fellows, and politically, is first 
and last a Democrat, a firm believer in his party. 
and an advocate whose sound arguments have 
strengthened the wavering forces at various times, 
and, as it were, has frequently assisted the ticket 




to "win victory from the very jaws of defeat." 
It is not everyone who has the tact and happy 
faculty of making friends of former foes, but in 
this branch of diplomacy Judge Daniel excels, not 
by the force of logic alone, but also by the sterling 
integrity and upright walk of daily life which 
distinguish the eloquent pleader for pure and 
honest Democratic rule. 



i ■■ *^ — 



F. LEMMON, a prosperous and well-known 
resident of Saline County, one whose 

sympathy for the Southern cause was very 
earnest, resides upon his fine farm located 
on section 8, township 52, range 21, near Miami. 
He belongs to a family whose members have beer 
noted for valor. His maternal grandfather, Clai- 
liorn Chandler, was a brave soldier under Gen. 
Washington in the Revolution, and also served in 
the War of 1812. lie. was of German origin, a 
man of great determination of character. His 
wife, whose maiden name was Taylor, was con- 
nected with the family of ■'( >ld-Rough-and-Ready,'* 
President Taylor. 

Benjamin and Emily (Chandler) Lemmon, pa- 
rents of our subject, had a family of seven chil- 
dren, all Datives of Kentucky, and live of whom 
are yet living. John died at the age of forty 
years; Thomas married Miss MeMillin, and they re- 
side at present near Marshall, Saline County. .Mo., 
where he is engaged as a farmer; (ieorge married 
Miss Thomas, and they live in Jackson County. 
Mo., where he is the manager of a large feed .-ta- 
ble; .lames is at present residing in the State of 
Illinois, where he follows the trade of carpenter; 
Mary married a .Mr. Coleman, and they reside in 
Sandoval, 111., where he is a railroad employe; and 
Claiborn died at the age of thirty-five years. 

The education of our subject was acquired in a 
little log schoolhouse with furnishings of a primi- 
tive kind, but he had meagre advantages, for his 
time was mostly devoted to farm work. Afterthe 
death of his father, which occurred in 1849, his 



468 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



mother again married, and he remained with li is 
stepfather until 1852, when lie rented a place in 
thai vicinity, and began fanning fur himself. In 
1876, he came to Saline County, Mo., where he 
purchased one hundred and forty acres of land, 
and to this added another purchase of one hun- 
dred acres, for which he paid 837.50 per acre. 

At present our subject has a beautiful and well- 
improved farm of two hundred and forty-five 
acres, with a modern two-story frame house of 
seven rooms, which was erected at a cost of $2,000. 
lie has also a very fine barn, 40x40, which is 
worth §1,000. The land has a valuation of $50 
per acre, and the owner takes a pardonable pride 
in its fine improvements. In farming he has been 
very successful, his wheat averaging thirty-two 
bushels to the acre, and the gross receipts from 
this last year were $4,500. 

Our subject was first married in Grant County, 
Ky., to Miss Lizzie McDowell, by whom he had 
four children: M. F., W. F., Lola G.and Robert H 
His second union took place March 13, 1873, also 
in Grant County, Ky., when Miss Lizzie Berry be- 
came his wife. Mrs. Lemmon is a native of Har- 
rison County, Ky. For many years Mr. and Mrs. 
Lemmon have been members of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church South, and he has contributed 
most liberally of his means for the spread of the 
Gospel. Politically, our subject is a Democrat, be- 
lieving in the great principles of Democracy'. He 
takes an active interest in the affairs of his party, 
but, aside from being a member of the School 
Board, has accepted no office at its hands. So- 
cially, he is much respected in his neighborhood. 



r 



ENRY HEMME is one of the leading Ger- 
man citizens of Saline County. He takes 
great interest in church and educational 
matters, and has given liberally of his 
means to his church, the Lutheran, which is located 
near his farm ; also to St. Paul College at Concordia 




La Fayette County, this State, of which institution 
he is a Trustee. He has been an Eider in his church 
for two terms of six years, and is closely identified 
with its interests. 

Air. Ilemme was born in Hanover, Germany, 
June 15, 1833. His father, John Hemme, was born 
in (lie same place in 1799, and was a plasterer by 
trade, also owning a small farm. He emigrated to 
America in 1849, with his family, sailing from 
Hanover, and reaching New Orleans after a voyage 
of eight weeks and two days, in which a severe 
Sturm was encountered. The travelers went up 
the Mississippi to St. Louis, and up the Missouri 
to Lexington, this State, and located in La Fayette 
County, where the husband and father engaged in 
farming. Subsequently, in 1853, he settled in Saline 
County, in Salt Pond Township. He died in June, 
1886, at the age of eighty-six. He was one of the 
early settlers of this county, and was a member of 
the Lutheran Church. 

Henry's mother died when he was an infant of 
six months, he being the youngest of three chil- 
dren. The father married again and had two chil- 
dren by his second wife, only one of whom is liv- 
ing, while of the first wife's children but two re- 
main. Our subject attended school in Hanover 
until he was fourteen years of age, coming to this 
country with his father at the age of fifteen, and 
remaining with him, buying his land in 1863, and 
taking care of him after that until the time of his 
death. 

August 26, 1859, Mr. Ilemme married Miss Mary 
Borfind, who was born \n Hanover July 14, 1838. 
She came to America with a sister in 1858, her 
parents having died in the Old Country. She, as 
well as her husband, is a member of the Lutheran 
Church. Mr. Ilemme is a general farmer and ex- 
ceedingly prosperous. He started in life without 
means, and his present position is due to his energy 
and ability, lie has served as administrator three 
times, the last being for the Jacob Pepar estate in 
1891, and is quite familiar with the settlement of 
estates. In politics he is a Democrat. 

Mr. Hem me 's children are well educated, both in 
German and English, which alone speaks well for 
the good judgment of the father. These chil- 
dren are eight in number, and are: Henry L.; 




,-.- . 



V 





kJ 




[ Qtt^/sbr^J 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



471 



Louis, married, and a farmer in this township; 
George, who i- married, andresides on section 7; 
Sophia, wife of Claus Wienberg, living near the 
parental home; Martin, Theodor, Mary and Martha, 
all at home. To each of the married children has 
been given at the time of marriage 12,000. Large 
tracts of land have also been purchased for the 
children, so that they are abundantly provided for. 
During the war. Mr. Ilemine served seventeen 
days on the Union side, but was discharged on ac- 
count of physical disability. That he entered the 
service although unable to continue in it. proved 
the spirit of the man, and should win for him 
the gratitude and respect of his fellow-men. His 
life has been a successful one. He owns one bun- 
dled and thirty acres of land on sections 5 and 32, 
Salt Pond Township. This land lie purchased in 
1863, settling upon it the following year, and has 
since that time made it his home, lie has made 
new purchases from time to time, giving land to 
his children, as stated above. His land has cost 
him some $1 1,000. 



_=3 



~S 



^f^ 



r^=> 



j OBERT RUXTON, a prominent citizen of 

Miami and a native of Scotland, brought 

' \ with him to this country the perseverance 

\£> and thrift which in any land make the 
name of Scotland respected. In that country our 
subject was born in the year 1820, a son of James 
and E. Allen Ruxton. lie is one in a family of 
seven children, six of whom arc living, scattered 
over the world as follows: One in Canada, one in 
Australia and three yet in Scotland, while our sub- 
ject is the only member of the family in the 
United States. 

Coming early to the state of Missouri, our sub- 
ject received his first instruction in the schools of 

tjiis neighborh I, Boonville being the nearest. 

and he was graduated from the Kemper School of 
that place at the age of twenty-five years. In 
1S3'.», lie came to Saline County, and here taughl 
school until IS 111, when he made a tiip to Califor- 

23 



ma. In that state he remained for three years, at 
the expiration of which time he came to Miami 
and embarked in the mercantile business, in which 
he continued until 1855. At that time, he saw an 
opening in the warehouse and grocery business and 
in L856 he conducted a large and prosperous trade 
in that line, and at one time carried a stock val- 
ued at $4(1,00(1, beside a large amount of hemp. 

This business flourished until the breaking out 
of the war. when every branch of trade was para- 
lized. Our subject entered the army, volunteering 
under Col. Mitchell, where he served a short time, 
then came home to do recruiting duty. He suc- 
ceeded in raising a company of infantry at Miami 
and was made Captain, hut was taken prisoner and 
removed to McDowell College and from there was 
taken to Alton, 111., where he remained for nine 
months as a prisoner. After he was exchanged, he 
returned to Price's command in Arkansas and re- 
mained there until the close of the war. When 
the struggle was ended, our subject returned to 
Saline County and embarked in the dry-goods 
business, continuing thus engaged for one year. 
Afterward he was employed in a flouring-mill for 
a short time. His good judgment assured him that 
the grain business would bean increasing one in the 
State, and, acting upon his judgment, he built two 
warehouses, one 80x43. and the other 80x3(1. where 
he engaged in buying and shipping grain. This 
has proved most profitable and he sold as high as 
seventy thousand bushels a year. 

The marriage of our subject took plaee»in 1853 
in Saline County to Miss Mary, the daughter of 
William Brown, who was born in Virginia. The 
union was blessed with three children, two of 
whom survive and are highly respected and enter- 
prising men. Alvan K., horn in Saline County in 
1854, received a good education in Miami and is 
still unmarried. At present he is acting as pilot 
and captain on a river steamboat which runs on 
the Missouri River. Spencer P. was born in Saline 
County, and died there in 1876, at the age of 
twenty years. William P. was horn at the family 
home in I860; he married Miss Lucy Guthrie, and 
their place of residence is Springfield. Mo., where 
he is engaged as a clerk in a wholesale hardware 
business, 



472 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Mr. Ruxton is a member cf the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church South, as is also his estimable wife, 
and they are generous contributors to the various 
enterprises originated and carried <>n by their de- 
nomination. Politically, he is a Democrat. In 
1860, he was nominated for Sheriff but was de- 
feated, although he made a splendid run. Few 
residents of the county are more respected than 
the subject of this notice. The fearless champion 
of the cause of justice, the unswerving adher- 
ent of what is true and right, loyal as a friend and 
citizen, honored as an enterprising business man, 
the position which he occupies is among those who 
have most largely contributed to the country's 
progress and rendered most efficient service in the 
community. 




II. HANLEY is one of those Christian 
gentlemen of whom enough good can not 
be said, and about whom it is always a 
grateful task to write. The only trouble 
is that the sketch will be too feeble to do justice 
to the subject of it. Mr. Ilanley is a farmer and 
stock-raiser of Saline County, his farm being lo- 
cated in township 18, range 21, on sections 15 and 
[6, making over three hundred acres of good land 
which he has accumulated and successfully carried 
on. He docs a general farming business and has 
always kept a good grade of stock. 

The gentleman whose name heads this sketch 
was horn in Monroe County, Va., in March, 1819, 
and grew to maturity in that county, receiving 
his education in the common schools, kept in old 
log schoolhouses, with slab benches, seatid upon 
which Young America was to imbibe a love for 
learning that should go with him all through the 
years, and, in addition to that, a store of useful 
information that should be of service to him in 
waging the battle of life. That these old schools, 
rude as they were in outward appearance, did, in 
many instances, the work that they were intended 
to do, we have too many instances to allow of 



doubt or contradiction; for some of our grandest 
and most powerful men owe to them the entire 
school education that they have ever received. 

Mr. Ilanley married, in 1843, Miss Flora Clark, 
and that same fall came to Saline County and 
settled on a farm of forty acres, which he proved 
up from the Government with money earned at 
fifty cents a day. When he reached his destina- 
tion in this county, he had but $12 in his pocket, 
but so frugally and wisely did he manage his af- 
fairs that he succeeded from the first. In 1853 
Mrs. Ilanley died, leaving four children, only two 
of whom grew to maturity. These are Mary Jv, 
wife of Austin Jones, of Bates County; and John 
C, a resident of the same county. 

Mr. Ilanley's second wife, who, before her mar- 
riage, was Julia A. Claycomb. lived only four 
years, and left one child, who died at seven years 
of age. For his third wife Mr. Ilanley married 
Phoebe E. Claycomb, and to them were born six 
children: Yirgie, wife of Henry McDaniel, of Ilig- 
ginsville; James M., of Beaumont, Kan.; Lillie 1!., 
wife of R. A. Marshall, of Pitts County; George 
W., who died while in school at Columbia; R. E. 
Lee, who is still at home; and Daisy D. Mr. Ilan- 
ley's post office is Wanamaker. 

Archibald and Susan (Kinkaid) Ilanley, the 
parents of our Mr. Ilanley, were both natives of 
Virginia. Their family consisted of eleven chil- 
dren, of whom A. II. was the seventh. His grand- 
father was born in Virginia, but was of Irish de- 
scent. So far as known, the family have always 
been agriculturist-. 

Mr. Ilanley came to the southern part of Saline 
County when there were few houses there, and 
put the first rail and broke the first piece of ground 
on the prairie in that part of the county, lie was 
instrumental in organizing the Christian Congrega- 
tion near his home, and in 1870 started the church 
building. He was a charter member when the de- 
nomination had its birth, and is the only one of 
those now living. He has been a Democrat all his 
life, as were both his father and grandfather. He 
is a member of the Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows, and has been District Deputy Grand 
Master for the past twenty years, attending all the 
national meetings. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



473 



Mr. Hanley's mother was buried in the cemetery 
at the church near his home, :i fitting resting- 
place, and one that must seem more than ordin- 
arily appropriate to the son whose life is so true an 
exponent of the teachings of that sacred place; for 
Mr. Hanley is a model Christian gentleman — one 
who is always doing good wherever he can, always 
trying to follow, in every walk of life, the teach- 
ings of the Master. Than this, nothing higher 
can lie said of any man, and all who know Mr. 
Hanley feel sure that he will hear the ''Well done, 
good and faithful servant," for which all true 
Christians are waiting. 









AMES A. METCALF, a successful and enter- 
prising general agriculturist and stock-raiser 
of Saline County, is located near Slater and 
is well known in that flourishing town as 
an energetic and intelligent citizen interested in 
the affairs of the day and ever ready to aid in the 
advancement of any good cause. Born August 
25, 1858, in Adams County, 111., our subject was 
but ten years of age when he came to the State 
of Missouri with his parents and settled in Saline 
County. His father and mother, George and Ma- 
rinda (Midline (Nichols) Metcalf, were native 
Kentuckians, born and bred in the Blue Crass Re- 
gion of that famous old State. 

George Metcalf was from early youth an excel- 
lent judge of the qualities and speed of horses, and 
when a young man became a horse dealer and 
trader. Leaving his native State, he sojourned 
with li is family for a time in Illinois, removing 
thence to Missouri, where he arrived in 1870, and 
purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, 
for which he paid 820 per acre. Working indus- 
triously and investing all that he could spare of 
his income in real estate, the father of our subject 
soon increased his possessions until he owned a 
valuable tract of land, three hundred and fifty 
aires in extent. Until lus death, which Occurred 
in .Inly, 1890, he continued to improve his prop- 



erty, gradually bringing his farm up to a high 
state of cultivation. Prior to his death lie dis- 
posed of a porti f lii- hind, and when lie died 

owned hut one hundred and thirty acres. 

father Metcalf never aspired to political office 
but was an ardent Democral and always interested 
in the outcome of local and national issues. He 
was a most excellent citizen and a kind husband 
and father. Married in Bourbon County, Ky., to 
Miss Marinda Caroline Nichols in 1846, they first 
lived upon a Kentucky farm, but in 1849 located 
in Illinois, where they were blessed by the birth 
of their son, the subject of this sketch. Their en- 
tire family was composed of hut two sons ami tun 
daughters. David Metcalf was born in Adams 
County. 111., and died at the age of six years. 
■lane Metcalf was horn in Kentucky and was mar- 
ried to an excellent business man, G. X. Nichols, 
and now resides with her husband in Kansas City. 
Melissa Metcalf was also a native of Adams County, 
111., and lived to become a wife but died in 1881. 
Her husband, who survives her, is Lewis Miller, a 
farmer of Saline County. Mo. 

The home farm in Saline County. Mo., was soon 
cleared and in a brief time one hundred and 
forty acres were transformed from a wilderness 
into a productive and sightly farm. Our subject 

attended the common -d Is of his new home in 

Saline County, and at the age of eighteen devoted 
his entire time to agricultural pursuits, remaining 
upon his father's farm until the death of this par- 
ent, lie now owns one h Ired and sixty acres 

of valuable land, all finely improved, and raises 
principally wheat and corn and also engages mOSl 
profitably in stock-raising. He is an experienced 
horse trader and at present owns ten line head of 
horses. His farm has materially increased in value, 
now being worth at least -SGII per acre. Mr. Met- 
calf's first wife was Miss l.illie Lawson, the mar- 
riage taking place September Is, I s s 1 . They had 
one daughter,* bi lie, who resides al I) ime with her 

father and is receiving a g 1 education. The 

widowed mother of Mr. Metcalf lives with him and 
his family. Mrs. Metcalf, an attractive and most 
estimable lady, was Mrs. Allie (Hatfield) Monroe, 
and was married to Mr. Metcalf in 1886. She was 
born in Missouri in I860 and i< the daughter of a 



474 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



well-known citizen, Thornsbury Hatfield. Mr. find 
Mrs. Metcalf have a large circle of friends and ac- 
quaintances and are important factors in the social 
element of their neighborhood and immediate 
vicinity and are held in esteem and high respect 
by the entire community which surrounds them. 



•fr=-Sr=v 



_V 






^ OHN HYLAND. The gentleman whose bi- 
ography it is our pleasure to present to the 
readers of this volume was one of the sons 
that England has contributed to aid in the 
upward progress of the United States and to pro- 
mote its welfare by their upright lives and enter- 
prising disposition. Mr. Hyland was born in Rye, 
Sussex County. England, in 1802. In his native 
land, he grew to man's estate and there married 
Ruth Hunt. Two children were born to them in 
England before they left their native country to 
make a new home in Virginia in 1833 or 1834. 
Mrs. Hyland was not destined to enjoy her new 
home very long, for death claimed her for its own 
soon after arrival. Mr. Hyland afterward married 
Isabella Denison, and soon after marriage, in 
1837, came to Saline County. 

Although a poor man when he came to this 
county, by hard and determined labor Mr. Hyland 
secured enough of this world's goods to enable him 
to rear his children in comfort and provide for his 
declining years. Mr. Hyland was blessed with 
three sons: William A. S., John II. and Washing- 
ton 1). The children born to him in England 
were: Mary A., who became the wife of Mr. Wood- 
worth; and Ruth II., Mrs. Samuel Perry, who now 
resides in Vernon County, Mo. William enlisted 
in the State militia in 1802 and served for a little 
more than a year under Gen. Neal; John II. served 
three years in the Missouri State Volunteer Regi- 
ment; and Washington D. died during the war 
soon after enlistment. 

William A. S. grew to mature \ oars in this 
county and received a common-school education. 



In 1863, he married Mary E, daughter of Samuel 
Sullivan, one of the old settlers of the county. To 
this happy union were born four children, only- 
one of whom still survives, John W. In political 
matters Mr. Hyland continues to adhere to the 
principles of the party for which he fought so 
gallantly during the late war and is an ardent 
and prominent Republican. He owns a farm of 
four hundred and ten acres, most of which has 
been accumulated by his arduous efforts, aided by 
the cheerful co-operation of his wife. He and his 
family are members of the Cumberland Presbyte- 
rian Church. His father was in early life a Baptist, 
and later became a member of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church. 

Mi-. Hyland, Sr., was a man of sterling worth and 
his decease was greatly lamented, not only by his 
immediate family but by all who knew him. This 
event occurred in 1888, and the sad gap his death 
left in the family circle has not been filled nor will 
it be for many years to come. The family Mr. Hy- 
land left behind him is one of which any father 
might veil have been proud; the sons upright, 
honest business men: the daughters faithful, loving 
wives and mothers. 



*3« 



=F^ 



'SI AMES .1. BOARD. Among the many farm- 
I ers in Dover Township, La Fayette County 
^. I none are more favorably known than the 
t}5gi/y original of this sketch. He has done much 
in making the aggregate of farming i ise to a high 
level, in that he has perfected his individual inter- 
ests to the greatest possible degree. Mr. Hoard 
was born in Clarke County, Ya., October 1, 1827. 
His father, William, was a native of the same Slate, 
as was also his mother, who prior to her marriage 
was Miss Matilda, a daughter of James Oliver. 

John Board, who was our subject's grandfather, 
was a native of England and emigrated to America 
in 1812. (>ur subject's maternal gran dsire came 
to this country about the same time and took part 
in the Patriots' War. James Hoard spent his boy- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



475 



hood days in his native county and acquired his 
education in the common schools near his home 
and helped his lather with the farm work. At the 
age of twenty-iine he learned the carpenter's trade, 
at which he worked for a number of years, and in 
April of 1857 he came to Missouri and settled mi 
his present farm. Before the war. he engaged 
quite extensively in raising hemp, but since then 
has found labor to be so unreliable and expensive 
as to make this industry less profitable. Mr. Board 
is the owner of a good farm comprising two hun- 
dred and eighty acres, all of which is under culti- 
vation and bearing excellent improvements. 

March 4, 1851, our subject married Miss Mary 
A., daughter of Mason Oliver, of Virginia. She 
has since been his faithful companion through 
weal and woe. They are the parents of four sons: 
John M., .lames Clay, Thomas F. and Walter L., 
all vigorous young men who are bound to make a 
name and fame in the world. The family still oc- 
cupies the home in which they settled on first com- 
ing to the place. It has undergone changes but is 
a lapted to the needs of its occupants. It is hardly 
necessary to state, considering the latitude in 
which our subject was born and that in which he 
has spent the greater portion of his life, that he is 
a Democrat. 



t ' i i 



\f>OHN PERRIE, M. I). Emerson has said, 
"I would know how the other half of the 
^ world lives, although 1 cannot and would 
i^g^ not live with them." lint the family physi- 
cian learns not only how the different classes live, 
but also has often the necessity of so sharing the 
griefs and joys of his patients that the result is al- 
most the same as if he were one of the family. 
The tried and trusted family doctor becomes the 
friend as well as the physician, and in no part of 
the land more so than in the country localities, 
where his daily or weekly visit becomes an event 
of the greatest importance. The subject of this 
sketch, Dr. John Perrie, was born in Montgomery 



County, Md., June 19, 1840, a son of Dr. John and 
Catherine Y. Perrie, both natives of Maryland, to 
which State the paternal ancestors had come from 
France. 

Our subject was about eight years of age when 
his parents removed from their old home into the 
Stale of Missouri, and, selecting La Fayette County 
as their place of residence, began the founding of 
a home in the town of Lexington. Shortly after 
this, Dr. Perrie, Sr., took his family out of the 
town to a farm, but later returned to Lexington, 
that he might the better educate his children. At 
this place his death occurred in 1854, after a long 
season of successful practice. The children who 
survive are as follows: Mrs. J. W. White, of May- 
view; Mrs. C. R. Wolf, of Bates County, Mo.; Mrs. 
R. 1). Bledsoe, of Lexington, Mo.; and the subject 
of tli is sketch. 

John Perrie bears his father's name, and upon 
him seems to have fallen his father's mantle, in- 
heriting as he does the taste and talent for the 
profession of medicine. His first education was 
received at the old Masonic College at Lexington, 
Mo.; later he attended Jones' Commercial College 
at St. Louis, from which he was graduated. His 
reading and study were all in the direction of 
medical science, and his first lectures were taken at 
Columbia College, in Washington, D. C. Whether 
his life would have been materially changed ex- 
cept for the breaking out of the late war, is a ques- 
tion which we may not solve, but when our sub- 
ject was prepared for his final lectures, the call 
came for State troops. 

To the call for soldiers, our subject responded, 
became a member of the State troops for six 
months, and then enlisted in the Ninth Missouri 
Infantry. C. S. A., which was in Col. Clark's old 
brigade, well known to all Missourians, and this 
connection was kept through three and one-half 
years. Six months of this time were spent as a 
Union prisoner at St. Louis and Alton, 111. When 
Dr. Perrie first enlisted, he held the office of Or- 
derly-Sergeant; but soon afterward his ability as 
an embryo physician was recognized, and he was 
transformed into a Hospital Steward, remaining 
thus until the close of the war. In 18G(>, our sub- 
ject married Miss Mollie, the accomplished daugh- 



47G 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ter of Dr. J. M. Keith, deceased, a resident of this 

c ity, and by this union became the father of 

three children: Eva, Claude K. and Bettie 15. 

In 1867, Dr. Perrie was graduated from St. Louis 
Medical College, and was located for several years 
at Mt. Hope, Mo., practicing his profession, but 
subsequently removed to Butler, Bates County, 
where he remained cue year and two months, then 
came to the village of Mayview. Since May, 
1883, our subject has enjoyed a Lucrative practice 
in this vicinity, although hi^ old patients in other 
neighborh Is so value his skill that they still re- 
quire his care and advice in serious rases. Dr. 
Perrie has been one of the members of the Village 
Board of Trustees, and ever since his residence 
here has taken a prominent part in the life of the 
town. His political views are in harmony with 
the principles of the Democratic party, and in the 
deliberations of the Solons of that organization 
he is always to lie found. Dr. Perrie is a member 
of the Episcopal Church, of Lexington, and is a 
good and consistent Christian, well deserving the 
success lie has attained, having proven himself the 
friend of rich and poor, as his skill has been re- 
quired. 



, <: 



sjj^X.ATIlAN ('ORDER, a leading and represent- 
jlj ative agriculturist and extensive stock- 
1 L. raiser, has been a highly-respected resident 
of La Fayette County, Mo., for the past forty-nine 
years. Born in Rappahannock County, Ya., July 
1 5, 1839, our subject was hut a little hoy five \'ears 
of age when his parents removed from the 01(1 
Dominion and located in Missouri. The Corder 
family was originally of English birth, but in a 
very early day settled in the colony of Virginia, 
which for many \ cars after the adoption of the 
Federal Constitution retained its supremacy as 
one of the original States of the Union, and was 
the predominating influence in the affairs of the 
nation for many long years. 

Nathan ('order, the father of our subject, was a 



native of Virginia, was there educated and married, 
and was well along toward middle life when he 
came with his family to Missouri and settled in 
La Fayette County upon a farm. His good wife 
was Nancy Halloway, also a native of Virginia, 
and who, like her husband, had passed her entire 
life within the boundaries of her native State until 
she accompanied her family to Missouri. The pa- 
ternal grandfather, an upright and hard-working 
man, lived to the extreme old age of ninety-one 
years, and had a store of interesting reminiscences 
and experiences, having been an eye-witness and 
active participant in man} - thrilling scenes and ad- 
ventures of pioneer life. He was also a contempo- 
rary of many eminent men in the early history of 
our country, and lived to see the wonderful growth 
and national advancement of nearly a century. 

Our subject enjoyed superior educational ad- 
vantages. Having first obtained the benefit of 
a preparatory education in the public schools of 
La Fayette County, he next, at the age of sixteen 
years, entered the Masonic College at Lexington. 
Mr. ('order spent two years of study in that well- 
known institution of learning, and afterward at- 
tended the Sweet Springs College, at Sweet Springs, 
Mo. Completing in two years his course of study 
there, he returned home and soon after engaged 
extensively in farming and, prosperously adding 
to his original homestead, now owns and controls 
nine hundred acres of fine land, all under high 
cultivation. Our subject successfully handled a 
superior grade of Shorthorn cattle for years, rais- 
ing, feeding and selling large numbers of this 
favorite breed of live stock. 

Mr. ('order has assisted in the organization of 
various prominent and leading interests of his lo- 
cality and vicinity and is a stockholder of the 
Farmers' (Savings Bank, at Marshall. Mo. He also 
has stock in the Middlcton Bank, located in Wav- 
erly, Mo. In ltsf>7. our subject married Octavia, 
a daughter of Henry Hill, a native of Kentucky, 
but of English descent. Mr. and Mrs. Corder have 
lived to bury a number of their family of children. 
Of the eight sons and daughters whose presence 
brightened the homestead, but three now survive: 
Nannie, the eldest, is the wife of William B.Steele; 
Arrenah is the wife of Logan 1!. Chapel, of Saline 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



477 



County; while Lou la is a promising student at 
the Central College, situated in Lexington, Mo. 
These daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Corderare bright, 

intelligent ladies and enjoy the confidence and 
friendship of a host of lifetime friends. 

Mr. and Mrs. Corder are both devoted members 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and 
have always aided in the social and benevolent 
enterprises of that denomination. The commo- 
dious and pleasant home in Waverly is fre- 
quently the sceneof gatherings of old friends and 
acquaintances and is the abode of hospitality. Our 
subject is actively engaged in politics only to the 
extent of easting his vote. He has never desired 
a political office, but is always interested in the lo- 
cal and national conduct of affairs, and casts his 
vote with the Democratic party. 



^? RVIN G. UTZ, a popular and enterprising 
^) citizen of Marshall, and well known as the 
Z* 1 — ^ proprietor of the Saline County Carriage 
Works, is prominently connected with many of the 
leading benevolent and social organizations of the 
community. A native of the county, he has from 
earliest childhood been a witness of the growth 
and progress of the State, and long since became a 
most important factor in local interests and im- 
provements. Our subject was born near Blackburn, 
September 14, 1861. His paternal grandfather was 
a native of Germany, whence he emigrated to 
America and became a planter in the Old Domin- 
ion. 

John H. Utz, father of our subject, was born in 
Madison County, Va., where he learned the trade 
of an architect and builder. About 18. r >;i, having 
determined to try his fortunes in a new field, lie 
came to Marshall, Saline County, Mo., and was one 
of this enterprising city's earliest pioneers. He 
followed his profession of architect and builder here 
with great success, and was a partner of Mr. ISuckncr. 
and at various times associated with others in busi- 
ness relations. lie went South to do contracting, 



and died in Shreveport, La., in 1887. lie was an 

ardent Democrat, and an honored and useful citi- 
zen. The mother of oursubject, Anna M. (Krwin) 
Utz, was a native of La Fayette County, and the 
daughter of William B. Krwin, who was born in 
Tennessee. For a time he followed the occupation 
of a farmer in La Fayette County, near Blackburn, 
but afterward removed to Jackson County, and 
then, moving from the State of Missouri, settled 
in Linn County. Fan., and finally went with a 
son to ( tklahoina, where he died, lie was of Scotch- 
Irish descent, and a man of excellent character 
and business attainments. His wife resides in < )k- 
lahoma. 

There were eight children in the family, and five 
are now living, Ervin G. being the eldest-born. 
Adah E. is Mrs. Green, of Kansas City; Delia, Mrs. 
Yowelle, resides in Saline County; Elmo D. and 
John II. are in business with our subject. Ervin 
G. Utz was reared in .Marshall and received the 
benefit of the city's excellent public schools. In 
1875 he began an apprenticeship to his present 
trade with Ransberger & Lantz, and remained in 
their employ for one year. Later he followed his 
trade in different places in the county, and also 
spent one season in Kansas City as foreman in the 
gear department of the Calvin Toomy Carriage 
Works. He then returned home and worked two 
years for the Saline County Carriage Company, in 
which he purchased a halt'-iuterest January 1, 1888. 
In 1889 he purchased the entire interest, and be- 
came sole proprietor and manager of this prosperous 
enterprise. The business establishment is located 
two hundred and twenty feet south of Jefferson 
Avenue, is two stories in height, has a frontage of 
twenty-two feet, and is one hundred and twenty- 
five feet in depth, with aside building, 20x50. 

The first floor is the carriage repository, wood 
department, shop and blacksmith shop. The store- 
room is in the side building and repository. The 
second floor is occupied with the finishing, pol- 
ishing, drying and trimming rooms, and also con- 
tains a storeroom. This is the largest and most 
complete carriage shop in the county, and the 
largest manufacturing establishment located in this 
section of the State. Fight men are furnished 
with steady employment, and others are fre- 



478 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



quently employed during busy seasons. They 
average fifty jobs a 3'ear, and turn out most .sub- 
stantially built and finely finished surreys, spring 
wagons, buggies and road carts. Mr. 1'tz has been 
prospered in his business from the first. A skilled 
workman himself, he is thoroughly competent to 
direct the labors of his employes, and semis out 
from his house only the best of its kind, guaran- 
teeing quality of material and workmanship in 
every instance. His energy and business applica- 
tion are bringing him excellent returns, and he is 
prosperously situated. 

Our subject was married in Cooper County, in 
May. 1X89, to Miss Emma Tucker, a native of 
Cooper County, who was educated in Marshall. 
Mrs. Utz is an attractive young lady, and enjoj-s 
the personal regard of a wide circle of friends and 
acquaintances, she is the mother of one child, Win- 
field Hoy. Mr. Utz isa member of the Knights of 
Pythias, and is Past Chancellor of the Subordinate 
Lodge, Uniformed Hank. He is also fraternally 
associated with the Knights of the Maccabees. lie 
and his wife are members of the Cumberland Pres- 
byterian Church, and he is a Deacon of that relig- 
ious body. Although not an office-seeker, betakes 
an interest in the conduct of political affairs, and 
affiliates with the Democrats, voting the ticket of 
that party. 



^=i->*<: 



vfl>— 



lh^^ ASON FRYE, an energetic and representa- 
I \l\ live agriculturist of La Fayette County. 
I \. and for many years a highly respected 
* citizen of the State, resides upon sec- 

lion 28, township 49, range 27, where he has 
since 1880 successfully devoted himself to the 
improvement of his line farm of one hundred and 
eighty-two acres. The Frye family were Virginians, 
and the immediate ancestors were in the early days 
large land-holders and slave-owners, the grand- 
parents, both maternal and paternal, being among 
the most highly esteemed of the old families of 
the State. 



Our subject was born in Hardy County, W. Ya., 
in June. 1 s I I. and was the son of Isaac L. and Mary 
(Frye) Five, natives of West Virginia. The sons 
and daughters who brought sunshine into the 
pleasant Southern home were George Benjamin 
Mason, of this sketch; Gertrude, Rachael, Jemima, 
Jennie, Alice, Sallie, Martha. Mollie. Willie, Min- 
nie and Lulu. Isaac Frye was one of a family of 
eight children, four sisters and four brothers. He 
was a member of the Lutheran Church, and a thor- 
oughly upright Christian man. lie was but sixty- 
live years of age when he died in 1889. His 
faithful helpmate still survives him. During the 
Civil War his sympathies were naturally with the 
South, and he served in the Confederate State 
Militia for about one year, participating in sev- 
eral engagements. 

Upon a farm, and amid rural environments, our 
subject passed his boyhood and youth. He re- 
mained at home until February, 1870, when with 
$85 capital, he left his native State to make his 
own way in the world. He came to La Fayette 
County, and worked by the month for five years, 
when he rented a farm of Sam Smith, and with 
his newly wedded wife located thereon, and en- 
gaged profitably. in the duties of agriculture. In 
1880, he bought his homestead, which is one of 
the most highly cultivated farms in this section of 
the country. Aside from the pursuit of general 
agriculture and stock-raising, he has given much 
time to the cultivation of fruit, and has an exten- 
sive orchard of twenty acres bearing a large va- 
riety of native fruits. 

In 1864, our subject enlisted in the regular 
Confederate army and served with brave fidelity 
for one year, taking an active part in the battles 
of Strasburg and Manfield, in which latter engage- 
ment he was wounded in the thigh, and was 
obliged to retire from the Held. Recovering from 
this wound, he returned to martial duty and par- 
ticipated in the battle of New Town. He was 
married in November. 187."). to Mi>< Emma, daugh- 
ter of Henry Morrison. The union of Mr. and 
Mrs. Frye was blessed by the birth of four children, 
bright and promising little ones, but one son is 
now the only survivor, Mason, the namesake of 
his father. Samuel lived to be five years old. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



479 



The wife of our subject, an earnest Christian 
woman, died September 20, L883, deeply regretted 
by sorrowing relatives and friends. She was a 
consistent member of the Cumberland Presbyte- 
rian Church, and with her husband was numbered 
among the liberal supporters of that religous or- 
ganization. Mr. Frye has been connected with 
this denomination since 1870, and is an active 
worker in the church. lie is essentially a self- 
made man, and with honest industry amassed a 
comfortable competence. lie is a citizen of un- 
blemished reputation and high integrity, and com- 
mands the confidence of the entire community. 



^sfi!i@®@l 



/^*\ HARLES M. NEET. Entrusted with the 
(l( _ city records, Mr. Neet is one of the well- 
\-S known and popular residents of Lexing- 
ton, La Fayette County, Mo. He was born in the 
heart of the Blue Grass Region of Kentucky, Jes- 
samine County having been his first home. He 
was born October 20, 1828, and is a son of Jacob 
and Sarah (Robb) Neet. His first remembrance is 
of life on the home farm, a blissful remembrance 
to most natives of the aristocratic Line (Irass sec- 
tion. Mr. Neet's grandfather was John Nect, sup- 
posedly also a farmer. 

Our subject spent his boyhood up to twenty-one 
years of age in Jessamine County, and until six- 
teen years of age attended the subscription school. 
He then entered the White Oak Seminary, where 
he pursued his studies for three winters, after 
which he taught school one winter. In 1851 the 
Neet family removed to Missouri, making their 
entrance into Lexington April 10th. 

After coming to Missouri, our subject learned 
Ihe carpenter's trade, at which he worked for ten 
years. In the spring of 1861 he enlisted in the 
Fourteenth Missouri Infantry, which was com- 
manded by Col. Robert White, and in the battle of 
Lexington, Mo., was taken prisoner by Gen. Price, 
but was allowed to go at large on parole and was 
finally exchanged. He was then appointed to 



recruit a regiment for Col. Graham, whose troops 
had been badly disabled in the battle of Shiloh. 

After contributing valuable serviee'he was b< r- 

ably discharged. Mr. Neet is a member of the 
James A. Mulligan Post No. 11, of Lexington, of 
the Grand Army of the Republic. 

After returning from the war, the original of 
this sketch learned the printer's trade, at which he 
was employed for about fifteen years. In 1877 he 
accepted a position as Weigh master of the City of 
Lexington, and continued in that olfice for nine 
years. In 1888 he was elected City Recorder for 
a term of two years. In 1890 he was re-elected 
and again in 1892. In politics Mr. Neet is an ad- 
vocate of that party which for thirty years has so 
ably held the reins of Government. 

Our subject was married September 30, 1856, to 
Miss Anna, a daughter of John Davis, of Mary- 
land. She died in 1857. Mr. Neet is a member 
in good standing of the Presbyterian Church, 
and has been a generous upholder of all its work 
and charity. 



-: 



I-*** 



•5-***= 



+'fr'}-+'§l£SP l +*'fr*f 



OHN M. GAMBLE. The original of this 
sketch is a well-known farmer, residing on 
section 35, range 26, Dover Township. He 
^gj^ is a native of that State which has given so 
many noted men to the service of its country, and 
which is now proud to claim as citizens William 
McKinley and Secretary Foster, as he was born in 
Holmes County, Ohio, September 22, 1845. 

John M. is a son of James and Nancy (Wood) 
Gamble, both natives of the Buckeye State. His 
mother was a daughter of John Wood, who was a 
native of Maryland. Comparatively little is 
known of the ancestry of either side of the 
family, but our subject's paternal grandfather, 
Maj. Gamble, was a native of Ireland, and he has 
mixed Scotch and Irish blood in his veins. 

When John Gamble was eight years of age, his 
parents removed to Springfield, 111., or the imme- 
diate vicinity. That was our subject's home until 



480 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



1*76, and during the interval he attended the 
common school and helped his father to develop 
the home Farm. At the date last mentioned, Mr. 
Gamble removed to Missouri and settled in La 
Fayette County on a farm, and has devoted him- 
self to the improvement of the same until the 
present time. His tract comprises two hundred 
and sixteen acres, all of which is under cultivation, 
and which hears the impress of modern agricult- 
ural evolution. The best agricultural machinery is 
here found, and the methods employed in culti- 
vating and fertilizing are such as are approved by 
the latest science. His house and barn are well 
built and answer all requirements. 

It is fitting, considering his birth and bringing 
up, that Mr. Gamble should be a follower of that 
party which since the war has developed the 
resources of this country and produced an un- 
paralleled affluence. In May of 1886, our subject 
married Miss Ida, a daughter of James T. Camp- 
bell, of Higginsville. this county. She has "since 
presided over her home with dignity and cap-, 
ability, and has brought into it a happy influ- 
ence, which only the presence of a woman can dif- 
fuse. 



If 



•H[13>MC£5^II 



<| IVILLIAM A. LA BERTEW, a prominent 
|nf business man of Lexington, Mo., born at 
^\y Dover, in this county, October 4, 1846, is 
the subject of this sketch. He is the only son 
of Peter 15. and Cyntha A. (Sutfield) La Bertew, 
both of whom are still living. The father was 
born in Kentucky, in 1K20, a son of Ashcr La Ber- 
tew, of French descent, and grew up in his native 
State, where he married, and in 1842 came to La 
Fayette County. Mo. His trade is that of tailor, 
which he followed for a number of years, then en- 
gaged in the mercantile business. The mother of 
our subject is a native of Kentucky, and a daugh- 
ter of Jacob Sutfield, of that State. 

William A., the subject of this notice, passed his 
early boyhood days in the schools of Dover, but 



later attended the State University at Blooming- 
ton, Ind., where he remained one year. When he 
had turned his back upon his school days, our sub- 
ject decided to enter into business for himself, and 
selected Jersey City, N. J., as the first scene of his 
labors. Here he became a clerk in the dry-goods 
store of T. C. & G. G. Brown, with whom he re- 
mained for a term of three years, at the end of 
which time he returned to his old home in Dover, 
but soon afterward came to Lexington, where he 
was employed by Hugh T. Wilson as clerk for one 
year. 

Returning to Dover, our subject engaged in the 
grocery business, associating with him E. S. Van 
Anglen. under the firm name of Van Angles & La 
Bertew, which partnership lasted for about four 
years, during which time they- conducted a lively 
stable in connection with their other business. 
They then dissolved by mutual consent, and our 
subject came to Lexington to enter the employ of 
.McCauseland A Bedford, and remained with them 
four years. At this time farm life seemed attrac- 
tive, and he removed to his place near Lexington, 
where he continued until 1888. Returning to 
Lexington he engaged there in clerking for W. S. 
Clagett for eighteen months; later, buying out Mr. 
Clagett, he continued in the same store building, 
as it is well adapted for the purpose, being 22x75 
feet, and to his grocery stock he has added queens- 
ware and woodenware. 

The year 1866 was an eventful one for our sub- 
ject, as that year he established a home for him- 
self and wife, his marriage with Miss Mildred C. 
Bedford taking place that year in Lexington. She 
is a daughter of E. W. and Elizabeth L. (Burton) 
Bedford, of this county. Five children have been 
given to Mr. and Mrs. La Bertew, as follows: Lucy 
B., the wife of J. II. Lothrop, of Kearney, Neb.; 
Asher W., deceased, having passed away from life 
in 1800, when in his twenty-second year; Bed- 
ford W., now of Pittsburgh, Kan.; Mary B., at 
home, and Bessie C, also at home. Mr. and Mrs. 
La Bertew are valued members of the Methodist 
Church South, in which he is one of the Stewards. 

Public life has called our subject to the front in 
this city, as lie is now serving as a member of the 
City Council from the Third Ward. He has taken 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



481 



an active interest iii politics, being one of the ac- 
tive members of the Democratic party in this 
county, ami is also a member of Lodge No. L49, 
A. F & A. M., of which he is Junior Deacon. His 
interest in education has been very expressed. 
The residence of Mr. LaBertew is located on the 
corner of Maine and Eighteenth Streets, in the 
city of Lexington. 



■-Ja^ 



__ss_ 



— » MI SON CHANSLOR, a prominent business 
man of the city of Lexington, Mo., is the 

^-ji] subject of the present sketch. His honor- 
able position is that of Assistant Cashier of the 
Lexington Savings Bank, which place he has held 
since 1886. Our subject was born in Wellington, 
in this county, August 3, 1861, a son of William 
A. and Malissa J. (Emison) Chanslor. The father 
of our subject, a native of Kentucky, became one 
of the early settlers of La Fayette County, Mo., 
and was a son of Isaac Chanslor, who died in this 
county in 1883. The maternal grandfather, 
Benjamin Emison, came to this State from Ken- 
tucky. 

The father of Emison Chanslor was a man of 
strong personality and sterling integrity, being 
noted for his uprightness and honesty. His busi- 
ness in later years was that of a dealer in real 
estate. His death occurred in L884. The mother 
of our subject lived until 1888, passing her last 
days in Lexington. The boyhood and youth of our 
subject was a happy one, he enjoying the sports 
of the young and attending both public and pri- 
vate schools, where his application prepared him 
early for a course at the State University at 
Columbia, following which he took a course at 
Bryant & Stratum's Commercial College, at St. 
Louis, graduating from it in 1880. 

For the four following years our subject engaged 
in the mercantile business as a clerk with M. W. 
Conkling; but in 1883 he became interested in the 
Lexington Savings Bank, and soon became Col- 
lector in the same. From this position he was 



promoted to be Teller, and in 1886 to be Book- 
keeper, which position he holds at the presenl 
time. Mr. Chanslor has demonstrated his ability 
as a man of business, and his rapid promotion has 
proven that his qualifications have been recog- 
nized by his employers. The position of Cashier 
in any bank is one of great trust, and is usually 
carefully considered by the Directors before any 
appointment is made. 

The marriage of our subject was celebrated in 
1885, with Miss Nina Li m rick, the charming 
daughter of William Limrick, an old settler, and 
one of the first bankers of this city, lie is widely 
known through this whole country, and much 
esteemed. The happy marriage of Mr. and Mrs. 
Chanslor has been blessed with one little son, 
named in honor of his grandfather William L. 
Our subject is a member of the Builders' and 
Loan Association of Lexington, in which organi- 
zation he tills the office of Treasurer. In politics, 
Mr. Chanslor is a believer in the principles 
which govern the Democratic party, and is always 
ready to assist that cause. The elegant residence 
of our subject is located upon one of the best 
streets in the city, and in its appointments is 
second to none in Lexington. 



■■■•*•■:■•!&*.■. 



R. S. F. SMITH, a successful medical prac- 
titioner and skillful surgeon of Lexing- 
ton Township, La Fayette County, Mo., 
while he has enjoyed a large practice and 
been highly esteemed in his profession, also occu- 
pies a high position among the prominent and 
prosperous agriculturists of the State. Gaining 
the well-deserved degree of M. D. some forty years 
ago, Dr. Smith has been one of the most useful 
and highly-honored citizens of La Fayette County, 
his ability, energy and excellent judgment, com- 
bined with his extended knowledge of the various 
duties of his professional position, commending 
him to the confidence and regard of the entire 




482 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



community, aiming whom his services have been 
in constant demand for a period of full two-score 
years. 

Our subject was born near Nashville, Tenn., 
September 27, 1^23. His parents were William 
and Margaret E. (Warnick) Smith, whose ancestors 
were of Scotch, English and Irish origin. Grand- 
father Cunningham Smith was a native of Ninth 
Carolina, and was an active and brave participant 
in the Revolutionary struggle for independence 
of our great country. His son William was also 
born in North Carolina, but his wife, the mother 
of our subject, was a native of Tennessee, and spent 
the early part of her married life in her native 
State. Dr. Smith was but two years old when his 
parents moved to Missouri and located on the 
present homestead. Our subject received the ben- 
efit of the subscription schools of the sparsely set- 
tled neighborhood, and soon began to asMst his 
father in the work on the farm. 

Dr. Smith remained upon the farm, engaged in 
the various duties of agriculture, until he had ar- 
rived at twenty-eight years of age, when he de- 
termined to acquire a profession. In 1849 he be- 
gan reading medicine with Drs. Calhoun A- Pear- 
son, and continued in their office for two years. 
At the expiration of this time, our subject entered 
the medical department of Washington Univer- 
sity, at St. Louis, and continued his studies for 
one year in this well-known institution of learn- 
ing. Later he attended the Jefferson Medical Col- 
lege, at Philadelphia, from which he was graduated 
with honor, receiving, in the spring of 1851. the 
degree of M. I). Returning to La Fayette County, 
he at once entered into the practice of medicine 
and surgery, and from the first received his full 
share of patronage. At the same time he devoted 
a portion of his time to the pursuit of agriculture, 
in which duties he had been so thoroughly trained. 

Dr. Smith owns an excellent farm of three hun- 
dred and ten acres, all under a high state of culti- 
vation and desirably situated, its location being 
upon section 8, township 50, range 27. Our sub- 
ject has been twice married. His first wife was 
,Mi« Evaline Chambers, to whom he was united in 
marriage in 1852. Upon July 3, 1882, Dr. Smith 
married his present wife, Miss Georgia, daughter 



of Judge II. Young, a native of Tennessee. Dr. 
and Mrs. Smith are the parents of six children, 
five daughters and one son. Margaret J. is the 
eldest of the family; ' William L. is the son; and 
then follow Helen M., Laura R., Catherine and 
Lucy C. Dr. Smith is a valued member of the 
Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and has been an 
Elder of that religious organization for thirty 
years. Mrs. Smith is a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, and both husband and wife are 
actively interested in the advancement and exten- 
sion of religious work, and are also leading factors 
in social and benevolent enterprises of their 
neighborhood and vicinity. 

Dr. Smith is a member of the La Fayette County 
Medical Association, and keeps pace with the 
march of improvement, which even extends to the 
learned professions. In political affiliations, our 
subject is a sturdy Democrat, and after an adher- 
ence of half a century to its principles and plat- 
form, sees no reason now for changing his belief. 
Many years have passed since our subject came, a 
very little child, into the wilderness of Missouri, 
and with the changes and progress of the State 
he also changed from 3011th to manhood, but 
throughout his life he has ever preserved intact 
the integrity of his character and retained the con- 
fidence of the general public. 



^ + 




ARON G. CAMPBELL, a man of long ex- 
perience, great industry and final success, 
is a farmer of Bates City, and a son of 
Henry Campbell, a native of Bedford 
County, Va., who, when a boy. went to Logan 
County, Ky. The father was born in 1797, a son 
of Aaron and Grace Campbell, both of Scotch-Irish 
ancestry. The mother of our subject was Nancy 
(Asliburn) Campbell, also a native of Bedford 
County, Va., who, when a girl, removed to Logan 
County, Ky., and married there; later she came to 
Missouri with her husband and settled on section 
21, Clay Township, La Fayette County. They 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



183 



lived outside the range of other settlers and were 
surrounded by virgin forests, filled with game, 
where Indians wandered about undisturbed. 

The land had just been opened for entry and 
the claim was a raw one. eighty acres in all. and 
when paid fur but seventy-live cents was left in 
the family. The father of our subject was one of 
the earliest settlers of the county and resided on 
the homestead for forty-live years, giving his ex- 
clusive care to the farm, although finding time 
for hunting and fishing, of which he was very 
fond. He was a jolly, whole-souled man, popular 
with everybody, and successful withal. Before 
his death he was the owner of five hundred acres 
of land. His wife was the mother of twelve chil- 
dren, two of whom, John and William, served in 
the Civil War, while the first-mentioned died in 
Texas during his term of service. These worthy 
parents were church members, she of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal, he of the Cumberland Pres- 
byterian. The father was much concerned in lo- 
eal and national matters, being originally an old- 
line Whig and later a Democrat. He aided in the 
organization of the school district and the town- 
ship. Of the children five only are now living. 

Our subject was born October 10, 1827, on sec- 
tion 21, this township, in a log cabin, where he 
was reared until after his twenty-first birthday, 
attending through several years the district school. 
In his youth he learned the carpenter's trade, which 
has served him in good stead throughout his life. 
In 1856, November 20, he married Mrs. Mary 
Swearingen, nee Gleves, a daughter of Harvey and 
Ellen (Ewing) Gleves, of Virginia, who located 
here the same year as our subject's father, in 
1823. Her uncle. Finis Ewing, was a founder of 
the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Dixon 
County, Tenn. she was born November 28, 18.33, 
in Lexington Township, and received a good edu- 
cation. After her marriage she settled with her 
husband on section 18, where the latter built a 
house in 1856. This was their home until 1861, 
when they made a permanent residence on section 
7. which has been their continuous home for over 
thirty-one years. The farm consists of one hun- 
dred and sixty acres of fine land, well improved 
and carefully cultivated. Although our subject 



remained at home during the war, he passed 
through all the horrors of border and guerrilla war- 
fare. A number of his slaves were taken away 
without compensation, other property was de- 
stroyed, and the household was kept in constant 
fear of bodily injury. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell 
never had any children, but they reared one child, 
Nellie, now the wife of Benjamin Fishback, who 
has four children. Our subject is Ruling El- 
der in the Pleasant Prairie Cumberland Presbyte- 
rian Church, and was a member of the building 
committee. His wife is also a worthy member of 
the same organization. He takes an active inter- 
est in school matters and was Director in his 
school district for a period of ten years. Gen. 
Taylor received the first vote Mr. Campbell ever 
east, although now he is a Democrat, and manifests 
much interest in political matters; having the 
courage to act for himself, he does not accept ad- 
vice from others when making up his mind for 
action. His farm is rented out and he ox peels 
soon to retire to a residence in Bates City, this 
township. 



^&n&=^^ 



*EV. WILLIAM BUEHLER, the well-known 
and popular pastor of the Zion German 

Evangelical Church of Mayview, was bom 
y£) \u Gibson County, Ind., April 22, 1861. 
His parents were Rev. .Jacob and Matilda Buehler, 
natives of Germany, who came to this country 
about 1848. The father is a retired minister of 
the denomination to which he belongs, and now 
makes his home in Marshall, 111. When William 
was about seven years of age. his father took 
charge of a church in Loudonville. Ohio, where 
the family resided for a short time; subsequently 
they removed to Marshall, III., where he was 
reared to manhood. 

In the public school of Marshall our subject re- 
reived an elementary education, and also had the 
benefit of the scholarly instruction of his father, 
which prepared him for a course in the German 




484 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Evangelical Seminary at St. Louis. From that in- 
stitution of Learning he was graduated in 1 885, 
after a course of three years. Although but twenty 
years cf age, he was so well qualified for minis- 
terial duties that the church of Cottleville, St. 
Charles County, Mo., gladly welcomed him as 
their pastor, and retained him until in 1887, 
when he was transferred to his present important 
charge at May view. Gifted in many ways, he has 
become one of the powers in the church. Not 
only has he discharged his duties as pastor with 
great singleness of purpose, but he has also taken 
upon himself during three months of the year the 
management of the German school connected with 
the church, teaching the ordinary branches and 
also instructing the pupils in music. 

The marriage of Mr. Buehler was celebrated 
December 10, 1885, with Miss Emma Hoefer, the 
amiable daughter of the late Herman Hoefer, of 
this county. Two bright children enliven the 
happy home, and in their society are forgotten the 
cares which press upon every conscientious clergy- 
man. Although not an active politician, our sub- 
ject is a member of the Republican party, and is 
always in favor of any measures which promise 
benefit to his county or State. In addition to his 
labors at Zion Church, Mr. Buehler has charge of 
St. Paul's Evangelical Church at the village of 
Blackburn, preaching alternately and attending 
to the pastoral work at both places. His ministry 
has been blessed, and he lias won the affection 
and esteem of the citizens of both places, who ad- 
mire his noble character, genial disposition and 
unselfishness of purpose. 



ElfeN 



^^EORGE W. FOX, a prominent citizen and 
||| <_ successful general agriculturist and stock- 
^jiji raiser residing upon section 30, township 

19, range 27. La Fayette County, is widely known 
as an enterprising man, and of sterling integrity 
of character. Our subject was born December 5, 
1844, in Greenbrier County, W. Va., and is a son 



of Matthias and Lydia (Gilliam) Fox. Grandfa- 
ther Fox was of German descent, and was born in 
Pennsylvania, removing thence to Greenbrier 
County, W. Ya.. in an early day. 

Matthias Fox, the father, was horn in Virginia, 
in the memorable year of 1 H 1 2. and still survives. 
In 18(57 he removed with his family to La Fayette 
County, and settled in Washington Township, lie 
and his good wife, who have outlived the changes 
of three-fourths of a century, were the parents of 
twelve children, nine of whom lived to adult age. 
The sons and daughters whose presence blessed the 
old homestead were Martha E., Hannah, .lames A.. 
George W\, John H., Joel C, Charles \\\, Samuel 
AY.. Mary E., Dalton. Maggie V. and Crampton. 
The mother of these sons and daughters was born 
in Greenbrier County. W. Va., and was the daugh- 
ter of George ami Martha (Hill) Gillilin, natives 
of Virginia. Mr. Gillilin served bravely as an 
Ensign in the War of 1812. This maternal grand- 
father and grandmother were the parents of four 
sons ami three daughters: Richard, James, Samuel, 
John, Nancy, Lydia and Elizabeth. 

In 1853 the Gillilina came to Missouri, and lo- 
cated in La Fayette County, but removed in the 
fall of the same year to Johnson County, where 
the father and mother, after many years' residence. 
died. Grandfather George Gillilin received vari- 
ous official positions of trust, ami served efficiently 
as Sheriff of the county, and Justice of the Peace. 
He was a Presbyterian, and his wife was a member, 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The Gillilin 
family are of Scotch origin, but the maternal an- 
cestors of our subject early settled in Virginia, 
where great-grandfather James Gillilin was born 
and twice married, bequeathing his name to num- 
erous descendants. The father and mother of our 
subject are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, and widely known as intelligent Christian 
people. 

George W. Fox, reared upon a farm and edu- 
cated in the district schools, was an energetic self- 
reliant youth when he enlisted in February, 1863, 
in Company F. Sixtieth Virginia Confederate 
Regiment. Our subject bravely participated in 
the battles of Fayette Court House, (loyd's Mill, 
Piedmont, Manicosa Junction (Md.), Winchester, 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPH7CAL RECORD 



I s r. 



Fishers Hill, Waynesboro and Floyd's Mountain. 
He was wounded in the left arm in the latter en- 
gagement, and wounded in the right arm at Fish- 
ers Hill. March 6, our subject was captured, but 
six days later made his escape, and returning to 
his company, resumed service as a Corporal. 

In the spring of 1866 Mr. Fox came to Missouri, 
and began working by the month on the farm 
where he now resides. December 13, L876, our 
subject was united in marriage with Mrs. Martha 
E. Hill, daughter of John and Nancy (Gilliam) 
McNeal. Mr. McNeal was born in September, 
1810, in Pocahontas County, Ya.. and in 1837 
came to Lexington, Mo., and settled upon a farm 
of six hundred and ten acres, which he improved 
and later brought to a high state of cultivation. 
Mr. McNeal passed away deeply mourned, April 3, 
1892, but the faithful wife still survives her hus- 
band. 

Mr. and Mrs. McNeal were the parents of two 
children, George W. and Martha E. The father 
and mother were both members of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, and contributed liberally to its 
support and the extension of its good work. The 
McNeals were of Scotch-Irish descent, and from 
generation to generation were members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. Abrani McNeal, the 
paternal grandfather of Mrs. Fox, was a farmer of 
Pocahontas Count} 7 , Ya., and was there born and 
reared. He was thrice married. His Hist wife 
bore him one daughter. His second wife, Eliza- 
beth Lamb, was the mother of three sons and five 
daughters. The third wife, Magdaline Kelley, was 
the mother of two sons by her marriage with Mr. 
McNeal, her first husband having been a Mr. 
I Iayes. 

Our subject and his wife are the parents of two 
children, Calvin E. and Lillie F. By her marriage 
with Samuel P. Hill, Mrs. Fox has two surviving 
children, Thomas W. and Maggie D. Mr. Hill 
was born in Virginia, and in early days was a 
member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 
but in the latter portion of his life a member of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church. Our subject and 
his family have a wide circle of friends and ac- 
quaintance, and their hospitable home is the scene 
Of man} - a social gathering. They are active in 



good work, and ever ready to assist in benevolent 
or religious enterprise, and take a high place 
among the leading and public-spirited citizens of 
the county. 



. BRAHAM M. STANFIELD, an energetic 
&'/l J ;uid successful farmer and stock-raiser. 
/ ! and a highly respected citizen of La Fay- 
ette County, Mo., resides upon a valuable 
and finely improved homestead located on section 
16, township Irt, range 27, where he devotes him- 
self mainly to the prosperous pursuit of general 
agriculture. Our subject was born near Pine Mi- 
lage, Warren County, Ihd., October 19, 1842. and 
is a son of Jonathan and Margaret (Metzker) 
Stanfield. The father was a native of Ohio and was 
born near Spring Valley, Greene County, Decem- 
ber 29, 1814. In 1837 father Stanfield journeyed 
to Warren County, Ind., where he purchased 
and improved a farm of three hundred and 
twenty acres. In November, 1866, he came to 
Benton County, Mo., and in January, 1867, re- 
moved to La Fayette Count}-, and, settling upon 
one hundred and sixty acres of excellent land, lo- 
cated on section 17, township 4 8, range 27, made 
this homestead his abiding-place for a number of 
years. Since 1882 he and his wife have lived in 
Odessa, where they enjoy the society of a large 
circle of friends. 

The children who gathered around the family 
hearth of Jonathan and Margaret Stanfield were 
seven in number, and all lint one survived to ma- 
ture age. John, who was the eldest of the fam- 
ily, enlisted in Company G, One Hundredth In- 
diana Regiment, and died in 1863, in Memphis, 
Tenn.; A. M., our subject, was the second son; 
then came Samuel A., Mary M.. E. Wakeman, 
Francis II., and Hester E., now Mrs. l'roctor. 
The parents of our subject have been members of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church ever since their 
location in Missouri, and are devoted Christians, 
ever ready to assist in the extension of good 



486 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



work and benevolent enterprise. In his political 
affiliations the father was an old-line Whig, but 
since the Civil War lias been a strong Republican. 
His wife was a daughter of Jacob Metzker, who 
served bravely in the War of 1812, and re- 
moved from Pennsylvania to Greene County, Ohio, 
and then in 18:37 came to Warren County, Ind., 
where his wife died. They were members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, and ardent suppor- 
ters of that religious denomination. Mr. Metzker 
was in early life a Whig, and later a Republican, 
lie and his good wife reared a family of four sons 
and live daughters. The sons were Abram, Isaac, 
George and Alex. The daughters were Hester, 
Elizabeth, Mary, Margaret and Ann. 

Abraham M. Stan field was educated in the dis- 
trict schools of the home neighborhood, and, early 
trained in agricultural duties, arrived at twenty 
years of age a self-reliant and earnest young 
man. It was then that the Civil War called the 
farmer boys from their peaceful avocation, and 
among the others who volunteered was our sub- 
ject, who enlisted in July, 1862, in Company I, 
Seventy-second Indiana Regiment, and, immedi- 
ately sent to the front, engaged in the numerous 
battles and skirmishes in which his regiment dis- 
tinguished itself, beginning with the fierce encoun- 
ter of Chickainauga. Mr. Stan field was constantly 
facing danger and death, but never received a 
wound. He was discharged from the service at 
Springfield, but was mustered out with the rank 
of Corporal at Nashville. 

Soon after the close of the war Mr. Stan field 
came with his parents to Missouri and again re- 
sumed his agricultural duties, and in March, 1867, 
located upon his present homestead, which con- 
sists of two hundred and forty acres, one of the 
most highly improved farms in the vicinity. Our 
subject also owns two hundred and ten acres in 
Linn County, which he purchased in 1888. Ener- 
getic and industrious, he has with his own hands 
wrought a great change in the farm, which from 
the virgin prairie he has cultivated until its acres 
are rich with a golden harvest. 

September 23, 1866, Mr. Stan field was united 
in marriage with Miss Harriet A. Wakeman, who 
was bom in Warren County, Ind., a daughter of 



William and Valitta (Stow) Wakeman, natives of 
New York, who went to Greene Count}-, Ohio, 
a.id thence to Warren County, Ind., where Mr. 
Wakeman died in 1881, at the age of seventy-one. 
His wife yet survives him. The wife of our sub- 
ject died in 1891, and left one child, Wade S. Mrs. 
Stan field was a lady of worth and intelligence, 
and her death was mourned by a large circle of 
relatives and friends. 

Fraternally, Mr. Stan field is a member of the 
Independent Order of Odd Eellows and the Grand 
Army of the Republic, and within and without 
these orders he has a host of true friends and well- 
wishers. Politically, our subject is a Republican, 
but he is liberal-minded, and in all things pertain- 
ing to the public welfare is always the same pub- 
lic-spirited, enterprising and upright citizen who 
so many years ago periled his life in behalf of na- 
tional existence. 









jj^ICHOLAS HAERLE. It is pleasant to find 
If) in a man who has passed the meridian of 
.l\,Zfc) life that he still retains a taste for the 
lighter and more artistic touches that relieve life so 
wonderfully of its monotony. It is one delight- 
ful feature of our subject's nature that his love 
for music, poetry and the drama is as strong now 
as ever. Mr. Hacrle, who is a retired businessman 
living in Lexington, was born in Cochem, Prussia, 
October 4, 1831. 

Mr. Haerle is a son of Frederick and Margaret 
(Michels) Haerle, the father being a tailor by trade. 
The family included five children, and of this 
number our subject was the eldest. He attended 
school until fourteen years of age, and was then 
apprenticed to the tailor's trade, at which he 
worked up to 1854. He then came to America, 
landing at New York City, whence he proceeded 
to Chicago, remaining in the Windy City for 
two years. 

In 1856, Mr. Haerle moved to Boonville, Mo., 
where he remained two years, and then came to 



M 




\ 




VJ^yUtt/ 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



189 



Lexington and opened a cigar and tobacco store, 
of which be was the proprietor for two years. At 
the expiration of that time he assumed the man- 
agement of the Lexington Turner Hall, which he 
conducted until 1861. At that time lie went to 
St. Louis and was employed by the board whose 
duty it was to distribute rations throughout the 
city. After the war he returned to Lexington 
and became proprietor of tlie Franklin House, 
which he conducted for a number of years. 

To Mr. Ilaerle belongs the honor of organizing 
and originating the Liederkranz Society, of Lex- 
ington, lie is a member of the Turners, and his 
name appears in the charter membership of Gut- 
emberg Lodge No. 323, 1. 0. O. F. lie is also a 
member oi Erwin Lodge No. 121, A. F. & A. M. 

The original of this sketch was married May 4, 
1855, to Miss Elizabeth Leonard, daughter of 
Nicholas Leonard, of Chicago. Mr. and Mrs. 
Ilaerle are the parents of three sons: Frederick R. 
and ( rustav reside in Lexington ; William F. lives in 
Salt Lake City, Utah. Our subject has always taken 
a great interest in the development of home talent, 
and has been in requisition in getting up theatri- 
cal entertainments, conceits, tableaux, etc. He is 
also a contributor to several county papers, writing 
both prose and poetry. Beside this, he has ar- 
ranged several plays and concerts for the people 
of Lexington, showing marked talent in this direc- 
tion. Politically, he is an ardent Republican. 



of real estate and insurance, whose field 
1 \ of operations is the thriving Missouri 
\£) town of Odessa, is well known to the citi- 
zen-, of his community. He is a native of the 
State which is said to produce more "Colonels' 
than any other in the Union, namely Kentucky, 
and made his entrance into this world March 21. 
1830, in Bourbon County. His father. Dr. Robert 
S. Russell, also a native of Kentucky, was born 

24 



October 27, 1807. He was reared with all the ideas 
of Kentucky chivalry and was a graduate of the 
Transylvania College, being a pupil under the cel- 
ebrated educator, Dr. Ben Dudley. 

Our subject's mother, also a. native of that State 
which is noted for its beautiful women, was before 

her marriage Miss Sallie C, daughter of Th p- 

son Ware, who, as did most of the best families 
of Kentucky, came from Virginia. The Wares 
were of English descent. The senior Mr. and Mrs. 
Russell located in Kentucky after their marriage. 
and removed to Callaway County, Mo., in 1836. 
Our subject's father was a physician and contin- 
ued in the practice of his profession until the time 
of his death, which occurred in 1840. Grandfather 
Robert S. Russell was a native of Culpeper County, 
Va., having been there born in 1762. He was a 
General in the Revolutionary War. 

After the death of Dr. Russell our subject's 
widowed mother with her five children, four 
daughters and one son, returned to her native 
State, where she still resides at the age of eighty- 
six years, making her home with her eldest daugh- 
ter, Mrs. Sallie R. Wasson. Only three of the 
family are now living. They are the daughter 
whose name we have just mentioned; Mrs. Eliza- 
beth F. A 11 nu tt, of St. Louis; and the original of 
this sketch, who is the only son and second child. 
He was reared in his native place and from ten to 
fourteen years of age was one of the household of 
his uncle, Thomas A. Russell. At the age of four- 
teen, he commenced to clerk in a general store with 
Wasson A- Son. of Leesburgh, K\'. He remained 
with them for four years, and then commenced 
trading in stock, buying horses and cattle in Ohio 
and selling them in Kentucky. He continued al 
that business until twenty-three years of age. 

As our subject grew older he felt the need of a 
broader education and in 1849 he went to Louis- 
ville, where he entered a commercial college, from 
which he was graduated. He then accepted a po- 
sition as clerk in a dry-goods house and remained 
there until 1851, when he went to Centervillc, K v., 
and opened a general store for himself. After 
conducting that business for two years, he sold out 
and joined the caravan that was crossing the plains 
to California. He joined the Blanton and Taylor 



490 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



party, driving with linn a herd of cattle and hav- 
ing charge of thirty-three head of horses. They 
look the mute via Salt Lake City, stopping in 
that haunt of the Mormons for three or four 
days, and thence proceeded to Grass Valley, Cal., 
where Mr. Russell engaged in mining, and he was 
also al Roung Tent and Iowa Hill. 

It was while our subject was at the last-named 
place that he met Mrs. Rebecca (Jordin) Cox, the 
widow of Daniel Cox. and they were married in 
I8t55. Mrs. Russell wasborn in Pocahontas County, 
Ya., October 26, 1829. When six months old she 
was taken to Davis County by her parents, Isaac 
and Mary Jordin, the former of whom was a Vir- 
ginian and of Irish descent. After his marriage, 
Mr. Russell continued his mining operations for 
three years, moving from place to place and build- 
ing his own home of logs, the chinking of which 
was mixed with gold dust. The household furni- 
ture consisted of a stove and iron bedstead, blan- 
kets and a few cooking utensils. 

In 1857, Air. Russell and hLs wife located at the 
foothills of the mountains in Yuba County. Cal. 
There he was engaged in ranching and herding 
stock; he also kept a hotel. In the spring of 1859 
lir sold his ranch and with his wife started back 
for the States, shipping on the vessel known as the 
old "John I.. Stephens" via Panama ami Aspinwall, 
where they took the ••Star of the West" for New 
York City, thence to Philadelphia over the Balti- 
more & Ohio, and from Wheeling to Cincinnati; 
there they crossed the river to Kentucky, where 
there was a glad reunion with his mother and 
three sisters. 

After remaining with tic family a short time, 
Mr. Russell came to Missouri and located on a 
farm in Davis County. This he improved and 
lived upon until 1865, when he removed to Cov- 
ington. Ky., and engaged in the grocery business, 
living there until the following fall, when he sold 
out and hieated where he now lives. He was en- 
gaged in farming until 1882, and part of the town 
of Odessa stands on what was his old farm. He 
has made four additions to the city and is the lead- 
ing real-estate man in the place, having done as 
much as any man to advance its interests. 

A Democrat in politics, our subject has been 



awarded by his constituents the highest positions 
in the local political calendar, he having been Al- 
derman and Justice of the Peace. He is a leading 
member in the Methodist Episcopal Church South 
and was one of the organizers of the church here. 
He has been a Steward for twenty-five years and 
also Superintendent of the Sunday-school. Fra- 
ternally, he is identified with the Mt. Hope Masons, 
being a charter member of Lodge No. 47G. He was 
Master for two years and is Secretary of the Triple 
Alliance. He was Vice-president of the Farmers' 
Bank of Odessa and is now one of the Directors. 



-*~ 



V(5) B. SWISHER, a leading agriculturist and 
\ / successful stock-raiser of Saline County, is 

V pleasantly located in township 51, range 20, 
near Norton. For the past thirty-five years a 
constant resident in the immediate neighborhood 
of his present home, our subject has been closely 
identified with all the marked improvements and 
progressive advancement of his locality, and has 
lono- been known and highly respected by the entire 
community among whom his life of busy useful- 
ness is passed, lie was born September 21, 1840, 
in Berkeley County. Va. (now W. Ya.). 

The paternal grandfather, Henry Swisher, went 
from Pennsylvania to Berkeley County, Ya., in an 
early da v. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, 
and was at the bombardment of Ft. Mcllenrv. 
which celebrated event was the inspiration of the 
national poem, "The Star Spangled Banner." He 
was a farmer by occupation, and died at tin- ad- 
vanced age of ninety-two, near Leavenworth, 
Kan., where he lived with some of his children. 
The father of our subject, also named Henry, was 
born in Berkeley County. Va., May 25, 1809. He 
was one of a large family of children, and until 
twenty-one years of age. assisted his father upon 
the farm. He also learned the carpenter's trade, 
and helped to build the court house at Charleston, 
Ya., where John Brown subsequently had his trial. 

The mother of Mr. Swisher was Elizabeth, a 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



491 



daughter of Michael and Phoebe (Tabler) Barnes, 
and a native of Berkeley County, Va. The par- 
ents Of Our subject continued to reside in Virginia 
until is.">7. when they removed to Saline County, 
Mo., ami located upon section 20, township 51, 
range 20. Henry Swisher here continued his trade 
as a builder, and also did farming, but in the latter 
years of his life he withdrew from active business, 
and. although remaining on the farm, he gave up 
the management of the place to his sons. He was a 

man of strong character, I est and upright, and 

was a worthy member of the Cumberland Presby- 
terian church. In politics, he was a Democrat and 
an ardent advocate of his party. For many years 
he had been an Odd Fellow, being one of the 
charter members of the Iledgesville Lodge, of 
Hedgesville, Berkeley County. Ya.. and with this 
lodge he maintained his connection until the day 
of his death. He was a prosperous man, an enter- 
prising and honored citizen, and when he died, 
upon December 12, 1ST"), his demise was mourned 
as a loss to the community. He left a widow and five 
sons: Adam Tabler. Vineyard B., Michael S., Frank- 
lin L. and Mathias D. These sons are all now 
living upon the land bequeathed to them by their 
father, except Adam, who resides in Marshall. 

Three of the five sons were in the Confederate 
army, in which service their courage and fearless- 
ness were remarked. The mother of our subject 
died May 18, 1885, and in her death the sons lost 
a loving and unselfish friend, whose greatest hap- 
piness had ever been to do for others. .Mrs. Swisher 
had two brothers: Adam died in Mississippi; and 
William Barnes is a highly respected citizen of the 
county, and lives on land adjoining the Swisher 
estate. The Barnes family is of German descent. 
V. 15. Swisher, our subject, was born in Berkele3" 
County, Va., where he remained with his parents 
until the family removed to Missouri, in March, 
1857, traveling by rail to Wheeling, then by boat 
to Cambridge, Saline County. lie lived with his 
parents until his marriage, when he settled upon 
the land where he now resides. He was married 
April 28, 1870, to Elvira, daughter of Harvey and 
Catherine (Miller) Hedges,of Saline County. Mr. 
and Mrs. Swisher have been the parents of four chil- 
dren: Early, the first-born, is deceased; Sarah Al- 



len, Charles V. and Alma are all at home with their 
parents, and arc entering upon life with bright 
prospects. 

Mr. Swisher is a pronounced Democrat, lie en- 
tered the Confederate army in November, 1862, 
and belonged to Company K, Shanks' Regiment, 
Shelby's Brigade, Missouri Cavalry, and bravely 
remained in constant duty until June 19, 1865, 
when he was paroled at Shreveport, La. Mr. 
Swisher was twice severely wounded, first at Big 
Blue. Jackson County, Miss., and later at Ft. Scott. 
Kan., where he was shot through the leg. and later 
his horse under him was hit three times, but not 
mortally hurt. Our subject was chiefly in the bat- 
tles and skirmishes of Arkansas and Missouri. 

Mr. Swisher participated in all the conflicts in 
which his regiment engaged, except one skirmish, 
when his wound incapacitated him from active 
duty. After the war he returned home and once 
more engaged in the peaceful occupation of farm- 
ing and busily devoted himself to the caie of his 
two hundred and twenty acres. His live-stock is 
a prominent feature of his successful ventures. 
and his Galloway cattle are pronouncd to be of a 
high grade. Earnest and energetic, he takes a deep 
interest in all that pertains to local progress and 
public advancement, and generously aids in social 
and benevolent enterprises. 



J.POWELL, proprietor of the Lexington 
I Saturday Herald, published at Lexington. 
/ .Mo., is one of the rising men of this city. 
His paper is a handsome eight-page, six-column 
journal. Republican in its politics, and enjoying 
a good circulation through the best parts of the 
Stale, reaching almost every home in the city. 
Xot only is it newsy, but clean and wholesome in 
its presentation of the news of the day, never pan- 
dering to low or vicious tastes; hence its welcome 
at the firesides of the most cultivated people of 
the place. 

The Herald was started in August. 1889, and has 



492 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



all of the latest improvements, a cylinder press 
buill in Cincinnati, Ohio, and also a job office 
which turns out excellent work. The editor of 
this newsj sheet, < >. J. Powell, is a native of. Wash- 
ington County, Md., whence he emigrated to Ohio 
in 1862, and from that State to Indiana in 1877. 
In the tatter State he conducted the Garrett Herald. 
Mr. Powell isa veteran newspaper man, having been 
engaged in the business for twenty-nine years. 
He is a member of the Grand Army post, having 
been a soldier in the Union army, belonging to 
the One Hundred and Forty-fourth Ohio Regiment. 
The marriage of Mr. Powell with Miss Sophia 
Smith was celebrated at Upper Sandusky. Wyandot 
County. Ohio. She is a daughter of Samuel and 
Catherine Smith, early setl lers of the State of ( )hio. 
Mr. and Mis. Powell have become the parents of 
live children, as follows: Ella M., the wife of J. B. 
Mountjoy, "f St. Louis, Mo.; Mary. Florence. 
Sophia and Willis 1')., of Cleveland, Ohio. The 
family enjoys the esteem of the community where 
Mr. Powell is laboring toward the upbuilding of 
the county, and endeavoring to make known to the 
outside world how pleasant and desirable a place 
is La Fayette County, Mo. 



^= 



eAssilS MELVIN CLAY JAMES, a reprc- 
sentative American citizen, energetic, am- 
bitious and enterprising, is a practicing at- 
torney-at-law in Higginsville, and although com-. 
paratively a new-comer within the State, is con- 
ducting a successful legal practice in his present 
home. A thorough student and well versed in the 
knowledge Of the law. he enjoyed an excellent 
practice in the far West, and justly Occupied a 
leading position among the prominent legal talent 
of that portion of the country. Our subject is a 
native of Indiana, and was born November 13, 
L856, in licit Township, Vermillion County, in 
which locality his paternal grandfather had settled 
upon a homestead when the State was little more 
1 han one vast wilderness. 



The James family originated in Wales. In I 7 7 ."> 
three brothers by that name emigrated to this 
country, located in the Old Dominion and founded 
the city of Jamestown, near which Grandfather 
Zachafiah James was born in the year 1809. This 
resolute and energetic ancestor of our subject early 
left Virginia, and, settling in Vermillion County. 
1 nd., entered from the Government five hundred 
and fifty acres of land, which he farmed success- 
fully for some time. Afterward lie engaged in 
the sale of merchandise in Montezuma, Parke 
County, Ind. Later, he returned to the vicinity 
of his old home and resided in Bono, Vermillion 
County. lie was an active member of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church, and a most worthy man. 
In early life he was a Whig in politics, and after 
the formation of the Republican party he joined 
its ranks. 

John S. James, father of Cassius Melvin Clay, 
was born upon the old homestead in Helt Town- 
ship, Vermillion County, Ind., in the month of 
October, 1833. He successfully tilled the soil of 
the home place until in 1882, when he removed to 
Danville, 111., and became a merchant. In 1892 
he retired from active business and still resides in 
the above-named city. His wife, Matilda (Ford) 
James, was a native of Helt Township, Vermillion 
County. Ind., and a daughter of Richard Ford, 
also born in the same township. He was a thrifty 
man and prosperous farmer, and when he died in 
1845, at thirty-three years of age, was worth $15,- 
000. The mother of our subject was a member of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church and a lady of in- 
telligence and upright character. She died at fifty- 
nine years of age in 1892. 

The children of the family were four in num- 
ber, two daughters and two sons, all of whom are 
living. Cassius, the second in order of birth, was 
reared upon the old home farm, and early trained 
to work. He attended the common school held in 
the little old log schoolhouse, and when nineteen 
years old began teaching at Horace Station, Edgar 
County. 111. He continued in this avocation for 
six years, and taught in Illinois, Indiana and Iowa. 
At twenty-one years of age he began the study of 
law with Ilogate & Blake, of Danville, Ind., and 
while afterward located in Newport of the same 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



493 



State, road law under .Martin (i. Rhoads, and was 
admitted to the Bar of Indiana April 1. 1881. 
He then journeyed to Oskaloosa, [owa, and was in 
the office of Lafferty & Johnson, two of the most 
prominent members of the legal profession in the 
Male. November 1, 1 88 1 , Mr. .lame.- was admitted 
to the Iowa Bar. He returned to Danville, 111., 
with William A. Young-, and taught school until 
February 1, 1883. when he was employed by D. M. 
Osborne & Co., of Auburn. N. V., as traveling 
collector through the States of Illinois, Wisconsin 
and Minnesota. For several years our subject 
faithfully and energetically pursued this line of 
business, and then removed December 1, 1888, to 
Saguache, Colo., in the San Luis Valley. There he 
opened an oflice and was soon enjoying a most 
successful practice as an attorney -at-law. 

In February, 1891, Mr. James was obliged, on 
account of the health of his wife, to make a change 
of climate, and located in his present quarters at 
Iligginsville. His office is in the American Bank 
Building and his practice is large and important. He 
takes an active part in politics as a pronounced Re- 
publican and is Chairman of the Republican League 
of Iligginsville. Mr. James was united in marriage 
in Paris, 111., October 1, 1883, to Miss Josie Dollar- 
hide. This lady was born in Ohio, reared in Edgar 
County, studied law under Col. Henry Van Sellar, 
of Paris, and after having been admitted to the 
Illinois Bar, practiced there with her brother until 
her marriage. She is the mother of two children, 
Mabel and Etelka. Mr. and Mrs. James are both 
important factors in the social world of Iliggins- 
ville, and are ever ready to assist in the proino- 
tion of all good enterprises. 



TEPIIFX W. BARKER, a representative 

and prosperous general agriculturist and 
stock-raiser, and a prominent citizen and 
leading business man of La Fa \ die ( 'ounty. 
has self-relian tly won his upward way in life, and 
through honest industry and earnest effort has 




successfully gained a competence and enjoys the 
esteem and confidence of a host of friends and 
neighbors. Born in Estill County, Ky., January 
28, 182."). our subject is a son of Flias and Eliza- 
beth (Warner) Barker, both natives of the State 
of Kentucky. Grandfather Stephen Barker, who 
was a native Virginian, was among the earh pio- 
neers of Kentucky, having settled in Estill County, 
from which part of the country he emigrated to 
Missouri in 1831, and, traveling by wagon, reached 
LaFayette County and located in Washington 
Township, upon section 7. where he resided until 
his death, in 1839. 

The wife of Grandfather Barker was Elizabeth 
Allenbaugh, a lady of worth and intelligence. 
She remained a widow for many years and devoted 
herself to raising her family of seven children. 
Her three sons were Elias, John and William. The 
daughters of the household were Roily, Nancy. 
Margaret and Lucinda, all of whom accompanied 
their parents to Missouri, where one of the daugh- 
ters has since died. Flias Barker, the father of our 
subject, wasa native of Estill County. and remained 
in his native State some five years after his father 
and mother had gone to Missouri, but in 1836 he 
journeyed with his family to La Fayette County, 
and here settled in range 28, township 49, upon 
forty acres which he purchased, at the same time 
entering from the Government one hundred and 
twenty acres of excellent land. At the date of 
his death he owned six hundred acres, about four 
hundred of which he had entered from public 
lands. 

Elias Barker was a man of more than ordinary 
ability. Able, energetic and industrious, he was 
also a large slave-holder, and was killed in 1862 
by a party of bushwhackers and was buried upon 
the home farm, lie was about sixtj years of age 
at the time of his death and was an influential 
citizen and a highh esteemed member of the 
Cumberland Presbyterian Church. His wife sur- 
vived him until 1886, and passed away in her 
eighty-seventh year. She was born in Madison 
(ounty, Ky., and was a daughter of William War- 
ner, who died in Kentucky at over ninety years 
of age. He was twice married and was. in relig- 
ious belief , a Baptist. Our subject was one of a 



494 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



family of seven children, of whom lie was second 
in order of birth. Anna was the first-born; next 
came our subject. Stephen W.; then William, John 
W., Elizabeth, Sallie A. and James. 

Stephen W. was reared upon a farm and received 
Only a primitive education, but was early trained 
into habits of industry and self-reliance, which 
were his main capital in life when, at the age of 
twenty-three years, he settled upon an eighty-acre 
farm and began life for himself. He still resides 
where he began his successful career so modestly, 
upon section 18, township 49, range 27, but now 
owns nine hundred acres of valuable land, and has 
already given to his children nine hundred and 
eighty-four acres, still retaining with his other 
real estate the original forty acres in the woods. 
Our subject .early displayed exceptional business 
ability. He dealt in stock, and with wise judgment 
invested liberally in various lucrative ventures. 
Before the war lie was a Democrat, but since that 
epoch in national history has voted the Republican 
ticket. He was elected Justice of the Peace and, 
filling the position with efficiency, was re-elected, 
but at the expiration of two years resigned the 
duties of the office. 

Mr. Barker was twice married. His first wife, 
Miss Martha Cooley, was a native Kent uck ian and 
was the daughter of William and Mrs. (Franklin) 
Cooley, and survived her marriage but one year. 
The second wife of our subject was Miss Mary A. 
llattun, who was born in Estill County, Ivy., a 
daughter of Jos-ph and Millie (Ashcraft) Hat ton, 
who came to Jackson County. Mo., in 1838, re- 
moved to La Fayette County in 1842, and, finally, 
settled in Johnson County, where the father and 
mother of Mrs. Barker both died. They were 
Missionary Baptists in religious faith and ever 
lived consistent Christian lives. The Ilattons were 
Of Irish-German descent, John Ilatton, the grand- 
father, having been an Irishman, while his good 
wife was of German birth. The sons and daughters 
who have bessed the home of our subject are nine 
in number, eight of whom lived to mature age. 

Martha, now deceased, was the wife of Benton 
liaker; Matthew was the eldest son; then followed 
George; Mary, wife of John P. Durbin; Lama, 
wife of John 1'. Shipley; Robert; Zibe; and Stephen 



W. Our subject and his wife have been members 
of the Christian Church for thirty-live years, and 
have ever been liberal supporters of that religious 
organization, aiding actively in the extension of 
its good work and influence. Mr. Barker has long 
been identified with the growth and progress of 
his State and county, and is highly esteemed as an 
upright, liberal-minded and public-spirited citizen. 



~=3 — 

"■^^S - 



JT~~ 




OBERT TAUBMAN, the able and energetic 
President of the Commercial Bank at Lex- 
1 \ ington, Mo., lias long been prominently 
^ connected with the financial interests of 
La Fayette County, and, holding at various times 
official positions of trust, is widely known, and 
possesses the esteem of the general public. He was 
born on the Isle of Man, April 7,1834. His father, 
Kermode Taubman, was a native of England, and a 
miller by occupation, and resided about sixty-live 
miles from Liverpool. He was extensively inter- 
ested in several large mills, but a sudden strin- 
gency in the money market so affected his business, 
causing a swift break in the prices of produce, that 
he was obliged to close his mills. Speedily wind- 
ing up his business affairs, he removed with his 
family to the United States, and landing upon 
American shores immediately located in Lexing- 
ton, where he died soon afterward and left his 
family strangers in a strange land. 

The mother of Robert, Elizabeth (Clague) Taub- 
man, was born in England, and died in her home 
in Lexington. Our subject was the fifth of seven 
children, four of whom died in infancy, three of 
the family accompanying their parents to Lexing- 
ton. The boyhood of Mr. Taubman was passed in 
La Fayette County, where he enjoyed the benefit 
of the common schools. Like his father, he learned 
the trade of a miller, and followed the occupation 
for several years, when the Civil War interrupted 
the peaceful tenor of his life and business. It was 
not long before our subject joined theinion army, 
enlisting in Company B, Fifth Regiment of Mis- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



495 



souri, Col. .Mills commanding, and did duty mostly 
in t lie State of Missouri. Promoted Cor his gal- 
lant conduct upon the field, Mr. Taubman became 
the Captain of Company 11, and in this rank served 
courageously during several severe battles and 
numerous skirmishes. 

Our subject was captured by the forces under 
Gen. Price, but was soon paroled and returned to 
duty. After the close of the war in 1865, Mr. 
Taubman was united in marriage with Miss Amelia 
Kramer, of Lexington, a daughter of B. Kramer, a 
well-known merchant tailor. Soon after his mar- 
riage, our subject removed to Oregon and located 
in the Willamette Valley, there engaging in the 
milling business, which he conducted successfully 
for three years. Neither Mr. Taubman nor his wife 
liked Oregon, so they returned to their old home 
in Lexington in 1868. In 1870 our subject was 
elected on the Republican ticket to the official po- 
sition of Sheriff and Collector of La Fayette 
Count}', his term of office lasting two years. Dur- 
ing this period of time he became connected with 
banking interests and was one of the charter mem- 
bers of the Morrison <fe Wentworth Rank, and as 
one of its active organizers, received the position 
of Vice-President, in which capacity he served 
until 1884. 

In the meantime Mr. Taubman, in connection 
with others, organized the Commercial Bank of 
Lexington, of which financial institution he was 
immediately made President, and B. R. Ireland 
was appointed Cashier. Under the skillful guid- 
ance of our subject the bank was an assured suc- 
cess from its very inception. The Commercial 
Bank receives the county deposit, and does a gen- 
eral banking business. Mr. Taubman is also largely 
interested in real estate and fanning properties, 
which he leases to others, and owns various pieces 
of city land, and has also valuable real estate in 
Jackson County and Kansas City. Our subject is 
Treasurer of the Board of Curators of Central 
Female College, and is deeply interested in the 
cause of educational advancement, and was one of 
the founders of the college .-it Lexington. His 
handsome brick residence, artistic in design and 
elegantly finished, is one of the most beautiful 
dwellings in the city of Lexington. Four chil- 



dren, two sons and two daughters, bring youth 

and gaiety into the home circle of Mr. Taubman 
and his esteemed wife: Fd win M.. the second-born . 
is a book-keeper in the Commercial Bank, and 
Robert M,, the third, is an assistant book-keeper in 
the same bank. F. May, the eldest, and Daisy M., 
the youngest, arc the sisters. 

Mr. and Mrs. Taubman have long been members 
of the Southern Methodist Episcopal Church, and 
are ever foremost in the promotion of its goi d 
work, and with their family are prominent factor- 
in various social and benevolent enterprises of 
Lexington. In his political views, our subject is 
usually conservative. Before the war he was a 
Whig, and since in State and National matters has 
voted the Republican ticket. A public-spirited 
and progressive citizen, Mr. Taubman has won his 
way upward through energetic efforts, and, self- 
reliant by nature and upright in character, worth- 
ily commands the regard of all who enjoy the 
pleasure of his acquaintance. 



-*•*#?•• 



ON. WILLIAM T. Wool). There was a 
time in the settlement of the American 
Colonies when isolated and individual 
,j effort made the first impression in the wild- 
erness. Among the English strangers who estab- 
lished pioneer homes in the county of Albemarle, 
Va., were two brothers by the name of Wood. From 
them descended the projenitorsof the subject of this 
notice. No member of the original English family 
now survives, the last representative having died 
some forty years since, leaving an estate estimated at 
from £12,000,000 to £20,000,000 sterling, but none 
of this vast sum was ever realized by the Ameri- 
can family, owing to some mismanagement and 
blunders of the agents to whom it had been en- 
trusted. 

William T. Wood was born on the farm of his 
father at Gordon Station, Mercer County, Ky., 
March 25. 1809, a son of William and Sallie 




496 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



(Thomas) Wood, the former a native of Albemarle, 
and the latter of Culpeper County, Ya. The 
Thomas family was represented among the early 
emigrants from England to Kentucky. At the age 
of nineteen years, in December, 1828, our subject 
was licensed a- a lawyer, and about the 1st of 
January, 182'.i, left Kentucky on horseback for 
Missouri, reaching the home of his brother, Gen. 
Jesse T. Wood, in Columbia, Boone County, on 
the 15th of the same month, after a fatiguing jour- 
ney. Here he remained until the month of July, 
when he made a business trip to Liberty, Clay 
County, arriving there on the 29th. Clay County 
was then on the western border of the State, and as 
it had an important trade and was a good business 
point, Mr. Wood determined to locate there. 

In 1830, at the age of twenty-one. Mr. Wood 
was appointed Clerk of the County Court of Clay. 
The duties of his office were not incompatible with 
the practice of his profession, and it was to follow 
this occupation that he had come to Missouri. Af- 
ter holding this office for four or five years he re- 
signed, but was soon appointed by Gov. Lilburn 
W. Boggs, as Circuit Attorney of that judicial dis- 
trict, which office he filled with great acceptability 
for several years. In 1837 the "Platte Purchase" 
was annexed to the State of Missouri by act of 
Congress, this act having been passed on the peti- 
tion of the people, of Clay County. At the meet- 
ing of 'the citizens, Gen. D. R. Atchison, Col. A. 
W. Doniphan, Peter II. Burnett and William T. 
Wood were appointed a committee to draft a peti- 
tion to Congress, and Mr. Wood was elected to 
prepare this document, which duty he satisfac- 
torily performed. 

This territory was afterward divided b}- the 
Legislature of Missouri, and of it the counties of 
Andrew, Atchison, Buchanan, Holt, Nodaway and 
Platte were constituted. This country is noted 
for its wonderful fertility and was a valuable ac- 
quisition to Missouri, but, as emigrants began to 
seek it and settle upon its productive lands, as 
towns and trading-posts were established, Liberty 
lost much of its former trade, thus becoming less 
important as a business point. Mr. Wood still 
continued to reside there, practicing in the courts 
of all adjacent counties until 1815, when he re- 



moved to Lexington, Mo., where he lived until 
1856. A few years previous to his removal from 
Clay County, our subject, with Col. Doniphan 
and Maj. Dougherty, was elected to the Legisla- 
ture, gaining the first Whig victory, and beating 
Cen. Atchison, Col. Thornton and ('apt. Wallace, 
the Democratic nominees. Such was Mr. Wood's 
popularity that he stood first on the list of can- 
didates. 

After locating in Lexington, our subject con- 
tinued the practice of law, retaining most of 
his old clients and gaining many new ones, 
and his practice and popularity increased as the 
years progressed, he being regarded as a ster- 
ling citizen, able lawyer and honest man. In 
1854 he was elected Judge of the Circuit Court, in 
this position displaying eminent prudence and 
legal ability, his decisions being clear and forcible, 
based upon the highest principles of law and 
equity. In 1856 he resigned the position of Judge, 
removed to St. Louis, and re-entered the practice 
of law, here as elsewhere maintaining his high char- 
acter at the Bar. 

There were two tickets in the field for delegates 
to the State convention in 1861, and Judge Wood 
came within a few votes of being placed upon both 
tickets. Between the two tickets, the vote was 
close, but the one upon which his name appeared 
was unsuccessful: he, however, was one of those 
who received the highest vote on the defeated 
ticket. In the early part of January, 1861. just 
preceding the commencement of the Civil War. 
there was fearful excitement in St. Louis, seriously 
threatening the peace of the city, and producing 
general apprehension and alarm. Many citizens 
carried arms, and there was danger of a general 
street tight, liable to commence any hour. Opin- 
ions were not fixed, and purposes were unsettled. 
It was felt that to preserve peace, some public ac- 
tion w r as necessary, 3'et there was good ground to 
fear that a public meeting would he attended with 
danger, the occasion demanding prudence and wis- 
dom. 

A measure was adopted for the appointment of 
a committee to prepare action for a general and 
public meeting, and Judge Wood was selected as 
one of this committee, in which position he ren- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



197 



dered efficient help in its delicate and difficult 
Labors. The committee having succeeded in agree- 
ing on a preamble and resolutions, called the 
meeting for the 12th of January in front of the 
court house. Neatly the entire male population 
of the city was out on that day; thousands were 
armed with pistols and ready for emergencies. 
The result was most fortunate; the preamble and 
resolutions reported by the committee were adopted 
with acclamation; and the vast crowd retired in 
peace. In 1*0;">, Judge Wood determined to re- 
turn to Lexington, where lie immediately took his 
Old position, standing foremost in his profession. 
Twice since that tune he has been elected Judge of 
the Sixth Judicial Circuit. 

Judge W 1 has been three times married. His 

first wife was Miss Eliza Ann Hughes, 113- whom he 
had one son. Gen. Carrol II. Wood, Adjutant- 
General of Arkansas under Gov. Garland. The 
second Mrs. Wood was Miss Maria II. Payne, who 
bore him two sons: Payne, now deceased: and T. 
C. a resident of Iowa. The third wife was Miss 
Mary E. Broadwell, and the issue of this marriage 
was .1 sun, M. L. Wood, Lieutenant in the United 
States Navy, now on the war ship '•Alliance," and 
a daughter. Miss Maria, at present residing with 
her father. 

Judge W 1 is in politics, a Democrat, and for 

many years has been an important factor of that 
party in the State. He was Master of a Orange, 
and a valued member of the Masonic fraternity. 
For many years he has been connected with the 
Old-school Presbyterian Church. When the Civil 
War commenced, and during its continuance, he 
was a member Of the Pine Street Church in St. 
Louis, in which he held the position of Elder. 
Perhaps no religious organization in the whole 
country had more trials to encounter than had the 
Pine Sheet Church. Its minister was expelled by 
the military from his pulpit, banished from the 
State, and his church put in charge of a commit- 
tee; a fragment of the Presbytery, claiming to be 
the Presbytery, joined the military in its persecu- 
tions. The church in the interests of religion and 
liberty had to contend with the military and church 
courts combined, and during the whole contest 
Judge Wood was -lead fast for the right. He at- 



tended the general assemblies of the church in 
1863-64, and openly and fearlessly before the 
whole country asserted the rights of the minister 
and the church, and exposed and denounced the 
wrongs under winch they suffered. 



-Mr 



gs$§ W. BROWN, M. I)., a retired physician 
and farmer, living on section 28, township 
51, range 24, Middleton Township, La 
Fayette County. Mo., born in Buckingham 
County. Ya.. in the year 1824, is a son of James 
Brown, a native of Virginia, and one of the pio- 
neers of Missouri, and of Mary R. (Palmore) 
Brown, also a native of Virginia. The ancestors 
of the Browns were from England, and settled in 
Virginia at an early day. Our subject enjoyed 
excellent educational advantages, attending the 
public schools of Saline County, Mo., after his re- 
moval there with his parents at the age of seven 
years; subsequently, at the age of sixteen, entering 
Fayette College, at Layette. Mo., where he pur- 
Sued his studies for four years. Mr. Brown then 
read medicine under Dr. John L. Taibott, of How- 
ard County, Mo.; afterward, at the age of twen- 
ty-two, entering the medical college at Louisville, 
Ky., where he remained one year. 

Subsequently, Dr. Brown attended the Jefferson 
Medical College, of Philadelphia, from which he 
was graduated in 1850. Not content with this 
course of preparation and training, which is 
much more than many practicing physicians have 
had, he went to St. Louis in 1854 and there took 
a post-graduate course. Our subject began in the 
year 1850 the general practice of medicine anil 
surgery in Waverly, where he continued until the 
outbreak of the war, when he was appointed sur- 
geon of the First Regiment of the Trans-Missis- 
sippi Division of the Confederate States army, in 
which he served until the close of the war. Dr. 
Brown's service- were arduous and distinguished. 
and he wa- engaged in many of the severe and 
bloody battles of the war. 



498 



PORTRAIT AKD BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



When the foui years of strife were over, he re- 
turned to Waverly and resumed the practice of 
medicine, continuing in it until 1871, when, on ac- 
count of failing health, he removed to his present 
place of residence, where he has earned on farm- 
ing upon a very extensive scale up to the present 
time. Dr. Drown has two thousand acres of hind, 
much nf which is under cultivation, and has dem- 
onstrated the profitableness of agricultural pur- 
suits when conducted intelligently and on busi- 
ness principles. 

Our subject was married thirty-six years ago, or 
in the year 18.J6, to Miss Elizabeth A., daughter 
of Col. David Hen ton, an early settler of Missouri. 
Four children have been born to Dr. and Mrs. 
Brown, namely: Mary E., wife of Samuel Dyer, of 
Texas; Spencer I... Benjamin II. and William P. 
A careful student of current history, Dr. Brown 
takes a deep interest in national and State affairs, 
and in political affiliations lie is a Democrat. Mrs. 
Brown is a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church South. 



OIIN II. GRUMKE. The earth is a gener- 
ous mother, and, after all, man goes to her 
for his supplies of the necessities of life; 
hence it is that the vocation of a farmer is 
among the most important of all the callings, and 
the industrious agriculturist invariably commands 
respect. Our subject, a patient, faithful worker, 
has by the labor of his own hands, with upright 
conduct, amassed a competency, and, at the same 
time, won for himself the confidence and esteem 
of his neighbors. lie was born in St. Charles 
County, Mo., December 20, 1843, his father being 
Henry Grumke, a native of Prussia, who came to 
this county in 1833, and settled in the county 
where our subject was born. 

In Germany, Henry Grumke pursued the calling 
of a farmer, it being interrupted only by his ser- 
vice in the army, and after settling in Missouri, lit; 
again became a tiller of the soil. His wife bore 



the maiden name of Catharina Hack man, and was 
born in Prussia. Their marriage was celebrated in 
.Missouri, and their place of residence was St. 
Ciarles County until their death, the husband 
passing away in 1849, and the wife in 1869. They 
were the parents ot nine children, four of whom 
are living, and one of them was in the Missouri 
Home Guards during the late war. The parents 
were members of the Evangelical Church, the fa- 
ther having been an official in the same, his long 
residence here, .he having been a pioneer settler, 
together with his excellent character, causing him 
to lie a man of much influence in that body. 

Our subject was brought up on the home farm, 
which he ; i ~ - i - 1 1 * < 1 in cultivating throughout his 
youth, although in no way neglecting his educa- 
tion, which was imparted to him in the German as 
well as the English language. He remained on 
the home farm until he was thirty-three years 
of age, with an interval of absence in the army; he 
having enlisted in 1864, in Company E, Col. 
Crekel's Regiment, to guard the Wabash Railroad. 
After six months' service he was discharged and 
resumed his labors as a farmer. 

In the year 1866 Mr. Grumke married Katie 
Rehmeier, a native of St. Charles County. Eleven 
years later, in 1877, he removed with his family to 
La Fayette County, and located on a farm on sec- 
tion 29, township 50, range 28, where he has re- 
sided ever since. The original tract consisted of 
one hundred and sixty-seven acres, but he has 
added to it from time to time, until he now has 
six hundred and sixty acres, all except sixty being 
under cultivation. Industriously and persever- 
ingly he proceeded with the work of improve- 
ment, building a residence at a cost of S800, and 
erecting suitable outbuildings, fencing, etc., until 
now the farm presents a pleasing appearance. The 
home was burned in 1891, but has been replaced 
by another. Mr. Grumke carries on general farm- 
ins, arrowing various kinds of grain and raising 
stock, paving especial attention to good graded 
animals. 

Mr. and Mrs. Grumke are the parents of twelve 
children, nine of them living, namely: Otto, Eliza, 
Annie, Charles, Meta. Willie, Alice. Augusta and 
Emma. The children have been carefully reared, 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



490 



and their parents have particularly considered in 
their eases the important element of education. 
Mr. Griimke is a member of the Evangelical 
Church at Wellington, as also is his wife, he being 
a charter member, and having served as a Director, 
or leader, for six years; lie likewise has been an 
efficient teacher in the Sunday-school. His inter- 
est in the cause of education led his neighbors t" 
elect him a member of the School Hoard, a posi- 
tion filled by him very creditably. He is a Repub- 
lican, in politics, and a firm believer in the prin- 
ciples laid down in the platform of that party. 
From the old estate he received the sum of $400, 
which was all the assistance received by him from 
any source, the remainder of his fortune being the 
result of his own labors. 



WILLIAM WALKER, one of the most emi- 
nent practitioners of the legal profession 
in Lexington, La Fayette County, was 
born in Aurora, Ind., September 1, 1822. He isa 
son of James and Elizabeth (Nichols) Walker, and 
is the third in order of birth of a family number- 
ing ten children. Mr. Walker's father, James, was 
one of the patriots of 1812, while his grandfather, 
Benjamin, was a Revolutionary hero. 

Up to fifteen years of age William Walker was 
occupied in his native place much as other boys 
in ordinary circumstances are, with the usual 
modicum of mischief, and busy in acquiring a 
good rudimentary education in the common 
school. In 1837 he moved with his parents to 
Mason County, 111., where his father settled on a 
farm. It is still the place of family residence, and 
in a beautiful locality, quite widely known as 
Walker's < Srove. 

Our subject remained on his father's farm until 
he reached his majority, lie then went to Spring- 
field, and with Col. Edward Raker, of that city,as 
preceptor, studied his Blackstone. After a stay of 
two and a half years there, he was admitted to the 
Bar in 1843, and began practicing in Mason and 



adjoining counties, carrying on a general law- 
practice until November 16^ 1865, when he moved 
to Lexington, Mo., and opened an office. Here he 
has continued in the practice of his profession un- 
til the present time. 

In 1807, the original of this sketch was appointed 
Judge of the Court of Common Pleas at Lexing- 
ton, and the following year was elected to the 
same position, and held it until 1872. In politics, 
he is and has always been a stanch Republican. He 
cast his first vote for Henry Clay, and in 181! 1 was 
elected Presidential elector from Mason County. 
111., and had the honor of casting his vote for 
Abraham Lincoln in February of 1865. 

Judge Walker was married in 181.1 to Miss 
Catherine, a daughter of John Wheeler, of Ken- 
tucky. They had two sons and one daughter; 
of these, John W. is deceased; William is a resi- 
dent of Nebraska; and Elizabeth is the wife of 
Joseph Smith, of Mason County. 111. Mrs. Cath- 
erine Walker died in 1864, and November 4, 1865, 
our subject married Rachel Wilson, of Havana, 
111. She has been the mother of two sons and 
one daughter, who are: Arthur C, of La 
Fayette County; Robert II., a farmer of this 
county; and Alice, the wife of Thomas Yates, of 
La Fayette. Mrs. Rachel Walker died in 1871, and 
in 1872 our subject married Mrs. Margarel I,. 
Downing, a native of Kentucky. 



2&£>o_ 






WILLIAM II. LANDRUM, the well-known 
and enterprising carriage and wagon man- 
ufacturer, and dealer in windmills and 
steam-threshers, whose business interests have been 
located in Waverly. La Fayette County, Mo., for 
over a score of years, bears an enviable reputation 
as a man of ability and unblemished character. 
Lorn m Campbell County. Va., our subject came of 
a family for several generations back of American 
birth, their personal history and lifework inter- 
woven with the record of the Sunny South. The 
father of our subject. .1. J. Landrum, was born. 



500 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



educated and married in tlie State of Virginia. 
His wife, Mary C, a daughter of Richard Landrum, 
was also a native of Virginia. In the Old Domin- 
ion was likewise born the paternal grandfather, 
Burton Landrum, a man of ability and earnest 
purpose. 

Mr. Landrum spent his boyhood in the county 
where he was born, and attended the common 
schools of li is birthplace until he was fourteen 
years of age, when he industriously began the ac- 
quirement of his present trade, that of a carriage- 
maker. Having thoroughly mastered the details 
of carriage and wagon manufacturing, he afterward 
removed to Missouri, and settled in 1870 in the 
city of Waveily. opening a wagon and car- 
riage manufactory and repository here, and success- 
fully engaged in business, Mr. Landrum advan- 
tageously combines the handling of pumps, wind- 
mills and steam-threshers with his other line of 
work, and meeting from the first year of his 
establishment in Waverly with an excellent pat- 
ronage, has prosperously continued his business, 
which, rapidly extending its limits, embraces a 
custom second to none in the county. 

Among the excellent investments our subject 
has made since his residence in La Fayette County, 
is a fine farm of three hundred and twenty acres 
of land in Kansas, partially improved. The home 
residence of Mr. Landrum is in Waveily, and is 
well known as the scene of many a hospitable gath- 
ering. Oursubject was united in marriage in 1876 
with Miss Laura, a daughter of Robert S. Din- 
widdle of Waveily. Mrs. Landrum is a lady of 
worth and culture, and has a large circle of friends 
and acquaintances in the home of her youth. Mr. 
and Mis. Landrum are the parents of two blight 
and intelligent children, Clayton W. and Lolla E., 
who are receiving their primary education in the 
excellent schools of Waveily. Our subject and 
his wife are both esteemed members of the Metho- 
dist Church, and have long been active workers in 
that religious organization. 

Mr. Landrum is a member of Waverly Lodge, 
A. !■'. A- A. M., and is extremely popular among the 
fraternity. In political affiliations be is a stanch 
Democrat, and although not a politician in the 
generally accepted sense of the term, and never 



an office-seeker, is always deeply interested in both 
local and national affairs. During his many years 
residence in Waveily. our subject, prominent as a 
business man, has also materially aided in the ad- 
vancement of the various local enterprises of his 
home and county, and an energetic, able and pub- 
lic-spirited citizen, has been an important factor 
in the upward growth and prosperity of Waverly. 



4eh 



•#> 




II. BENTON. There is no country upon 
earth that can offer a parallel to the scene 
witnessed in the United States at the close 
^i of hostilities in the year 1865. Men who 
had been arrayed against each other for four 
years in deadly feud quietly laid down their arms 
and promptly returned to their several avocations. 
Whether fighting for the South, or for the union 
of the States, one and all accepted the situation, 
and the sound of contention was hushed forever in 
the land. The subject of our sketch bravely did 
his part, fighting according to his conscience, and, 
following the line of duty just as resolutely, re- 
turned to the farm, acting his part as well there as 
on the field of battle. 

R. II. Benton is a well-to-do farmer living on 
section 10, township 49, range 28, La Fayette 
County, being a son of Levi T. Benton, a native 
of Georgetown, Ky., born in 1797. The latter 
was a son of Samuel Benton, born in Maryland. 
The Benton family is an old English one, which 
originally settled in Maryland. The mother of our 
subject, whose maiden name was Harriet H. Chinn, 
and who was a native of Harrison County, Ky.. was 
a daughter of John Chinn, one of the pioneers of 
Kentucky. The parents of our subject were mar- 
ried in Kentucky; they came to Missouri in March, 
1853, and settled on the farm on section 10, then 
consisting of one acre with a small log cabin for a 
home. His death occurred in 1873, his wife dying 
in 1885. 

Levi P. Benton and his wife were the parents of 
five children, the only son being the subject of 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



501 



this sketch. They were consistent members of the 
Christian Church, the husband being an Elder and 
a very efficient helper in that body. He was 
brought up to the trade of a carpenter and was 
quite skilled in the use of edged tools. Politics 
always had an attracticn for liiii'; the magic of 
Henry (lay nave him enthusiasm in the old-line 
Whig party, and earnest Americanism made him 
just as zealous, later, in the Know Nothing party. 
Our subject was born at Lexington, Ky., Septem- 
ber 28, 1841, and he and hi- two sisters are the 
only survives of the family. During the Mexi- 
can War, when but five years old, he ran away 
from home and spent some days in the camp of 
the American volunteers. 

At the age of eleven our subject accompanied 
his parents to Missouri, and grew to man's estate 
on the home farm, where he lias always lived, re- 
ceiving his education in the home district schools. 
In November, 1874, he married Alice .Johnson, 
daughter of Wesley Johnson, the latter a native of 
this county, li is father having come here in 1820. 
Mrs. Benton was born March 21, 1856. at Waverly, 
in this county, studied at the Elizabeth Aull Sem- 
inary in Lexington, and afterward taught school. 
She has been the mother of seven children, five of 
whom are now living, namely: Carlton R, a student 
at Odessa College; Hattie ('..Carrie 11.. Mary Zoe 
and Richard Horace. Mr. and Mrs. Benton are 
members of the Christian Church, the former being 
a Deacon in the church at Odessa. He is a Demo- 
crat, active in all party movements and frequently 
a delegate to its conventions and was honored by it 
in being elected Judge of the County Court, in 
which position he served from 1886 to 1890. An 
earnest advocate of the schools, lie has served as a 
member of the School Board. 

Our subject enlisted in April, 1861, in the Mis- 
souri State Guards for a period of six months; 
then re-enlisted for the war in Company A. Ell- 
iott's Cavalry Battalion, serving as Second Ser- 
geant. His record as a soldier is a very creditable 
one, he having borne a brave part in the follow- 
ing battles: Carthage; the siege of Lexington and 
it- surrender: Independence, Lone Jack, Cane 
Hill, Prairie Grove, second battle of Carthage, 
llart.-ville and a number of skirmishes. After the 



surrender of Lexington he also fought in the bat- 
tles of Pea Ridge and Ncwtonia. then was sent 
to Memphis, Tcnn., after which he was sent back- 
to recruit for the battalion. 

Returning to his command, our subject partici- 
pated in all the battles named above, beginning 
with Cane Hill and ending with Ilartsville. At 
Brownsville, Ark-., he was captured, in September, 
1863; was taken to Little Rock, Ark., then to St. 
Louis, and later to Camp Morton. I nil.; he remained 
therein prison until March, 1865, when he was ex- 
changed. and went to Richmond, Va.,by way of the 
Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama. Below Natchez he 
was captured for the second time and placed in the 
yards at Vicksburg, where he was held until the 
surrender of Johnston's army. Being forwarded 
with others for St. Louis, he left the boat at Hel- 
ena, where he remained and put m a crop. In 
September, 1865, after a war service of more than 
four years and a further absence of nearly six 
months, he returned to his old home. Our subject 
was wounded twice, — at Lone Jack, in the head, 
and at Springfield, Mo., January 8, 1863, by a rifle 
ball in the left thigh. 



'^ ENRY B. TICKEMYRE. This wealthy far- 

| mer and stock-raiser of Saline County was 

born in Allegany County. Md.. Augusl 25, 

(§£)) 1842, and is the son of Casper and Minnie 
(Christopher) Tickemyre, natives of < ■ermanv. Cas- 
per Tickemyre and his father-in-law emigrated to 
America, but Mrs. Tickemyre did not come until 
some time later, when her husband had made prep- 
aration for her comfort. 

The family of Casper Tickemyre and his wife 
consisted of six children, of whom the eldest was 
our subject. The second child was Frank, who 
now resides on a farm near LongWOOd, Mo.: Eva- 
line married Michael Walk; Mary died and left 
one son, George Teunel; Caroline became the wife 
of George Chance, of Kansas City; and I.ettie mar- 



502 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



ned Frank (lark, of Kansas. Our subject came 
with his parents to Saline County, Mo., in 1854, 

and here he has spent the greater part of his life. 
lie received his education in the common schools 
of tli is county, and the training received in hoy- 
hood was such as to prepare him for a career of 
honor and usefulness. 

At that time party feeling ran high in Missouri. 
The location of the State contributed somewhat to 
this; touching Iowa on the north, and Illinois on the 
east, where anti-slavery feeling was highj and Kan- 
sas on the west, where border ruffianism had been 
rampant so long, and adjoining the slave State 
of Arkansas on the South, the people were neces- 
sarily made up of all shades of political feeling. 
In the spring of I860 occurred one of lhose„blots 
upon civilization which future residents of Saline 
County may feel ashamed to have incorporated in 
her history. Mr. Tickemyre was a witness to, al- 
though he took no part in. the hanging of two 
negroes and the burning to death of a third, for a 
further account of which see history of the county. 

In 1861 our subject was still a schoolboy, a 
student in a school near the Will .1. King place, 
south of Marshall. At that time recruiting officers 
were raising troops for the Confederate army, and 
our subject witnessed the distribution of twelve 
hundred kegs of State powder, which had been 
freighted there from Jefferson City. This powder 
was given to those who favored the Confederacy, 
but the Federal troops, learning of it. finally se- 
cured a large portion of the powder. In August, 
1862, Mr. Tickemyre enlisted in the United States 
service, joining Company F, of the Seventh Mis- 
souri Cavalry, at Lexington, lie served in the 
lights at Prairie Grove, and aided in driving Mar- 
rnaduke out of the State. The regiment went to 
Clariugton, crossed the White River, and engaged 
in the battlcat Brownsville. From there they went 
to Little Rock, where they participated in the en- 
gagement with Price. 

[n February, 1863, our subject's company was 
sent to Pine Bluff to re-enforce Gen. Powell Clay- 
ton. The army here had hard work, and our sub- 
ject was in the fight at Monticello, and then, with 
his company, fell back to Fine Bluff, where they 
remained to guard the fort. He was a member of 



the cavalry that remained to guard the supply 
trains from Pine Bluff to Camden, and was in the 
fight known as Mike's Mills, where they lost their 
tram, which was empty. Our subject was kept in 
active service until the close of the war in 1865, 
when he was mustered out at Little Rock, Ark., 
and afterward came home and began farming on 
his own responsibility. With a part of themonej 
which he had earned in the service, he bought 
eighty acres of land in Saline County. 

In 18(!7 Miss Ellen Hicks became the wife of Mr. 
Tickemyre, and five children were born of their 
union, as follows: Minnie, the wife of Dr. Smith, 
of Slater; Mattie; Florence; Lulu, and one that died 
in infancy. Mrs. Ellen Tickemyre died February 
21, 1878. Mr. Tickemyre married a second time in 
October, 1880, Lucretia Weaver being the lady of 
his choice. Our subject is a member of the Cumber- 
land PresbytcrianChureh of Marshall, in which he 
is very highly esteemed. With his old comrades- 
in-arms he talks over the thrilling war times in 
the Post meetings of the Grand Army of the Repub- 
lic at Marshall. Politically he is a stanch Republi- 
can, and ardently supports the principles he fought 
to strengthen. 



P » !■ » ! ■» H i ■ ■ ■ 




LFRED F. RECTOR is one of the promi- 
nent members of the Saline County Bar, 
having practiced the legal profession at 
Marshall since 1885. Mr. Rector is a na- 
tive of Campbell County, Ya., and was born March 
26, 1852. He is a son of William B. and Susan I). 
(Frost) Rector, the former an attorney at Lynch- 
burgh for several years prior to the war. The pa- 
ternal grandfather of our subject was Alfred Rec- 
tor, of Fauquier County. Ya. 

On the breaking out of the war, William B. Rec- 
tor entered the Confederate army as Captain of 
Company I, Forty-second Virginia Infantry. He 
was wounded at the battle of Kernstown, Ya., 
March 23, 1802, and died at Winchester. Va., on 
the 26th of that month, leaving a widow and 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



503 



eight ehildren to mourn his loss. He was com- 
paratively a young man, being only thirty.-seven 
years of age when he was killed. Our subject's 
mother was a member of the old Frost family of 
New England fame, and a daughter <>f Dr. Elias 
Frost, of Meriden, N. 11. She remained at the 
old home in Virginia, and devoted herself to the 
education of her ehildren. who were named as fol- 
lows: Sal lie, Alfred, George K., William I!., Robert 
( >., John T., Mary Virginia ami Susie 11. The eld- 
est is the wife of David Franklin; Susie is Mrs. 
.lames (arson: .John T. is a merchant at Slater. 
Mo.; William B. died in 1885. The mother now 
resides at Concord, Va., twelve miles from I.vneh- 
burgh. She has reared her children in the doctrine 
and faith of the Methodist Church. 

Our subject was educated in the common schools 
of Virginia, receiving good practical training, and 
in 1*7(1. at the age of eighteen, he went to Chari- 
ton County, Mo., and worked on a farm for two 
years. Afterward he entered the service of the 
Wabash Railroad Company as station agent, and 
was thus employed for six \eais. In 1878 hecame 
to Slater and took charge of the agency under the 
Chicago & Alton Railroad Company, with whom 
he remained until February, 1882. Meantime he 
was studying law and formed a partnership with 
John A. Rich, of Slater. He was admitted to the 
Bar by .Indue John 1'. Strother, at Marshall, in 
February, 1885, after which he continued to prac- 
tice at Slater until the spring of 1886. 

At the last-named date Mr. licet or was nominated 
by the Democratic party to the office of Prosecu- 
ting Attorney of Saline County, and after election 
removed to Marshall, qualifying for office Jan- 
uary 1,1887. In 1889 he was re-elected and served 
until January I. 1891, having filled the office in a 
satisfactory manner, and in such a way as to prove 
beyond a doubt his ability. Since the last-named 
date he lias continued in private practice, and now 
has a large and lucrative business. With less ad- 
vantages than most professional men enjoy, by in- 
domitable energy he has gained his way step by 
step to a high position in the law. lie is also in- 
terested in farming ami stock-raising, and owns a 
tine place in this county. 

The original of this sketch married Miss Lucy 



Venable in Chariton County, Mo., January 10, 
1*77. Thej arc the parents of three children, 
whose names arc George Nest, liaylis J. and Susan 
I). Fraternally, M". Rector is a member of the 
Ancient Order of United Workmen an 1 Knights 
of the Maccabees. 



^. =i 



^+^ 



"S3 



<Sp^)RNST HOFFMANN, proprietor of the Lex- 
ilUi ington Brewery, is the subject of this 
' -> sketch. His birth took place in Darmstadt- 
Germany, March 5, 1834. For many \ears the 
fathei of Mr. Hoffmann was Postmaster of his native 
place, also carried on successful farming, and was 
a man of good business qualities. His connection 
with the mail service continued for many years, 
to the satisfaction of the Government. In the 
prime of life he died, regretted by a large circle of 
friends. The mother of our subjeel bore the 
maiden name of Catherine Sohwinn, and she was 
born in Germany and spent her life there. 

The boyhood of our subject was passed in his 
native town of Brainsbach, until he was fourteen 
years of age attending school. At this age he en- 
tered a cooper shop to learn the trade, which he 
followed for two years, leaving it to engage in the 
brewery business at ( tppenheim, on the River Rhine, 
where he remained for twelve months. After this, 
followed aseason in his life when he traveled from 
town to town in the.brcwery business, also visiting 
some cities. 

In 1853 Mr. Hoffmann sailed for this country, 
and, after landing in New York, engaged with 
Brown & Co., later entering the employ of F. & M. 
Schafcr for six months. Tin- next city where our 
Subject entered into business was Allegheny City. 
Pa., but later he went to Birmingham, Pa. After 
this he removed to St. Louis, Mo.. -till following 
his line of business for various parties, continuing 
for two years and one-half. Our information does 
not permit us to say that at thi- time home-Slck- 
neSS overcame our worthy subject, but thai or some 
other good reason induced him to again tempt fate 



.-,1)1 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



upon the ocean l>.v makings visit to the Father- 
land. His vi-.it covered four years, then in 18G1 
he returned to America. 

When Mr. Hoffmann again came to this country, 

he made his way to Pckin. 111., where he had a 
brother, and with him he engaged in farming for 
two mi miners, in the winter time following his trade. 
For six months our subject resided in Havana, 
III. Looking about, and finally deciding upon that 
town as a good location, he opened up business. 
there and continued for eleven years. In 1875 
Mr. Hoffmann came to Lexington, Mo., where he has 
built a brewery which has a capacity of forty bar- 
rels per day, and enjoys a line trade. 

The marriage of Mr. Hoffmann was celebrated in 
1 si;:;, with Miss .lennette Stockert, of Pekin, III.. 
and a family of seven children was born into this 
household, as follows: Albert, who married Miss 
Kate Larry, now deceased; Km ma, the wife of 
John Frederick, a tailor by trade; George, deceased; 
Carl, of Chicago, 111.; Edith, at home; and Ernst, 
who assists his father in the business. One child 
is deceased. Mr. Hoffmann is the owner of some 
very good property, his brewery also being large 
and commodious. In politics our subject is inde- 
pendent, always voting for the man he considers 
the best, apart from any party lines. 



ENRY C. EWING. Prominent among the 
Y J enterprising agriculturists of La Fayette 
County is the gentleman with whose name 
we introduce this sketch, and who operates 
a finely-improved farm on section 24, township 49, 
range 27. His landed possessions consist of four 
hundred and forty acres, the most of which is 
highly cultivated. In conducting farming oper- 
ations, Mr. Ewing uses modern improvements in 
the way of machinery, and it needs but a glance 
at his estate to convince the passer-by that he is a 
man of energy and of a progressive nature. 

Born in La Fayette, Mo., on the 22d of June, 



1838, our subject is a son of Chatham S. and Mary B. 
(Young) Ewing, natives of Kentucky and Tennes- 
see. When a boy Henry C. came with his parents 
to Missouri, where for a time he resided in Howard 
County; he afterward removed thence to Henry 
County where lie was reared to manhood. Mr. 
Ewing of this sketch received the rudiments of his 
education in the common schools of the district, and 
afterward supplemented the knowledge there ac- 
quired by attendance at the old Chapel Hill Col- 
lege, in Suiabar Township, LaFayette County. 
Having become familiar with farm work in his 
youth he naturally chose that occupation when 
starting out in life. 

December 8, 1874, our subject was united in 
marriage with Miss Isabelle .1.. a daughter of K. M. 
Harrelson, and they are the parents of two living 
children: Chatham M., now a student in the Mis- 
souri Valley College, at Marshall, Mo.; and Flor- 
ence B., who is at home. One child, James II.. is 
deceased. Mrs. Ewing is a member of one of the 
well-known families of Missouri. Her maternal 
grandfather, Gen. J. II. Graham, was among the 
first settlers of Lexington, this State, and is still 
living at that place, having attained to the vener- 
able age of ninety-live years. 

Mrs. Ewing has three surviving sisters, namely: 
Mrs. Eliza Barton, whose home is in Kates County, 
Mo.; Mrs Edward S. Butt, a resident of La Fay- 
ette Count}-; and .Mrs. Warner Duvall. of Colo- 
rado. The father of this family came to La 
Fayette County in the '50s and settled in Davis 
Township. During the last year of the Civil War 
he removed to Washington Township, where for 
a number of years he made his home. From that 
township he removed to Rich Hill, Mo., where he 
now resides, lie is a prominent citizen, a stanch 
adherent of the principles of Democracy and for 
many years has served as Justice of the Peace. In 
his religious connection, he is a member of the 
Cumberland Presbyterian Church. 

The political opinions of Mr. Ewing lead him 
into line with the Democratic party, of which he 
has always been an ardent supporter. Having 
spent all of his life in Missouri, he has witnessed 
its progress and aided greatly in promoting its 
interests. Mrs. ICwing is a faithful member of the 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



507 



Cumberland Presbyterian ('lunch and an active 
worker in both the Home and Foreign Missionary 
Societies, she i> a capable housekeeper, devoted 
to the interests of her family, and is highly re- 
garded in the community. 









<& » I I.I.I AM GRANT FOWLER, a farmer and 
\fijl stock-raiser of Saline County, residing 
V^y upon section 12, township 51, range 20, 
near Slater, is the subject of the present sketch. 
He was born in Boone County, Ky., in the year 
1834, and is the son of .1. B. and Mary (Stillwell) 
Fowler, both of whom were native Kentuckians, 
he having been born in 1800, and she at Maysville 
about the same time. Both grandfathers were 
soldiers in the Revolutionary War. 

Our subject was one in a family of seven chil- 
dren. John, his eldest brother, was born in Ken- 
tucky, May 23, 1824, and died in that State in 
184 ( J; Daniel 1!. was born in Kentucky in 1836, 
married Miss Wolgamot, and died in Colorado in 
1884, leaving four children; Robert was born in 
Kentucky in 1840, married .Miss Huston, of Scot- 
land County. Mo., where he is a physician, and they 
have a family of seven children; Elizabeth, who 
was born in Kentucky in 1830, married John "Win- 
ston, became the mother of six children, and re- 
sides in Saline County, Mo., where Mr. Winston is 
engaged in fanning; Sarah J. was born in Kentucky, 
married Dr. Asbury, of Lewis County, Mo., and 
they had a family of four children. 

In Saline County, in 1865, our subject married 
Miss Mar\ F. Thomson, who was born January 7, 
1838, on the farm where she now lives. They are 
the parents of six children: Robert, born in 1866; 
Susie in 1870; Donald, born in 1872. now teaching 
school in I, a Fayette County; Effie, born in 1875; 
Celliein 1877; and Mamie in 1879; all are at home. 
The eldest daughter finished her education at 
Hardin College, in Mexico, Mo., in 1889. 

Our subject is a man of broad knowledge, hav- 
ing acquired an excellent education at the Morgan 

25 



Academy, Burlington, Ky. His schooling ended, 
he went to Texas, where he engaged in trading 
stock between that Staleand Mexico for some three 
years. After driving a large herd of cattle to 
Chicago, where he sold them, he came to Missouri. 
His first business venture in this State was that of 
cattle trading, but at the outbreak of the war he 
enlisted in the arm}- under Martin Greene, who 
was the commander of the Greene Regiment. 
They were stationed for some time in Monticello, 
Mo., and their first battle was at Athens, Iowa, 
whence they went to join Price, and also took 
part in the Lexington fight. Our subject was 
taken prisoner at Cane Hill, Ark., in Price's last 
raid and was paroled. 

In 1865, Mr. Fowler retired from the army and 
resumed his business of farming and stock-raising. 
At the present time, lie has a farm of three hun- 
dred and thirty-five acres, situated on the high- 
way running east of Slater, and the land to-day is 
worth $65 per acre. The principal productions 
arc corn, wheat and hay, in raising which Mr. 
Fowler has met with success. While not a mem- 
ber of any church, he is a liberal supporter of all 
religious measures. His wife and four of the chil- 
dren are connected with the Baptist Church. So- 
cially, our subject has been a Mason for some 
twenty-five years. He is a member of the Board 
of Trustees of the Sappington School Fund for 
the education of poor and orphaned children of 
Saline County. Mo., which position he has held for 
twenty years. Politically, he is a Democrat, and 
takes an active interest in the affairs of his party. 



s.:i 



' -v^S)' 



MM 



jg^ 



i -~ 



-J— 



jps^ AMIT.I. SMITH, a well-known and promt- 

^s& nent pioneer resident of this locality, resid- 

\£/' '■"" "'""' Sl ''' ,i " n '•"'' township 111, range 

27, is the gentleman of whom we write. 

His birth took place April 6, 1831. in La Fayette 

County, Mo.. where hi- parents, Charles and Naacy 

(Ferguson) Smith, had long been residents. Charles 

Smith, a native of Virginia, married a lady from 



508 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Tennessee, and in the early '20s, with his widowed 
mother and other members of his family, made 
the long trip from the Old Dominion to Missouri 
and settled in La Fayette County. He had re- 
ceived his adventurous spirit from both sides of 
the family, botli grandparents having been brave 
soldiers during the Revolutionary War. 

The family of Mr. Smith took up their residence 
upon what is known as the Capt. Calloway farm, 
where they remained for a number of years, but 
finally removed to the farm where our subject now 
lives. The family of Mr. and .Airs. Charles Smith 
consisted of but two children, namely: Samuel, 
who is the subject of this sketch, and one sister, 
Luvenia, deceased. Charles Smith died July 2, 
1842, after having spent nearly twenty years in 
arduous toil, a brave pioneer preparing the way 
and making it easier for those who came after. 
This worthy man lived to see the desert places 
bloom, and the aforetime forests superseded by 
fields of golden grain, and to hear the wheels of 
the iron horse that was destined to hasten the set- 
tlement and civilization of the great West. 

Our subject grew up amid the changing scenes 
of the drama of developing civilization at too 
early a period in its rendition to reap those ad- 
vantages of education and culture which now ap- 
pertain to the children of parents in any condition 
of life. At the best, all that was offered was the 
old log cabin school, with its brief winter terms, and 
teachers who, as a rule, were unacquainted with the 
curriculum of the college. Even this meagre in- 
struction was in a gnat degree denied our subject, 
because from his eleventh year he was the main- 
stay in his mother's family, his father having died 
three years before. Still the draughts taken, light 
as they were, gave him thirst for more knowledge, 
and throughout his life he has been an earnest 
reader. Mr. Smith lived to see the deer and other 
wild animals his father delighted to hunt disap- 
pear, and has witnessed the development of La 
Fayette County from a dreary waste meagrely set- 
tled to its present high state of civilization. 

Mr. Smith married Mrs. Martha McLoughlin, 
widow of Henry McLoughlin, who was a daughter 
of W. M. Whitsett, and she bore him two children, 
Charles and Albert, both deceased, The second 



marriage of Mr. Smith occurred February 19, 1878, 
hi- selection having been Miss Matilda Morrison, 
who was born in Virginia, a daughter of II. A. 
Morrison, of La Fayette County, Mo. She lias 
borne him the following children: Fannie C, Mary 
L., Samuel 15., Emma M., Hettie B., Betsy M., and 
Naomi, who died in infancy. Mr. Smith has served 
in various official capacities in the Cumberland 
Presbyterian Church, in which he is a highly es- 
teemed member, his wife happily sharing his views. 
Having a fine farm of three hundred and six- 
teen acres. Mr. Smith is independent in most 
things, but in politics he chooses to ally himself 
with the Democratic party, of whose principles and 
history he is proud. Widely known and having 
lived a life of integrity and uprightness, Mr. 
Smith is held in highest esteem by all who know 
him. A man of great public spirit, thoroughly 
identified with the party of improvement and 
progress in his neighborhood, and possessed of 
read} - apprehension to discern that which is right 
and best for the community, he wields an influ- 
ence second to none in this part of La Fayette 
County. 



=~5-=.{. / 



ON. .1. .1. FERRIL. In Saline County, of 
|l which he is an honored citizen, our subject 
was bom January 1. 1K22. He is the son 
of Henry and Martha (Jones) Ferril, na- 
tives of Kentucky. The paternal grandfather was 
John Ferril, and the family is of Irish descent. 
The great-grandfather came to this country at 
an early day and was killed by the Indians while 
moving from Virginia to Kentucky. The grand- 
father served in the Indian War and participated 
in the Ohio expedition under Cen. Clarke. The 
family came to the State of Missouri in 1808 and 
settled at Suter Island. In 1809, they removed 
to Howard County, when the father of our subject 
was but fourteen years of age. During the War Of 
1812, he was one of the men in the expedition that 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



509 



tooh ili«' .Miami Indians from the town of Miami 
to the shawncc Indians' reservation. 

Our subject is one in a family of seven children, 
all of whom are yet living except two. .lane, who 
was born in Missouri, married William ('. Hill and 
both have passed away; John, who was horn in 
Saline County, Mo., married Miss Casebolt, and 
now resides in California; where he is engaged in 
farming; Robert, also a native of this county, mar- 
ried Miss McDermitt, and is now engaged in farm- 
ing; David married Miss Wheeler, who died in 
California; Hiram, who was born in Missouri, mar- 
ried Eliza X. Cruzen, and they reside at Marshall; 
and Josephine, who is the widow of E. W. Scott, 
resides in Tulare, Cal. 

In the subscription schools of Saline County, 
our subject acquired his education, and as his fa- 
ther was a poor man his advantages in youth were 
very limited. After leaving school, he devoted 
himself to his chosen trade, which was that of a 
cabinet-maker, and many a good wife of Saline 
County in the olden days spun her tlax and yarn 
upon wheels which he manufactured. During the 
summer, lie made brick and also engaged in the 
manufacture of furniture at Miami. In 1853, he 
embarked in business as a furniture dealer, in 
which he continued until the opening of the war, 
and as he was energetic and enterprising his suc- 
cess was assured from tin- start. 

Our subject entered the army and served in the 
State militia for three months, after which he re- 
turned home and engaged in the manufacture of 
spinning-wheels. In 1862, he was elected to the 
position of County Judge and served until 1866. 
At present he has a line slock of furniture and also 
owns considerable property, including a business 
block in the tow r n of Miami, which has been in his 
possession since 1846. His residence is an elegant 
two-story frame dwelling, whii h cosl $2,500. Po- 
litically, Judge Ferril is a Democrat and previous 
to his present party affiliation he was an old-line 
Whig. lie was elected to the posit ion of To wn- 
ship Clerk of Miami, which he held for two terms 
under the old school law of Is 111, and served for a 
long time as Notary Public. 

When the site of the present thriving town of 
Miami was but a wilderness, Judge Ferril was 



then, as now, familiar with the entire country, a nd 
during the fifteen years in which he served as 
Mayor of Miami was instrumental in securing 
many improvements and effecting many reforms. 
Probably there is no man in the county of Saline 
who more fully enjoys the confidence and esteem 
of his neighbors than does he. I lis straightforward 
and fearless adherence to duty during the war won 
for him the respect of both sides. Warm-hearted 
and charitable toward all, his watchword on the 
Bench and in private life has been "Duty." 



H, 



m 



\&^~ 



<jp^y, ( (BERT A. HARNETT. Our subject is one 
of the old settlers in La Fayette County, 

\V where he has a fine farm, comprising fifty- 
'^) one acres on section 6, township 50, range 
2.">. lie has >pent over a half-century in this vicin- 
ity, and the time has been fraught with changes 
here as in every other portion of the Union. The 
railroads have extended their shining rails in 
every direction, fine houses have taken the places 
of log cabins and dug-outs, splendid roads inter- 
sect the country, which was before a broken tim- 
ber-land, and these are the least of the changes 
that might be mentioned. 

Judge Harnett is a native of "Old Kaintuck," 
and was born in Madison County. August 1, 1814. 
He is a son of Alexander and Elizabeth M. (Din- 
widdie) Barnett, both natives of Virginia. His pa- 
ternal grandfather. John Barnett, who wasalso born 
in Virginia, was one of the early followers of Boone 
in Kentucky. The first representative of his fam- 
ily in America came hither from Ireland. Ills 
mother's family came from England. When the 
original, of tin- sketch was twenty-one years of 
age, he left Kentucky and removed to La Fayette 
County, this Stale, at once settling on a farm. 

The hemp industry, which is most extensively 
cultivated at the present time in Kentucky, was 
one with which our subject, was very familiar, and 
on migrating to La Fayette County, he at once be- 
gan raising i in large quantities. Until the war 



510 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



he found plenty of negro help to "break" the 

hemp, but since then has given up the work and de- 
voted himself to general farming. For many years 
he has been a pronounced Democrat, and it would 
lie foreign to his nature to be inactive in anything 
concerning public interests. He was elected one 
of the Judges of La Fayette County shortly after 
the war, and served eight years, reflecting great 
credit upon himself during his incumbency of that 
office. 

March 15, 1842, Judge Barnett married Miss 
Mary C, daughter of Joseph Barnett, of Madison 
County. Ky. They were the parents of nine chil- 
dren, four of whom are now living: Alexander, 
Joseph, Robert A. and Katie T. Mrs. Mary Barnett 
died January 9, 1879. The present Mrs. Barnett 
was formerly Mrs. Mary B. Allison. She is an ac- 
complished housewife, and an excellent lady. The 
Barnett farm comprises fifty-one acres of well-im- 
proved land, all of which is under cultivation. 
They have a pleasant residence which is entirely 
adequate to the family needs and comfort. For 
many years Mr. Barnett has been a member of the 
Presbyterian Church, and his wife worships with 
the Christian denomination. More than the allot- 
ted three-score years and ten have been permitted 
to our subject for the enjoyment of well-earned 
comforts, and we supplement the wish of his many 
friends that he will be spared fm- years to come. 



* AVID LYONS, an honored and upright citi- 
zen, and for the past twenty-five years a 
constant resident and successful agricultur- 
ist of Lexington Township, La Fayette County, 
Mo., is pleasantly located upon section 19, town- 
ship 50, range 2G, and has a tine farm, all under a 
high state of improvement. Our subject was the 
namesake of his paternal grandfather. David Lyons, 
a native of Ireland. An enterprising and ener- 
getic man, intelligent and ambitious, he early de- 
termined to emigrate to America, and. crossing 
the broad Atlantic, settled in the United States 



and made for himself and his descendants a pros- 
perous home in the land of liberty. His son 
James was born and reared in the good old Quaker 
State, and, leaving Pennsylvania to locate in Tenn- 
essee, there met and married his wife, Anna Max- 
well, a native of Hawkins County, Tenn. 

Our subject was born upon his father's farm 
in Hawkins County, in February, 1820, and re- 
mained in his birthplace until he arrived at a ma- 
ture age. In his boyhood days he assisted in the 
agricultural duties of the farm, and attended the 
subscription schools of the immediate neighbor- 
hood. His father was an extensive stock-raiser, 
and he gained an accurate knowledge of this 
branch of farming, which has since materially 
aided him in successful ventures. Remaining in 
Tennessee until 1865, Mr. Lyons was variously 
employed. At sixteen years of age he began clerk- 
ing in a variety or general store, and performed 
the duties intrusted to his care so satisfactorily 
that he continued in the business until he was 
twenty years of age. Our subject then began 
buying and selling horses, and profitably con- 
tinued in the same line of business for some years. 

In 1848, Mr. Lyons embarked in mercantile 
pursuits on his own account, and, devoting him- 
self with his accustomed ability- and energy to his 
business, he built up a fine trade, which, rapidly 
extending, yielded him a comfortable income for 
ten years. In 1860 he retired from mercantile 
life, and in 18(15 settled upon his present farm of 
one hundred and twenty acres, which under his 
excellent management is constantly increasing in 
value. In the month of December, 1813, our sub- 
ject was united in marriage with Miss Julia Amos, 
a most estimable lady and a daughter of James 
Amos, a native of North Carolina, and a well- 
known and highly respected citizen. Mrs. Julia 
(Amos) Lyons did not survive her marriage man}' 
years, and dying left to the care of her husband 
four children, one son and three daughters: Anna 
is at home; Mary is married and is the wife of 
John Lyons; James lives in La Fayette County; 
and Julia is deceased. 

In 1852, Mr. Lyons was married to his second 
wife. Miss Matilda Looney. who passed away in 
1866, after becoming the mother of six children, 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



511 



now living: Clinton resides a1 home with his 
father; John L. is living in Lexington Town- 
ship; David J. is a grocer of Lexington Township; 
Elizabeth is at home; Rosa is the wife of Frank 
Lankford, of Bates County, Mo.; and Rachael is 
married and is Mrs. Walker. Our subject was again 
married, in 1875, to .Mrs. FulkerSOn, liis present 
wife, and a native of Massachusetts. 

Mr. Lyons is a man of temperate habits and 
strong character, decided in his views, and, pos- 
sessing undoubted integrity, has worthily won, 
and firmly holds, the esteem and confidence of 
friends and neighbors. A strong Democrat, well 
able to defend the parly principles with sound ar- 
gument and unanswerable logic, he has never 
himself desired political promotion, but considers 
it the duty of every good citizen to do his best 
to see that all the offices, both local and national, 
are worthily filled. Our subject is notably inter- 
ested in educational advancement, and is one of 
the foremost promoters in local progress and im- 
provement. 



<& 



=^> 



r~Y I.X.IAMIN C. RIDGE is a farmer on section 

XzsL 35, Dover Township, La Fayette County. 
ft") I lie is a native of Adair County, Ky., and 



was bom September 20, 1833. 'His father, 
William Ridge, who was a native of Maryland, 
emigrated from Kentucky to Missouri in 1836, 
and, as he brought his family with him, our sub- 
ject knows but little of his native State by actual 
residence therein. His mother was. prior to her 
marriage, Miss Sophia Dillingham, a native of 
Kentucky. 

When the Ridge family moved to Missouri they 
at once settled on the farm where our subject now 
lives. As a lad, he attended the common schools 
in the vicinity of home, helping his father, as was 
the custom in those days, in the Intervals of school 
life with the farm work. In 1861 he enlisted in 
Company I, of Gen. Shelby's Regiment of Cavalry, 
and served until the close of the war. During 



thai time he took part in the following battles: 
\\ ilson Creek, Lexington (Mo.), Springfield (Mo.), 
Iluntsville (Miss.), and other minor engagements, 
lie was wounded at Westport, this State, in 1804. 

At the close of the war, Mr. Ridge returned to 
La Fayette County, and resumed his career as a 
farmer, which he has carried on up to the present 
time. He has paid considerable attention for the 
lasl few years to raising Shorthorn cattle, and, like 
the native-born Kentuckian that he is, his delight 
is in tine trot ting' horses. His horses of the best 
pedigree are from "Mambrino," "Wilkomont" and 
•Red Eagle." 

In politics, Mr. Ridge belongs to the successful 
party at the present time, and has been loyal to it 
through its long years of patient waiting for the 
present day. In 1866, he was married to Miss 
Winnie Warren, a daughter of Anderson Warren, 
who was a native of Kentucky and was one of the 
early settlers of Missouri, having moved here in 
1818. Our subject and his wife have been the par- 
ents of seven children, and still number six of 
their grown-up sons and daughters, there being 
four of the former and two of the latter, who are 
named as follows: Clarence, Benjamin F., Winnie 
II., Sophia L., William A. and George C. 

The farm of which our subject is the owner 
comprises two hundred and fifty acres, which are 
all under cultivation and well improved. The 
home is a model of comfort and convenience, and 
the outbuildings, especially the barn for his fa- 
vored trotters, is after the most approved style for 
that kindof a building. The place is beautified 
with trees, both shade and fruit. Loth our subject 
and his wife are devoted members of the Christian 
( liurch. 



c~ 



■JOHN C. COBB. Success in life attained 
through honorable means is a mark of high 
distinction in this age of competition, when 
desire for wealth too often prompts irreg- 
ular practices. The general testimony of the peo- 



512 



POiiTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



pie of Odessa is that John C. Cobb is the soul of 
honor, whose wealth has been won without the 
sacrifice of a single principle of right. In his 
responsible position as President of the National 
Bank of Odessa, he is art important factor in fi- 
nancial circles and exerts a wide influence through- 
out the community. A brief review of his life 
will, therefore, be of interest to the reader and 
will encourage those who are dependent upon their 
own exertions for advancement. His father, Al- 
fred F. Cobb, was reared in his native State, 
Tennessee, where he followed the trade of an iron- 
maker. The grandfather of our subject, a native 
of North Carolina, of Welsh descent, and also an 
iron-maker by trade, settled in La Fayette County, 
Mo., in 1838, and in his removal hither was accom- 
panied by his son Alfred F. 

The mother of our subject, Louisa (Hoskins) 
Cobb, was a native of East Tennessee, where she 
grew to womanhood. Mir was married to Alfred 
F. Cobb in La Fayette County. Mo., and bore him 
eleven children, ten sons' and one daughter, all but 
one of whom grew to maturity, married and still 
survive. Our subject, the eldest of the eleven, was 
born in La Fayette County, Mo., March 18, 1843, 
and was reared there, attending the only school of 
his district. At the age of eighteen, he crossed 
the plains and engaged in hauling freight with an 
ox-team. In 1879, he embarked in the grain busi- 
ness, and in the following year organized the Bank 
of Odessa, which was merged into the National 
Bank. This institution is the largest bank in the 
county, and has also the distinction of being the 
only National Bank in the county. 

In 18(58, Mr. Cobb married Miss Louisa Hobson, 
a native of Jackson County, and they are the 
parents of three children: Dora Lou, Harvey C. 
and John Libert. In the Cumberland Presbyterian 
Church, Mr. Cobb is held in highesl esteem and is 
Deacon, as well as a most influential member of 
that organization. In politics, as may be supposed, 
he takes a leading part and is a prominent Dem- 
ocrat. He is a member of the Board of Trustees 
of the Missouri Valley College, at Marshall, and of 
the Cumberland Presbyterian Board of Missions 
and Church Erection, located at St. Louis, Mo. 
As one of the most prominent and reliable business 



men of the city, he takes a leading part in all 
public enterprises and his advice is frequently 
sought on matters of importance by his large cir- 
cle of friends and acquaintances. His name is a 
synonym for all that is honorable and upright, 
and by integrity and sound business principles he 
has won a most enviable reputation in the com- 
munity. 



?- l'l' I I II ' .- 



T-MKlMAS R. E. HARVEY, A. B., an active 
and honored member of the Old Settlers' 




Society of Saline County, and for many 
years a leading and representative farmer of the 
State, has now retired from the pursuit of agricul- 
tural duties, and makes his home in the city of 
Marshall. A resident of Saline County since 1836, 
our subject has been intimately associated with 
the growth and history of Missouri for the past 
fifty-five years. Born in Northumberland County, 
Ya., between Baltimore and Richmond, December 
16, 1827, he was a boy of but nine years when his 
parents left the Old Dominion and with their fam- 
ily settled in the vicinity of his present home. 

Thomas II. Harvey, father of our subject., was of 
English descent, and was a native of Northumber- 
land County, Ya.. where he became well known as 
a prominent agriculturist. An earnest and intel- 
ligent citizen, lie was appointed by President Ty- 
ler as Superintendent of Indian Affairs, and so 
efficiently conducted this department of public 
work, that he was re-appointed to the official posi- 
tion by President Polk. Some time after estab- 
lishing his home in Missouri, Thomas Harvey was 
elected to the State Legislature and was Speaker 
of the House. He also served with honor in the 
Senate of his adopted State. An honest, useful 
and highly respected citizen, he was from early 
youth connected with the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, and after a life of unblemished Christian 
integrit}', passed away from earthly scenes in 
1852, lamented by all who knew him. 

Reared upon his father's farm, Mr. Harvey re- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



513 



ceived a preparatory education in the neighbor- 
ing schools, and afterward completed a classical 
course of instruction in the university al St. Louis, 
graduating with honor in 1850, and receiving the 
honorary degree of Bachelor of Arts, lie further 
enjoyed the advantage of a session in the law 
school of the Virginia University at Charlottes- 
ville. Returning to Missouri, he engaged in the 
study of law in Spaulding it Shepley's of lice in St. 
Louis, until the death of his father necessitated 
his immediate return home, when he at once took 
charge of, and superintended, the estate of his de- 
ceased father. Until 1891 our subject actively en- 
gaged in general farming with success, then, hav- 
ing earned a rest, removed to Marshall, built a 
commodious and attractive residence, and now 
makes his home among a large circle of old friends 
and neighbors, whose confidence he has won by his 
honorable life. 



S^f^ 



C3_ 



&- 



eHATHAM E. LANKFORD, a prosperous 
general agriculturist and successful stock- 
raiser of La Fayette County. Mo., residing 
upon section 24, township 50, range 27, is well 
known as a useful, energetic and upright citizen. 
Born in the immediate neighborhood of his pres- 
ent home October 26, 1829, our subject has for 
sixty-three years been intimately associated with 
the growth and rapid development of the various 
leading interests of the county. His father, Dan- 
iel Lankford, was a native of Virginia, but early 
left his native State and, journeying to Missouri, 
became one of her early pioneer settlers. His wife, 
Ilulda Young, was the daughter of Adam Young, 
who removed to this portion of Missouri when 
the Slate was an almost unbroken wilderness, and 
thus the entire family history of our subject is in- 
terwoven with the changes, vicissitudes and later 
prosperity of this particular locality. 

The boyhood days of Chatham Lankford were 
passed mainly upon the farm, where he, as SOOH as 
his years would permit, assisted his father in the 



daily duties of agriculture, and was taught the 
lessons of honest industry and thrifty manage- 
ment which in after life made him a thoroughly 
self-reliant, man. The schoolhouse to which he 
took his way through the winter months was a 
rude structure, but the patient teacher thoroughly 
grounded the pupils in the common branches of 
reading, writing, spelling, arithmetic, geography. 
and, hardest of all, gave them lessons in grammar. 
Only a very brief time for study had the farmer 
boys of those early days, but in lessons of endur- 
ance and patriotism they had their full share, and 
no coming generation will ever produce a more 
sturdy race of citizens than the ancestry from 
which our subject is descend* d. 

In 1849, when the Western plains were trailed 
by miles of slowly moving wagons, all bound for 
the golden land upon the Pacific coast, our sub- 
ject, not then twenty years of age, joined in the 
cavalcade, and drove through to California with 
a mule-team. Varied and novel were his experi- 
ences in this his first long journey from home. 
Determined to win success in the far West, he pros- 
pected and engaged in mining, and the boy who 
had ventured so far from home returned again in 
1857 a man in years and knowledge of the great 
world toward the setting sun. Once more in La 
Fayette County, he entered anew into the duties 
of farming, and as a tiller of the soil and an ex- 
tensive stock-raiser has gained a competence. The 
farm of one hundred and forty acres upon which 
he then settled is his present homestead, and is to- 
day one of the most finely cultivated pieces of 
land in the county. The buying, feeding and 
shipping of cattle has also profitably occupied the 
business attention of Mr. Lankford, and still 
yields him a handsome income. 

In 1877, our subject was united in marriage 
with Miss Cecilia Smith, daughter of Dr. T. S. 
Smith, of Lexington. A bright, promising family 
of seven "children blesses the pleasant home of Mr. 
and Mrs. Lankford. The sons and daughters are: 
Mary II.. Chatham I-:.. Jr.. Elizabeth K., Baxter 
Y., Susie S., Florence A. and Sidney M. Our sub- 
ject is a member of the Baptist Church, but his 
wife is connected with the Christian Church, with 
which religious denomination she was early asso- 



514 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ciated, having been one of its most valued mem- 
bers. Liberal in their various beliefs, Mr. and 
Mrs. Lankford are ever ready to assist in the en- 
terprises of either organization. In political atlil- 
iation our subject is a strong Democrat, and takes 
an active interest in the issues of the day. He 
is an ardent advocate of educational advance- 
ment, and as a member and Director of the School 
Board is an efficient and able worker, and during 
his term of oflicc will prove an invaluable pro- 
moter in the upward progress of the already ex- 
cellent public schools of La Fayette County. 




,., RCIIIBAU) A. JONES, President of Cen- 
tral College, at Lexington, Mo., was born 
in Tuscaloosa, Ala., September 22, I860. 
His parents were John A. and Mary V*. 
(Scott) Jones, the former a native of North Caro- 
lina, but reared in Alabama, and the mother a na- 
tive of the latter State. Our subject was reared in 
an intellectual atmosphere, his father having been 
an educator for a number of years, teaching in the 
State of Alabama, and later becoming Professor of 
Latin and Creek in the State I Diversity. In 1889 
he came to Lexington, Mo., and accepted a posi- 
tion in Central College, which he still holds. 

Our subject passed his youth in his native State 
and at an early age became a pupil in the private 
schools of his town. The knowledge then acquired 
was sufficiently extensive to enable him to enter 
Webb's School at Culleoka, Tenn., and afterward 
he became a student in the University of Ala- 
bama, from which institution he was graduated in 
1882. As soon as practicable after graduation, he 
hastened to put his store of knowledge to the test, 
first in New Jersey, where he remained for a space 
of three years. At that time the Dalton Female 
College called the distinguished father of oar sub- 
ject to become its President, and Prof. A. A.Jones 
accompanied him as Assistant, which position he 
acceptably filled for several years. 



In 1881) the Trustees of Central College looked 
about them for a progressive and energetic J'oung 
man to become the presiding officer of their insti- 
tution. Choice fell upon the subject of the present 
sketch: accepting the offer, he became President of 
the college in the same year. Since then, this 
place of learning has made rapid strides upward, 
and the active young President has made numer- 
ous advantageous changes. The buildings are 
now arranged to accommodate one hundred and 
fifty boarders, and a late registration discloses the 
gratifying fact that the list of pupils includes 
students from fourteen States. 

The corps of teachers and special professors is a 
fine one, President Jones having determined to 
surround himself with an able faculty. The musi- 
cal department is under the direction of Prof. A. 
(). Bauer, who is one of the most gifted pianists in 
America, and the art department as well as all 
others is filled with the best available talent. The 
pupils from this college are graduated from both 
classical and scientific courses. In 1888 President 
Jones was united in marriage with Miss Kate Ilar- 
ben, of Dalton, Ga., a daughter of Nathan Ilarben, 
of that city. The President and his wife are mem- 
bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, 
and are important factors in Lexington society. 
His scholarly attainments and broad knowledge 
entitle him to a position among the foremost 
educators of the State, and future years will un- 
doubtedly add fresh Iauiels to the distinguished 
name lie bears. 



j-5"5"5"5v 



*I— J-s^t 



•fr****!!!^.^**! 



J7--7RFD H. BARTMAN, one of the popular 

I— ^5) and well-liked merchants of Concordia, 
(L> Mo., is a member of the firm of Bartman 
Bros., dealers in general merchandise in that city. 
Cord Bartman, the father of the subject of this no- 
tice, was born in Prussia, and came to America in 
184 I, but his wife, Sophia (Blotcvogel) Bartman, 
did not come with the children until 1857; but 
the father, who had so faithfully worked as a 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



515 



laborer in St. Louis, lived only six months to en- 
joy their companionship. Mrs. Bartman came to 
America on a sailing ship, and was nine long and 
weary weeks on the way. The family resided in 
St. Louis, .-ind there our subject wenl to both Ger- 
man and English schools, and as soon as he was of 
sufficient age learned the trade of a stove-molder, 
and then clerked for three years in that city. 

In March, 1870, Mr. Bartman opened a store in 
Concordia, and in L874 built his present two- 
story brick building, 42x70 feet, and a double 
store. His stock consists of dry goods, clothing, 
hats, caps, groceries, queensware and notions, and 
he carries $15,000 worth of goods, and does a 
large and profitable trade, there being but one 
other merchant who has been longer in the place. 
October 17, 1871, our subject became the husband 
of Miss Anna Meineckc, who was horn in St. Louis, 
and eight children have been born into the family, 
as follows: William, Rosa, Fred, Alvin, Theodore, 
Nora, Laura and Edgar. Our subject and wife are 
members of the Lutheran Church. 

Mr. Bartman lias seen life under many phases. 
In 1863 he enlisted in the Missouri Enrolled Mili- 
tia, and did guard duty on railroads and bridges 
in Missouri until he was mustered out in 1865. In 
polities, he is a Republican, and his efforts for his 
party have been appreciated by the people of his 
city, as is shown by their having elected him to 
the honorable position of City Alderman, and a 
member of the School Hoard, as well as Treasurer 
of the town. Ever since his settlement in the 
place in 1870, his influence has been directed in 
favor of those enterprises which have seemed to 
promise most for the prosperous town in which he 
has made his home, lie is an active and valued 
member of the Grand Army Post of Concordia. 
Although he did not incur as much hardship in 
the service as did some of his comrades, yel his 
work was just as valuable and necessary,and often 
quite as dangerous as if it had been in the front 

line of battle. 

Mr. Bartman has seen almost the entire growth 
of the town since he located here. This growth 
has been almost phenomenal, and the name of the 
town ~uits it well, for while there are no doubt op- 
posing opinions, still upon the whole there are 



few places of its size which contain so much kind- 
ness and good feeling. Mr. Bartman came here 
with very little means, hut he adopted the. rule of 
paying cash for everything, therefore he had no 
debts, no interest to pay, and lias built up a line 
business and is a very popular and prosperous 
man. Mr. Bartman is a stockholder in the Con- 
cordia Savings Lank. 



*-=^3H8e-«=p= 



ylLLIAM AULL, a prominent citizen of 
Lexington, holding the position of Prose- 
cuting Attorney of Lafayette County, 
Mo., is the subject of this sketch. Mr. Aull was 
born in this place, August 17, 1857, a son of John 
and Mary (Mateer) Aull, now of this city. Mr. Aull, 
Sr., was born in Ireland, butcame in early life to this 
country, and finally located in La Fayette County, 
Mo., where he became a prominent merchant and 
a very successful business man. For many years 
he was connected with railroad corporations in 
the transportation line, and later was engaged in 
banking in Lexington, accumulating a handsome 
property. Mr. and Mrs. Aull, Sr., were the parents 
of nine children, of whom our subject is the sec- 
ond son and third child. 

William Aull passed his boyhood and early 
youth in La Fayette County, where he attended 
the public and private schools, evincing before his 
majority a desire to study the intricacies of the 
law, and spend his succeeding years in unraveling 
the knotty points of Coke and Blackstone; so in 
1880 he entered the University of Virginia, where 
he attended the regular and several special courses 
in law, and in 1881 the school of history, literature 
and rhetoric, and the German language and litera- 
ture, graduating from that institution in 1882, in 
the law department. Returning to Lexington, our 
subject opened a law office, and soon after formed 
a partnership with a Mr. Craves, under the firm 
name of Graves & Aull, which continued until 
June, 1891. 

Politically. Mr. Aull has become prominent in 



516 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



the county, having been a member of the Demo- 
cratic Congressional Committee from 1888 to 
1892. In 1890 lie was elected Prosecuting Attor- 
ney for LaFayette County for the term of two 
years, and received the nomination, and was 
elected for the succeeding two years. In 1885, 
Mr. Aull married Miss Annie Q., daughter of Col. 
George A. and Margaret (Chandler) Goodman, of 
Gordonsville, Ya. Mr. Aull and his excellent wife 
are members of the Presbyterian Church, and the 
former is a member of the Board of Trustees of 
the Elizabeth Aull Seminary. Mr. Aull has been a 
very successful man in his practice, is considered 
a rising man in the city, and possesses the esteem 
of his fellow-citizens. 



ellARLES S. MITCHELL. Few men are 
busier than is the well-known gentleman 
wIkp bears the above name. Beside exten- 
sive individual interests pertaining to his farm and 
stock-raising business, he is ex-Sheriff of La Fay- 
ette County. Mr. Mitchell was born in Mason 
County, Ky., November 19, 1833, a son of Charles 
II. and Elizabeth (Fowhe) Mitchell. He is the 
fourth in order of birth in their family of thirteen 
children. 

Our subject's grandfather, Ignatius Mitchell, was 
a hero of the Revolutionary War, and his father 
was a Colonel in the War of 1812. Charles Mitch- 
ell remained in bis native State and county until 
his twenty-third year. He attended an excellent 
private school and had exceptional advantages. 
His father was a farmer, which means in Kentucky 
that he belonged to the aristocracy of the land. 

In 1856, Mr. Mitchell came by water to Cald- 
well County, this State. He remained there for 
two years, and in 1858 removed to Ray County, 
where he was successfully engaged in farming. In 
1862, he again moved, and settled on a farm in 
Cla\ Township, La Fayette County. He remained 
there until 1888, and then removed to the city of 



Lexington, being at the same time elected County 
Sheriff for a term of two years. At the expiration 
Of that time he was re-elected and served two years 
more. 

In polities, our subject i> a pronounced Denio- 
crat. He is a member of Wellington Lodge No. 
81, I. 0. <). F. March 10, 1857, Mr. Mitchell mar- 
ried Miss Frances, a daughter of William Norris, 
of Mason County, Ky. By her he became the fa- 
ther of four children, there being two boys and two 
girls. Of these. Joseph N. lives in Clay Township, 
La Fayette County; Charles W. is at Napoleon, 
La Fayette County; and Nannie F. is the wife of 
Crosby Goodloe, of Lexington Township. Mrs. 
Frances Mitchell died in March, 1866. 

The present Mrs. Mitchell was before her mar- 
riage Miss Martha P. Benton, and her union 
with our subject was solemnized September 15, 
1868. She is a daughter of William Benton, a na- 
tive of Kentucky, who is still living at the ripe 
old age of eighty-five years. By this second mar- 
riage Mr. Mitchell has been the father of eleven 
children, nine of whom are living, there being six 
sons and three daughters. Of these Richard W. 
lives in Clay Township, while David R., Elizabeth 
D.. Laura A., Harry W., Lloyd B., Virgil, Cathleen 
M. and Charles are all still at home. 

Mr. Mitchell is the owner of a line farm, com- 
prising two hundred acres, which is located in Clay 
Township, LaFayette County. It is well im- 
proved and upon it our subject has quite a large 
amount of line stock. 



•• Mil 



AVID C. REED, a prosperous farmer and 
stock-raiser, and a lifetime resident of La 
Fayette County. Mo., is one of the most 
enterprising and progressive citizens of 
his locality, and justly commands the high regard 
of a large circle of friends and acquaintances. Our 
subject was bom January 6, 1855, in Sniabar 
Township, near Odessa. His parents, David M. 
and Eliza (Summers) Reed, were long known and 




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



517 



highh esteemed settlers of Missouri. The paternal 
grandfather, Charles Reed, engaged in the duties 
of agriculture, and was also a minister of the 
Gospel and a leader in the " hard-shell '" Baptist 
Church. He was an energetic and progressive 
man, and came to Missouri in L833 and entered 
land in the southeastern part of Sniabar, which he 
improved. He is remembered as an industrious and 
earnest pioneer of the early days, and passed away 
many years ago. 

The father of our subject was born in Grainger 
County, Tenn., in 181(1, and came to Missouri in 
1839. He first settled in Jackson County, then 
moved to Cass County, and in 1843 to this county, 
where he settled on one hundred ami sixty acres and 
improved them. He was prosperous in his farm- 
ing, and added to his possessions until at the 
time of his death, in May, 1888, he owned over 
two hundred acres, and had given to various mem- 
bers of his family another two hundred acres. In 
common with many of the residents of Missouri, 
he lost heavily during the Civil War. In political 
affiliations, Father Reed was a strong- Republican 
and an earnest advocate of the party. lie was 
twice married, and became by his lirst union the 
father of seven children, six of whom lived to 
adult age. The sisters and brothers were: Ari V., 
James I., who died in infancy; Mary M.. Cornelius 
II.. Sydney E., David C. and Caleb S. The mo- 
ther of our subject died in 1858. She was a most 
excellent woman and a devout member of the 
Christian Church. She was born in La Payette 
County, and was the daughter of Caleb and Mary 
(Whitsitt) Summers. Thesecond wife was Cynthia 
Turner, nee Meador. 

David C. Heed was brought up On a farm, and 
was educated in the district scl 1 of the neigh- 
borhood. At twenty-five years of age he began 
life for himself on rented land, and in 1879 set- 
tled on one hundred and twenty acres near Mt. 
Hope, with his wife, who now owns three hundred 
acres in the same body of land. In the fall of 
1SSS, Mr. Peed located upon one hundred and 
fifty acres in section 7, township 18, range 27, this 
last property now yielding an abundant harvest 
in return for his patient and intelligent cultiva- 
tion. The wife of our subject was Harriet Lee 



Gann, born near Mt. Hope in 18(13, a daughter of 
Oliver and Susannah (Green) Gann, who were 
early pioneers, having come from the State of 
Tennessee in 1834. 

The home of Mr. and Mrs. Peed has been blessed 
by the birth of three children, Eliza M., David 
C. and ( )pie Lee. Mrs. Reed has been a valued 
member of the Christian Church for the past ten 
years, and is among the workers of that religious 
organization. Mr. Peed is politically an earnest 
Republican, and ever aiding in all good work, is an 
advocate of local progress and improvement, and 
is esteemed by all his friends and neighbors as an 
honest, liberal-minded and progressive citizen. 



B^5^ 






50 






ffi ARKIN NORFLEET, a prominent agri- 
I (©i culturist and stock-raiser of La Fayette 



County, owns a fine farm of two hundred 
and forty acres of cultivated land. The place, 
which under his care has been brought to a high 
state of improvement, is pleasantly located on 
section 20, township 49, range 26. It contains a 
substantial set of farm buildings and is embel- 
lished by the numerous conveniences which so 
largely increase the value of farming property. 

The parents of our subject were James and 
Elizabeth Norrleet. natives of Virginia, who re- 
moved to Kentucky at an early day. In Wayne 
County, in the latter State, our subject was bom 
September 30, 1815. His youth was spent in his 
native State, anil he grew to manhood upon his 
father's farm, meanwhile attending the subscrip- 
tion schools of the period. When old enough to 
be entrusted with the management of business, he 
engaged in stock-raising, and, with his brother 
Ivy, he carried on an extensive and profitable 
business for many years. As there were no rail- 
roads at that time, the two brothers would drive 
their stock overland to Montgomery, Ala., a dis- 
tance of five hundred miles, and this was con- 
tinued for a period covering twelve years. 

One of the wisest steps which Mr. Norfleet ever 



518 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



i.xik was his marriage, in 1839, with Miss France-. 
the estimable daughter of Thomas and Frances 
Cairn, natives of North Carolina, who had settled 
in Kentucky at an early day. The maternal 
grandfather Richardson was a well-known man in 
his own State, and was a soldier in the Revolu- 
tionary War. His wife lived to the advanced 
age of one hundred and fifteen years. Mrs. Nor- 
fleet was born in Wayne County, Ky., October 24, 
1818, and was reared in her native State. From 
tins happy union Mr. and Mrs. Norlleet became 
the parents of ten children, many of whom have 
gone out into the world and made respected 
names for themselves. 

The family of our subject and his good wife was 
as follows: Elizabeth E., the widow of F. M. Wheat- 
ley, and now residing with our subject; Julia A., 
the wife of J. M. Bell, a resident of Cherokee 
Nation, Indian Territory; Rosa, the wife of the 
Rev. La Fayette Blevins, of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church South, in Council Grove, Kan.; 
James, residing in Independence, Mo.; Frances 
J., deceased; Rev. Levin P., Pastor of the Brook- 
lyn Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church South, at 
Kansas City; Verlinda B.. the wife of the Rev. L. 
M. Phillips, Pastor of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church South, at Gum City, Mo.; Thomas I., re- 
siding upon his father's farm; Dr. Abrain I,., of 
Kearney, Mo.; and Leona, the wife of Walter 
White, residing in Kansas. James was a soldier in 
the Confederate army with Gen. Price during the 
entire war, and fought in many battles, at one 
time receiving a very serious wound. 

In 1852, with his family, our subject removed 
into Miller County, Mo., and there accumulated a 
very comfortable fortune, but the war caused him 
to have great losses. About the close of the war 
he removed into Johnson County, and in 18(>9 
came to good old La Fayette, where he has made 
his home ever since. His farm is a splendid piece 
of ground, and in acquiring it Mr. Norfleet had 
the advice and counsel of the good woman who 
for over half a century has been his helpmate. 
They are both devoted members of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church South, in which connection our 
subject has been a licensed exhorter for years, 
and has served as Class-leader. The Prohibition- 



ist party seems to him to be the one which prom- 
ises the best Government for the country, and 
with this party he casts his vote. Both he and 
his wife have passed long lives filled witli good 
deeds and kindly acts, and together they are con- 
tentedly waiting the Master's call. 



4<=f> 



«F>* 




ASCHAL H. CHAMBERS. M. I)., a suc- 
cessful physician and skillful surgeon, en 
joying an extended practice in Lexington, 
La Fayette County, is also widely known 
throughout Missouri. Dr. Chambers is a native 
of Kentucky, and was born in the city of Louis- 
ville, February 6, 1824. His father, Gen. George 
W. Chambers, also a native Kentuckian, was a 
prominent lawyer of the State, and a man of un- 
usual ability and extended legal knowledge. The 
paternal grandfather of our subject, Dr. James 
Chambers, was born in Ireland and enjoyed the 
benefit of an excellent education, and afterward 
became an eminent physician, practicing for many 
years in Bardstown, Ky. 

The mother of our subject was Sarah Hickman, 
a daughter of Paschal Hickman, of Revolutionary 
renown, a brave and daring man, who was killed 
at the battle of River Raisin. Dr. Paschal H. 
Chambers spent the greater part of his youthful 
days in Louisville, Ky., and there attended a pri- 
vate school conducted under military discipline, 
and, having completed his preparatory studies, 
entered Hanover (Ind.) College, and from there 
went to Miami University, of Oxford, Ohio, from 
which institution of learning he was graduated with 
honor in 1845. During the same year our subject 
came to La Fayette County, Mo., and taught 
school, at the same time pursuing his medical 
studies with Dr. Alexander. He afterward at- 
tended the lectures of the medical department of 
the University of Louisville, Ky., graduating in 
the spring of 1850 with the degree of M. D. He 
then located in Camden, Mo., but soon afterward 
made his home for a brief time in Lexington, 



PORTRAIT AM) BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



519 



finally settling in Waverly, where he successfully 
engaged in practice for two years, and was num- 
bered among the leading physicians of that city. 

Dr. Chambers was offered inducements to re- 
move l<> Dover. La Fayette County, and after due 
consideration located there, and, warmly wel- 
comed by the citizens, entered at once upon a 
lucrative practice, in which he continued for 
seventeen years. At the expiration of this time, 
our subject sundered the many lies of friendship 
which bound him to Dover, and removed to Lex- 
ington, where he entered into partnership with 
Dr.. A. V. Small, now of Sedalia, Mo. Later, 
Small & Chambers took into partnership Drs. .1. 
B.Alexander and G. W. Young, which partner- 
ship continued several years, and was only dis- 
solved by the departure of Dr. Small, who went 
to Trinidad, Colo. Since this dissolution of part- 
nership, which was by mutual consent, Dr. Cham- 
bers has been alone, with the exception of the 
brief time when lie was associated with Dr. P. S. 
Fulkerson. 

Dr. Chambers lias been one of the corps of sur- 
geons of the Missouri Pacific Railroad for the past 
ten years. He is also a member of the United 
States Bureau of Pensions and one of the Surgeons 
of Lexington District. Our subject held the po- 
sition of President of the Kansas City District 
Medical Society from September, 1890, to Septem- 
ber, 1892. The Doctor has been thrice married, 
his first wife having been Miss Margaret, a daugh- 
ter of Henry Wallace. This estimable lady died 
much regretted, and left to the care of her hus- 
band lour children, three of whom are now living: 
Paschal II. is a leading dentist of Denver, Colo.; 
Caleb W., Pastor of a Presbyterian Church at 
Troup, Tex.; and Kenl Kane, a commercial trav- 
eler for the firm of Zeigler Bros., dealers in boots 
and shoes at Philadelphia. The eldest, George 
W. Chambers, is deceased. The second union of 
our subject was with Miss Antoinette Shewalter, 
who survived her marriage but a few months. 

The present wife of Dr. Chambers was Miss Au- 
gusta Stokes, of Dunklin County, Mo. Dr. and 
Mrs. Chambers are the parents of three children: 
Sara IL, a missionary, now in Brazil; Lucretia 
Childs, ai home; and .lames i,;., Professor of Math- 



ematics in Wentworth Military Academy. Dr. 
Chambers and his wife are members of the Old- 
school Presbyterian Church, in which religious 
organization the Doctor has been an Elder for 
many years, ably assisting in the influence and ex- 
tension of its gooil work. In political belief and 
affiliations our subject is a Democrat and ever in- 
terested in the local and national issues. 

Though absorbed mainly in his professional 
duties, to which he has prosperously devoted liis 
life, Dr. Chambers lias also found time to aid in 
local enterprises of merit, and is an ardent advo- 
cate of local progress and improvement. Bank- 
ing among the leading physicians of to-day, he is 
ever mindful of the duties of a true American 
citizen, and by his sterling integrity of character 
has won the esteem and confidence of the general 
public. He has been an active Mason for many 
years, having at different times held all the im- 
portant offices in the lodge, chapter and com- 
mandery, and is now Secretary of the lodge and 
chapter, and Recorder of the commanderv. 



ENRY B. CORSE is a man who has the 
)li confidence of the entire community be- 
cause of his probity and upright dealing, 
and is President of the Wellington Bank, 
of Wellington, Mo. He is a son of William Corse, 
a native of Delaware, born December 24, 1809, a 
son of Hanson Corse, also a native of Delaware 
and a brother of Capt. Jack Corse, of Revolution- 
ary War fame. The great-grandfather of our sub- 
ject was Seth Corse, a native of France, who set- 
tled in Delaware. 

The mother of our subject was Cornelia ( Black- 
iston) Corse, a native of Delaware, born August 
20. 1810. She married m Delaware iii 1833, and 
in 1836 came to Missouri, resided in St. Louis 
seven years, and in 1843 removed to Wellington. 
Her husband was a printer by trade, but after 
reaching this place engaged in mercantile pursuits, 



520 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



and built up a good trade and remained in the 
business until his death, forty years afterward, 
September 19, 1887. The widow still lives, aged 

eighty-three, in good health and with faculties 
unimpaired. They were the parents of live chil- 
dren, our subject being the only survivor. These 
parents were members of the Methodist Episco- 
pal Church Smith, both being very active in it, 
and the husband holding the office of Steward, 
lie was a finely educated man. a clever historian, 
and an admiring student of Shakespeare and 
Macaulay. lie enjoyed the distinction of being 
Assistant Clerk in the Legislature of Delaware 
when but nineteen years of age. 

( )ur subject was born December 8, 1813, at Well- 
ington, soon after the arrival of his parents at 
that place. Here he attended the public schools, 
• but completed his education at St. Louis. His 
career opened as a merchant, and he was associ- 
ated with his father for twenty-seven years. The 
Bank of Wellington, which he aided in organiz- 
ing in September, 1888, has had him for its Presi- 
dent since that date. The bank has a capital of 
$10,000, and dues a general banking business under 
the laws of Missouri. Our subject was manied in 
.June, 1868, to Miss Elizabeth A., daughter of 
Thomas W. Ridings, who was the founder of 
Chapel Hill, this county, she was born Decem- 
ber 19, 1847, at Chapel Hill, went to school there. 
and finished her education at Elizabeth Anil Semi- 
nary, at Lexington. 

Mr. and Mrs.Corseare the parents of five children : 
Mattie May, Thomas R and John L. (twins), Will- 
iam W. and Martha Virginia. William and Martha 
are students at Warrensburgh Normal School, while 
Mattie May is a fine musician and a graduate of 
Central Female Seminary, at Lexington. John 
L. has taken a full course in a business college at 
Kansas City, Mo. Two of the sons are in business 
in Wellington and doing very well. The younger 
one has been for two years engaged in learning 
the drug business. 

Mr. and Mrs. Corse are members of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church South, of which he has 
been Steward, and both are active in Sunday- 
school work, having always been teachers, and he 
has been Secretary for years, Mr, Corse is a mem- 



ber of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, 
having filled all the chairs, and was permanent 
Secretary for thirteen years, lie is a Democrat 
in political beliefs, and takes an interest in pro- 
gressive politics, attending all rallies, speeches, 
etc. Our subject is a member of the Council, and 
has been ever since its second election. He is a 
progressive and enterprising man. highly respected, 
an extensive reader, and well informed on a great 
variety of subjects. His family occupies the finest 
residence in the city, and it is a house where peace 
and happiness dwell. 



•■■ i ' >' » >» > > » 



ELIJAH HARVEY, a successful and enter- 
prising general agriculturist, residing in 
township "ill, range 20, Saline County, has 
a beautiful home about three miles from Marshall, 
and is widely known as a man of sterling integrity 
of character and undoubted business ability. Our 
subject was born in Virginia, February 17, 1838. 
His maternal grandfather, William Harvey, was of 
Irish descent, but a Virginian by birth, and was a 
man of energy and strong character. In his early 
days Grandfather Harvey hauled freight from 
the Blue Ridge Mountains to Richmond and was 
well known throughout the surrounding country, 
and by his native wit and honesty won the regard 
of all with whom he came in contact. 

In early manhood, William Harvey married Miss 
Alice Wood, after which he bought land in Greene 
County, and with his wife entered upon the daily- 
duties of agricultural life. In their pleasant home 
the mother of our subject was born. She was a 
woman of superior character and was highly es- 
teemed. A devoted mother, she gave to our sub- 
ject the loving care which brightened his youth- 
ful days, and which in after life he well repaid by 
filial word and deed. In 1853, during the fall 
months, Mr. Harvey, then but fourteen years old, 
in company with his mother, grandmother and a 
young man named Henry Mitchell, started upon 
the long journey from Greene County, Ya., to the 






PORTRAIT AND I'.IOCRAPMICAL KF.CORD. 



521 



State of Missouri. They traveled in the primitive 
style <>f those early days, their vehicle being a 
wagon drawn by two stout horses. Proceeding 
stead ilj forward by way of Staunton, Va., they 
crossed the Ohio River by ferry-boat, and safely 
landing upon the other side pursued their journey 
to Missouri, whieh they entered at, the city of St. 
Louis. 

Leaving behind them this commercial centre. 
the travelers crossed the Missouri River at si. 
Charles, ami. still journeying on, they went to Co- 
lumbia, the county seal of Boone County. After 
six weeks of constant and wearisome travel by day 
and camping out by night, they located upon forty 
acres of land not far from Columbia. The mother 
and grandmother of our subject were entirely de- 
pendent for support upon his efforts, aud bearing 
the responsibilities of manhood upon his shoulders, 
the brave and energetic hoy toiled unweariedly 
and cared for the dear ones tenderly, until stern 
Death called both to the land beyond. In the 
spring of 1876, Mr. Harvey made his permanent 
home upon a portion of the land which In' now 
owns near Marshall, Saline County. 

Some years prior to this date, our subject had, in 
December, 1861, entered into the bonds of matri- 
mony with Miss Lucinda, a daughter of John and 
Eliza Pritchett. Mrs. Harvey is a native of Albe- 
marle County, Va., and was born April 15, 1*12. 
She was the second in a family of eleven children, 
all of whom are now living with the exception of 
three: John Allen, Lemuel, and one that died in 
infancy. The pleasant home of Mr. and .Mrs. 
Harvey has been blessed by the birth of six chil- 
dren, namely: James T.; Eliza Ann, the wife of 
Daniel Carrol; Mary Frances, John Y., Charles 
Earnest and Geneva Emma, all of whom reside 
with their parents excepting the eldest son and 
daughter, who are married and reside upon ad- 
joining farms. 

Our subject enjoyed but scanty advantages for 
schooling, so early had he to begin the battle of 
life, hut through manly and self-reliant energy 
and patient industry he has gained a comfortable 
competence. lie owns three bundled acres of 
valuable land near Marshall, and no home in this 
portion of the country is more attractive or more 



pleasantly located than his. Mrs. Harvey is a 
member of the Christian Church, and has liberally 
aided in the extension of its work and religious 
influence. Our subject and his entire family are 
prominent factors in local enterprises, social and 
benevolent, and command the esteem and confi- 
dence of a large circle of friends and acquaint- 
ances. In political affiliations, he is a Democrat, 
and an ardent advocate of his party. Interested 
in local and national issues, he does his duty as a 
true American citizen and casts his vote conscien- 
tiously and intelligently. 



_^] 



€+^ 



Hi 



OC. EWINGr, who passed away universally 
I lamented after a life of busy usefulness, 
January 11, 1888, was widely known and 
highly esteemed for the integrity of his character 
and the kindliness of his heart, which ever prompted 
him to do unto others as he would have them 
do unto him. For many long 3'ears a success- 
ful agriculturist, he resided continuously in I In 
same neighborhood, and was the promoter of 
all enterprises of worth, and liberally aided in 
local improvements. During the last thirty years 
of the life of our subject he was one of the effici- 
ent Deacons of the Cumberland Presbyterian 
Church, and was among the most active of the' 
members in extending the influence and held of 
work of that religious organization. 

Mr. E wing was a native of La Fayette County, 
and was born September 21. 1830. His parents, 
Roberl and Elizabeth (Campbell) Ewing, were 
both natives of Kentucky. The father of our 
subjeel came to La Fayette County when the Ter- 
ritory of Missouri had not attained to the dig- 
nity of Statehood. The year of his arrival was 
ISIS. The remote ancestors of the F.wing family 
were <>f Scotch and Irish descent, and early in 
the history of the Colonies emigrated to this coun- 
try. Our subject spent his boyhood, as did the 
majority of the farmer lads, in aiding in the 
work on the. farm, and when he could be spared, 



522 



PORTRAIT AXD BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



especially in the winter months, attended the little 
subscription schools of his neighborhood, and 
sometimes studied at home. 

Energetic, ardent and ambitious, Mr. Ewing de- 
sired more extended educational advantages than 
the home Schools offered him, and when sixteen 
years old entered Chapel Hill College, in La Fay- 
ette County, and pursued his studies there for 
two years. At the age of eighteen he attended 
the Masonic College at Lexington, from which he 
graduated with honor upon the completion of the 
course. He then returned home, and the death of 
his father soon after ensuing, he received in 1853 
full control of the home farm, pleasantly located 
upon section 21, township 50, range 27, La Fay- 
ette County. Mr. Ewing was married, in 1856, 
to Miss Catherine Wilcoxon, a daughter of Hora- 
tio Wilcoxon, a native of Maryland. Mr. and 
Mrs. Fwing were the parents of three children. 
Anna II. is the wife of John Eggleston, of Lex- 
ington, Mo.; Joel II. resides on the farm; and 
Youn« Ewing is a prosperous grocer in Lex- 
ington. The mother, the wife of our subject, is 
still living, her declining days blessed with a con- 
sciousness that she has done what she could to 
advance the "good cause." Both Mr. and Mrs. 
Ewing were very regular attendants at the Cum- 
berland Presbyterian Church, and for long years 
the most active and substantial supporters of the 
organization in whose membership they were early 
enrolled. During the long and efficient term of 
Deacon Ewing his heart and hand were engaged 
in behalf of all who needed his attention and 
ministration. 

The late home of our subject is attractively lo- 
cated and surrounded by a beautiful grove of 
walnut trees, and. look where one may, the thrifty 
and prosperous appearance of the I m iad-sprcading 
acres and excellent improvements suggesl the en- 
ergetic and skillful management of the master 
hand, now stilled in death. Four times the chang- 
ing seasons have come and gone since this hon- 
ored citizen and most excellent husband, father 
and friend passed away, but he is nol forgotten, 
and lives, and will live through many years, in 
the lcarts and memories of old-time friends and 
the community whom his kindly presence blessed 



SO long. Mr. Ewing was never a politician in 
the ordinary acceptation of the word, but he was 
alive to the needs of the hour. Since I860 he al- 
ways voted the Democratic ticket. In the death 
of our subject the county lost one of the earnest 
promoters of all its best efforts. Unostentatious, 
sincere a devoted Christian, Mr. Fwing lived and 
died in the faith which overeometh all evil and 
winneth the victory. 



AMKS F. GLADISH. Among the repre- 
sentative men of La Fayette County is 

classed the subject of this sketch, who is lo- 
cated upon a line farm in township 49, 
range 26. A native of Warren County, Ky., he 
was born July 22. 1836. His parents were Elijah 
and Elizabeth (Cooke) Gladish, the father a na- 
tive of Warren County. Ky.. and the mother of 
Virginia. In is ll, they emigrated from Ken- 
tucky to La Fayette County, Mo., and settled on 
section 36, township -l!>, range 26. Here Mr. 
Gladish entered land, and became one of the pio- 
neer settlers of the county. His life is yet spared, 
and, at the age of eighty-three, he still possesses 
his faculties and enjoys narrating reminiscences 
of those old days of hardship, bravely borne and 
safely passed. 

The beloved mother of our subject died in 1873. 
She had been the mother of eight children, the 
six surviving ones being James E., Mordecai, 
Marv A., Frank M., Edwin and John. Mr. Glad- 
ish is a member of the Baptist Church, one of the 
good old men whose seat is seldom vacant in the 
sanctuary. His lines have not all been cast in 
pleasant places, but in the main he may call him- 
self a successful business man. Our subject has 
been reared in this county, and at an early day 
took part in the hard work and privation of pio- 
neer lib'. The education of the fanner lads Wafi 
not then as closely attended to as at the present 
day; perhaps those pioneer boys possessed keener 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



523 



menial faculties, for seldom do we find one of the 
lads of those times who have made less of them- 
selves, when thrown out into the world, than have 
tlmse who have enjoyed much superior advan- 
tages. 

The marriage of Mr. Gladish was celebrated 
April 12, 1863, with Miss Isabella M. Burnett, a 
native of Boone County. They reared a family 
of four children, as follows: Edwin B., Cora S., 
Charles II. and John G. The Gladish family al- 
ways possessed uncompromising I'nion sentiments, 
and continued so during the war, when one's po- 
litical opinions were not safe to utter, as those 
were times to try men's souls. In the summer of 
1861, our subject enlisted in Company K, Four- 
teenth Missouri Infantry, whose operations were 
eon lined to the State. He took part in the battle 
of Lexington and other skirmishes. With many 
others, he was captured by the enemy, but after a 
space of two weeks was paroled. 

Mr. Gladish then went into Pettis County, and 
there engaged as a dealer in hemp until 1866, 
when he returned to his farm and has remained 
here ever since. His land comprises two hundred 
and sixty- acres, which he has not only gained by 
his own exertions, but has brought to a fine state 
of cultivation. He holds membership with the 
(Jrand Army post at Iligginsville; also the Davis 
Creek (Jrange, and at one time filled the position 
of Master of the Grange. 






^. ON. ROBERT L. BROWN. The subject of 
) the present notice is a well-known repre- 
sentative of an old pioneer family of Saline 
County, and far beyond its limits is known 
and honored. In 1888-81) he represented the cit- 
izens of Eairville in the State Legislature, and 
such was the fidelity and efficiency with which he 
served his constituents that he added luster to the 
enviable reputation he had already established. 

The father of our subject was William Brown, a 
native of Cumberland County, Va., born in 1796, 

26 



and the son t>( a Revolutionary patriot. He grew 
up to the life of a farmer and served in t lie War 
of 1812. Upon coming to this State and county, 
he entered land, and before his death became the 
owner of considerable property, although at the 

lime of his arrival he was cpiite [ r. His was the 

first farm opened on the prairie between Glasgow 
and Grand Pass, and it was predicted at the time 
that he was so far from civilization that he would 
never have any neighbors. 

The first marriage of William Brown was with 
a Miss Palmore, by whom he reared seven children: 
William, Edward J., John K.,Sallie. Martha, Mary, 
and Marian. In l.s.">2. while on the way to Saline 
County, the wife and mother died. About 1836 
Mr. Brown married Lucy A., daughter of Henry 
Gutherie, of Virginia, and unto them were born 
four children, only two of whom grew to mature 
years, and these were Henry J., and Robert L., the 
subject of this sketch. Politically, Mr. Brown was 
a Democrat and the last vote he cast was for Sam- 
uel Tilden for President. He was permitted to 
live until December 25, 1876, and witnessed the 
development of the country which had been so 
wild and uncivilized at the time of his settlement. 

Our subject was born in this county. May 3, 
1841, and here he grew to mature years, with the 
advantages of an excellent education. When the 
war broke out, in 1861, he, in company with three 
brothers, enlisted in the State Guard, in a company 
commanded and raised by his brother, E. J., and 
in March of that year entered the Confederate 
service. One brother, John R., died in St. Louis, 
while in prison. Another, II. J., was also captured, 
but survived the imprisonment and hardships of 
war. 

In 1863, occurred one of those distressing events 
which clouded the fair fame of both armiesat differ- 
ent times. Wcrefer to the cruel assassination of < lol. 
Brown at his home near Eairville. in this county, 
by a band of Federal troops who came for that 
purpose. The service of our subject continued 
under the brave Gen. Price until the close of the 
war. lie was a member both of the State Guards 
and the regular army, and during his entire ser- 
vice was neither wounded nor taken prisoner. 
The surrender was made in June. 1865, after which 



524 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Mr. Brown returned to Ms old Missouri home 
with the proud consciousness of having valiantly 
and faithfully defended what he believed to be 
right. 

The marriage of our subject took place October 
1. I scs, to .Miss Annie, the daughter of Thompson 
Tucker, and one son has been born of the marriage. 
Since the beginning of the Republic the family has 
been one of the stanch and consistent supporters 
of the Democracy. The ancestors of both families 
came from English counties and their descent can 
be traced to theF. F. Vs. The Methodist faith lias 
upheld them in times of trial and trouble. The 
family now resides upon the fine old homestead 
which once belonged to their pioneer grandfather, 
and is the more highly valued by them for that 
reason. It lias always been the home of our subject, 
who is now the owner. The farm is a beautiful 
place of two hundred acres, and here our subject, 
wife and son have a delightful rural home. 



— i I 



^=© 



(Qj— 



eAPT. MARCUS L. BELT, the enterprising 
and efficient manager of the Confederate 
Home of Missouri, and also Secretary and 
manager of the Rocky Branch Coal Company, has 
long been prominently identified with the leading 
interests and upward progress of the State. For 
the past six years, he has been numbered among 
the representative and energetic citizens of Ilig- 
ginsville. Capt. Belt isa native of Kentucky, born 
September 16, 1837, in Lebanon, Marion County, 
but was only four years old when he went to Rich- 
mond with his parents, who then made their resi- 
dence in Missouri. 

Dr. William M. Belt, the father of our sub- 
ject, was a native of Jessamine County, Ky. 
The family was of English descent, but had 
long been prominently associated with the his- 
tory of our country and occupied a position 
of social distinction. Dr. Belt followed the pur- 
suit of agriculture in early life, but soon aban- 
doned farming for the medical profession and 



afteralong course of study was graduated in Ken- 
tucky with the degree of Doctor of Medicine, and 
entered upon the duties of a medical practitioner 
in Lebanon. In 1811.be removed to Richmond 
and engaged in the practice of his profession here, 
but although in a comparatively short time he es- 
tablished a successful practice, lie decided to lo- 
cate in Independence, Jackson County, where for 
twenty-four years lie went his daily rounds and 
enjoyed an extensive practice and the full confi- 
dence of the general public. 

At the expiration of nearly a quarter of a cen- 
tury's service here, Dr. Belt settled in Denver, 
Colo., when that now large city was a mere hamlet. 
When the war broke out he entered the service as 
a surgeon of a Colorado regiment under Gen. 
Canby, and died in 1862 at Peralta, X. M., and 
was buried there. The mother of Capt. Belt was 
born in Caroline County. Va., and was a descendant 
of an old Virginian family; she now resides in 
Mexico, Mo., and is a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church and a lady highly esteemed as a 
Christian woman. She became the mother of twelve 
children, of whom four daughters and one son now 
survive. Our subject is the second oldest in the 
family and came to Richmond with his parents in 
1841; he afterward resided in Independence, there 
attending the private schools and completing his 
studies in the Buchanan Academy: he also clerked 
in a general merchandise store. 

In 1 8.50, accompanying his father to Denver, 
Colo.. our subject enjoyed an overland trip thither, 
traveling by slow mule-team, and occupying a full 
month's time in the journey. During the Pike's 
Peak excitement, he prospected and engaged in 
mining, but when the war broke out he returned 
home by overland stage, and in Springfield, 
Mo., joined Gen. Price's command and remained 
with the Confederate army until the close of the 
war, surrendering at Lexington with the rank of 
captain. < >ur subject then received employment in 
a St. Louis hat and cap wholesale store, and after a 
time came to Dover, where he successfully engaged 
in the general merchandise business for twelve 
years. At the expiration of this length of time, 
(apt. Belt engaged in railroad contracting, and 
now has the same partner, Charles Erskine. They 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



525 



furnished supplies for building the Memphis & Kan- 
sas City and Missouri Pacific 4 Lexington Branches 

and had three stores along the line; they also had 
an interest with t lie principal contractor of the 
road. Our subject went to Texas for A. Tahnage 
,V- Co., and engaged in the cattle business, and as 
a member and representative of the Missouri Land 
.V- Cattle Company, fenced seventy-five thousand 
acres of land, forty-eight miles in circumference, 
managed Mr. Talmage's interests, wound up the 
business, and came to Higginsville in 1887. 

Capt. Belt then bought and leased the coal mine, 
opened the bed of coal and worked it. building a 
railroad first to the Chicago & Alton Railroad and 
then to the Missouri Pacific Railroad, eight miles 
long, with side tracks to all the mines. There are 
two mines in the company's property, which fur- 
nish steady employment to a large number of skilled 
miners. The coal is bituminous. The railroad ex- 
tends to other mines and carries the employes to 
and from work and also the coal, they receiving 
for the latter fifteen cents per ton. The Rocky 
Branch Coal Company hold the key to five or six 
thousand acres of as fine coal as ever was mined 
in the State of Missouri. There are fourteen 
dwellings at the mines, two boarding-houses and 
two blacksmith shops, engine house, etc. The 
company has a lease of two hundred and seventy 
acres of coal, and in all gives employment to over 
four hundred men. The railroad has a capacity 
of over sixty cars a day and cost with the engine 
$100,0011. The mines have a deposit of twenty- 
two inches of black coal, which overlies a bed rock 
from six to thirteen feet, and is underneath two 
and one-half feet of fire claj . 

In 1889, the company was incorporated as the 
Rocky Branch Coal Company, and since then ('apt. 
Belt has been Secretary and Manager. Mr. Erskine 
is President and Treasurer, and these two enterpris- 
ing gentlemen are the sole owners of this valuable 
business. The two together planned the railroad, 
bought the right of way and built the line. ( >ur sub- 
ject resides in Higginsville and here has a pleas- 
ant and commodious home. lie was married the 
first time in Davis Township, La Fayette County, 
in 1857, to Miss Mary S. Burton, who whs born 
in Randolph County, Mo., and died in Dover. 



leaving four children: William R., a resident of St. 
Louis; George M., weigh master at the mines; Jo- 
seph Shelby, a book-keeper for his father; and Mark 
L.. who is in the livery and transfer business. Our 
subject was married the second time in Lexington. 
in 1885, to Miss Jennie E. Burton, a native of this 
county and a sister of the first wife. This estima- 
ble and well-known lady is the mother of two 
children, Mildred and Alfred E. 

Our subject is a member of the Fnc & Accepted 
Masons and enjoys a well-deserved popularity 
among the fraternity. I n politics, he is a Democrat 
and has served as delegate to numerous State and 
county conventions. He is now filling a second 
term as Alderman of the First Ward and is on 
various important committees, giving his earnest 
efforts in behalf of local improvements. Our sub- 
ject was among the leading factors in establishing 
the Confederate Home here. He raised money to 
buy the land, was mainly instrumental in securing 
its location upon the farm, and was appointed its 
Superintendent from the day of its opening, lie 
assisted in planning the Home and built the cot- 
tages. The site covers three hundred and sixty- 
two acres, one and one-half miles from the Chicago 
A- Alton depot, and is all finely improved. There 
are eleven cottages, hospital, one main building, ten 
rooms, and a new chapel. It is almost self-sustain- 
ing, this latter fact being principally clue to the 
efficient management of the judicious and ener- 
getic Superintendent. Higginsville is fortunate in 
having as a dweller in its midst a citizen so pro- 
gressive and public-spirited as our subject, much 
of whose life has been given to lending a helping 
hand to those less fortunate than himself. 



•5*=^=-s 



_y 



"A 



JOHN H.MILLER is the local conductor on 
the Kansas City Divison of the Chicago ,v 
Alton Railroad, having a run beween Kan- 
sas City and Slater. He came to Slater Sep- 
tember 6, 1884, and has since been a resident of 



526 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



this city. Mr. Miller was born in Hardin County. 
Ohio, in t lie town of Patterson, June 24, 1 855, and 
is a son of Nicholas and Barbara (Stall) Miller. His 
father, a native of Germany, came to the United 
States when fourteen years of age, and settled iii 
Hardin County, where he was employed on a farm. 
Later he was married there and farmed for himself. 
lie now owns eighty acres of good land at a dis- 
tance of only three-quarters of a mile from Patter- 
son, also another farm of one hundred and sixty 
acres. He is still an active and hale man. and in 
politics is a strong Republican. Religiously he is 
a member of the Christian Church. 

Our subject's mother, who was born in Pennsyl- 
vania, was a daughter of Jacob Stall, an early 
settler in Champaign County. Later he removed 
to Indiana, where he yet resides. < >ur subject's par- 
ents had ten children, three girls and seven boys, 
of whom one of the daughters is now deceased. 
Six of the sons are railroad men, and four of them 
are conductors. Of these, our subject is the eldest. 

The boyhood days of John Miller were passed 
on a farm. He attended the public schools only 
in winter and was early set to work. He remained 
at home until twenty years of age. and then was 
employed as a brakeman on the Cincinnati. San- 
dusky & Cleveland Railroad. The six months 
followingthe severing of his connection with that 
company were spent in the employ of a lumber 
and stave company. In 1X78 he became brakeman 
on the Baltimore & Ohio Road, and after tilling 
that position for six months, he was made conduc- 
tor to run a local train, in which capacity he served 
until May 8, 1884. He then had leave of absence 
for ninety days and took that opportunity of com- 
ing West to visit a brother who was living here, 
and who had a run between Argentine and Ottawa. 

Mr. Miller secured a position without difficulty 
on the Chicago & Alton Road, acting as brakeman 
until February. 1885, since which time he has 
acted as conductor, and since 1890 he has run 
the local. He has never had any serious accidents 
and has found his work congenial. Mr. Miller 
has a very pleasant home on .Main Street in this 
city, which is presided over by his wife, who is an 
affable and interesting lady. They were married 
in Slater. 1 iceeiuber 23, 1**7. Mrs, Miller was 



formerly Miss Ida M. Hoover, and was bom in 

Pike County, 111. She is a daughter of Josiah 
Hoover, a native of White County, 111., and her 
grandfather, David Hoover, was a native of 
Maryland, who came West and settled in White 
County as early as 1820, later removing to Pike 
County and making a settlement in 18-27. His wife 
was a native of Kentucky. Mrs. Miller's mother 
was before her marriage Mis> Caroline Smith, and 
was of English ancestry. Our subject and his 
wife are the parents of two children, whose names 
are Avonelle and Walter 11. Fraternally Mr. 
Miller belongs to the Knights of Pythias, and is a 
charter number of Slater Division Xo. 212 of the 
Order of Railway Conductors. In his political 
belief, he is a Republican. 



Ml > s. .UI-.A 

Li ] ^y •■ 

'Y'y/ of sectu 



S. MEAD, a prosperous agriculturist and 
respected citizen, is now a resident 
section 3, township 50, range 26, Lex- 
ington Township. La Fayette County, Mo., and 
has been a constant dweller within the borders of 
the State for almost two score of years. Dur- 
ing this period of time he has ever been identified 
with the best interests of his home and vicinity, 
anil has lent his willing aid in behalf of local prog- 
ress and improvements. Our subject was born m 
Lynchburgh, Va., June 2-1. 1823, and was the son 
of Stith anil Prudence (Wadkins) Mead, who were 
both native- of the Sunny South, their earliest 
home in Virginia, the mother having been born in 
Richmond, noted as the home of the old aristo- 
cratic families, and the F. F. Vs. of the Old Do- 
minion. 

The paternal grandfather was during the early 
days an extensive cotton-grower, and owned a 
large plantation in Georgia, where he took a posi- 
tion among the leading men in his portion of the 
State. The first ancestors of the family to emi- 
grate to this country from England came to the 
New World about the time the far-famed William 
I'enn [aoded upon the shores of America. Seven 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL liFCORD. 



527 



of the States of the I Dion now 1ki\ e cil ies bearing 
the name of Meadville, and throughoul the coun- 
try the Meads are prospered and arc ever known 
as excellent, law-abiding citizens. The father of 
our subject, Stith Mead, was a Methodist Episcopal 
minister, and a most worthy and upright man, 
widely known and highly respected. 

Mr. Mead spent his early life in Lynchburgh, 
Va., and there received his education and prepared 
himself to meet the duties of life in an able and 
self-reliant manner. At the age of seventeen he 
was apprenticed to a carpenter and builder, and 
for eight years devoted his time to this trade, 
which was in the new countries then especially 
valuable. In 1849, our subject came to La Fayette 
County, and found ready business as a carpenter, 
and was steadily employed until he decided to 
make the overland trip to California. The gold 
craze of 1848 had not yet subsided, and thousands 
were on their way when he joined the army of 
travelers, and, slowly proceeding, reached after 
countless incidents — amusing, serious and instruc- 
tive — the golden El Dorado of the West. Many of 
the trains had started with horses, others had ven- 
tured across the desert with mule-teams, but most 
of the majority favored the style of conveyance 
adopted by .Air. Mead, whose oxen were just six- 
months on the road. 

Arriving in California, our subjeel lost no time 
in endeavoring to reach some of the far-famed 
-yellow dust" for which countless thousands have 
periled their lives. For nearly sixteen years lie 
toiled unweariedly in the pursuit of wealth. First 
he prospected, and then mined, and afterward en- 
gaged in work in a sawmill. The years passed. 
and finally he decided to return to Missouri, in 
which State he located permanently in 1866, and 
settled upon the farm which he yet prosperously 
conducts. The ninety acres are all under a high 
state of cultivation, and yield an abundant harvest 
year by year. Mr. .Mead devotes himself to the 
duties of general agriculture, but also owns some 
tine stock, and is successful in his methods and 
ideas. In political affiliations, he is a Democrat, 
hut can scarcely lie called a politician, as he has 
never held nor desired public office, hut he 
the interesl shared by all good citizens in the out- 



come of national and local elections, and realizes 
the necessity of giving the responsible conduct of 
affairs into the hands of intelligent and upright 
men and worl by citizens. 



OsvOO 






l— ! DWTX 1 . and FRAJSTKG. BOWMAN,of the 
j— « firm of Bowman Bros., the enterprising and 
is energetic editors and proprietors of the 
well-known Lexington News, established in 1889, 
and the official organ of the city and county, are 
both men of excellent business ability, progressive 
in their ideas and intelligent in their handling of 
the direct issues of the day. Their attractive paper 
is Democratic in politics and contains thirty-two 
columns of neatly printed matter, readable and 
newsy. The Bowman Bros, are the sons of John 
P. Bowman, a native of Kentucky, and an early- 
settler of Missouri, who located in Lexington. La 
Fayette County, in is 1 1. 

The father of our subjeel served six years as 
Sheriff of La Fayette County, and for four years 
was Circuit Clerk. which official position he held at 
the outbreak of the Civil War. Possessing unusual 
ability, and energetic and faithful in the discharge 
of all duties intrusted to hiscare, John P. Bowman 
was also courageous in character and decisive in 
action, and, responding to the sentiment of his 
heart, entered the Confederate ranks, and as Col. 
Bowman distinguished himself by his gallant 
beaiing upon the field of battle. He encaged in 
numerous battles and skirmishes, and fell a vic- 
tim to constant exposure in inclement weather, 
contracting a severe cold, and finally dying of a 
congestive chill. His death was mourned as a 
public loss., and his memory is yet green in the 
hearts of all who knew him well. 

The mother of Edwin and Frank Bowman was 
Mary F. Chinn. of Lexington, Ky., a daughter of 
Dr. Joseph G. Chinn, who lived to the advanced 
age of ninety-seven years, and was married three 
times. His last marriage occurred at the age of 
ninety-four, and his wife, who was ninety-six when 



528 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



she married him, died in her ninety-ninth year. 
Mrs. John Bow man is still living, ami is now in her 

seventieth year, and resides in Lexington, where 
the Bowman family i> represented by four succes- 
sive generations. The Bowman brothers are both 
married, and their pleasant homes are Messed 
with the presence of children. Edwin 1". has been 
in the printing business for twenty-live years, and 
Frank G. has been engaged in the same occupa- 
tion for twenty years, both being thoroughly at 
home in every detail of their work, and, in every 
sense of the word, practical printers. They run 
several job presses of large power, and turn out 
fine specimens of typographical work. 

Frank G. Bowman holds the State medal of- 
fered by the Missouri Press Association, which was 
held in St. Joseph in 1882, and which medal was 
given for the champion office, the swiftest and neat- 
est in job printing. Our subjects, the Bowman 
Brothers, have an extended circle of warm friends, 
and enjoy the esteem and confidence of the gen- 
eral public, among whom they have passed almost 
their entire lives. Together with their families 
they are important factors in the promotion of all 
the best interests of their city, and with word and 
deed sustain its worthy enterprises, be they re- 
ligious, benevolent or purely business. The power 
of the press in the hands of such men as our sub- 
ject is always effectively used in behalf of progress 
and reform, and its value cannot be overesti- 
mated. 



«!&* 



H?h 



eHARLES L. ELGIN, a successful and repre- 
sentative agriculturist of Saline County, 
Mo., is a man of unusual integrity of char- 
acter, and is highly respected as a citizen of worth, 
ability, and self-reliant energy. Located in town- 
ship 19, range 19, he has for many years prosper- 
ously conducted his fine farm of three hundred 
and twenty acres, pleasantly situated near the 
flourishing town of Napton. Our subject is of 
Southern nativity, and was born in Prince William 
County. Va., April 7, 1833. His paternal grand- 



father, William Elgin, was of English descent, and 
was widely known in Loudoun County, "V a., where 
he passed the greater portion of his life, and died, 
deeply regretted by a host of true friends. 

John C. Elgin, the father of our subject, was born 
in Loudoun County, the Old Dominion, in Feb- 
ruary. 1806, and there passed his early day>. and 
continued to be a resident of Virginia until he had 
reached middle life. He came to Saline County in 
1856, and about one year later was joined by his 
family, who finally located on a farm. Mr. Elgin 
had been an overseer in Virginia, and for a time 
followed the same occupation in Missouri, but dur- 
ing the latter portion of his life devoted himself 
to agricultural pursuits. He was married in 1825, 
to Miss Julia Macatee, who was Lorn in November, 
1805, and died in November, 1878. 

The sons and daughters of Mr. and Mrs. John C. 
Elgin were all born in the hospitable old State of 
Virginia, and are as follows: Mary Jane, the eldest- 
born, is the wife of James Keys, of Saline County ; 
Delila Ann, married to Charles W. Foley, of Henry 
County; Eliza, is the wife of William Skinner, and 
resides in Loudoun County, Va.; Charles L. the 
subject of this sketch; Harriet, the widow of W. 
Remmington, lives in Sedalia; James L. lives in 
Pettis County, Mo.; Susan A., the wife of William 
Nordyke, of Parsons, Kan.; Catherine, married to 
Robert Riggins, of Ft. Worth, Tex.; .Martha, the 
widow of Thomas Sellers, lives in Bates County, 
-Mo.; Julia, wife of Adam Clarkston, lives near 
Marshall; and John C, who is a resident of Bates 
County, Mo. The father of our subject was in 
earlv life a Whig, later a Democrat, and during 
the Civil War his sympathy was with the South. 
He was a man of sterling integrity of character, 
and passed peacefully away in 1870, at the home 
of a daughter, near Marshall. 

Charles L. Elgin enjoyed the advantages of a 
brief schooling in his native State, and soon after 
the family had settled in Missouri left home, and 
at the age of twenty-two years began the battle of 
life for himself. He immediately engaged in farm- 
ing in Maryland, where he hired out by the year, 
and continued in the same occupation for eleven 
years. Upon February 6, 185G, he married his first 
wife, Miss Eliza Arabella, a daughter of James Fos- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



529 



ter, of Maryland. In 18G(> he removed with his 
family to Saline County, Mo., and rented land un- 
til 1879, when he bought the fine property where 
he now resides. His wife died March 21, 1874, 
leaving a large family to mourn her loss. She had 
borne nine sons and daughters, and dying, be- 
queathed to her husband's loving care and tender- 
ness a family of children, all young, while one was 
a helpless infant. 

The eldest of the children was Millard L.; then 
followed Lucius C, John II., George B. McEls worth, 
William B., Viola G., Amanda D. (deceased), Charles 
J. (deceased), and Walter Vincent, who passed away 
in 1891. Upon October 19, 187 1, .Mr. Elgin mar- 
ried Miss Margaret Ann Grady, whose family was 
of English descent, but whose grandparents, Will- 
iam and Jane Grady, were native Virginians, who 
soon after their marriage settled in Kentucky, in 
which latter State all of their children were born, 
and which State was also the birthplace of their 
granddaughter, Mrs. Elgin, who is a native of 
Adair County. Her father and mother were Thomas 
L. and Cynthia (Carrington) Grady. The Car- 
ringtons were among the old families of North 
Carolina. Mrs. Elgin was the eldest of her parents' 
children, who were three in number. The sister 
Nancy still lives in the old Kentucky home with 
the venerable father. Ephraim, the only son, en- 
listed in the Confederate service, and when with 
Morgan on his raid north of the Ohio liiver, was 
captured, and while a prisoner in Chicago, died at 
the youthful age of seventeen years. lie was a 
brave and gallant lad, and his untimely death car- 
ried the anguish of bereavement into the pleasant 
Southern home. 

By his second marriage our subject had no chil- 
dren, but the noble-hearted woman who shares his 
life has been a mother indeed to the helpless ones 
committed by their father to her care and atten- 
tion, and deep was her grief when death claimed 
the youngest of the family, the idol of father, 
mother, brothers and sisters. Walter Vincent, who 
passed away in the dawn of early manhood, at 
nineteen years of age, was a most lovely character, 
amiable, generous, and withal possessing strong 
principles and deep religious convictions, which 
sustained and cheered him, asheneared his earthly 



end. No "Valley of Shadows" awaits his coming, 
for even before the last farewell to earthly scenes, 
and while the soul yet lingered in the frail tene- 
ment, Walter Vincent Elgin beheld, as in a vision, 
"the land that is fairer than day." 

For some time the health of our subject has not 
been of the best, and although he still superintends 
the management of his valuable farm, his labors 
are materially lessened by the active aid of his two 
sons, who yet reside upon the old homestead. Mr. 
Elgin has never been an ardent politician, but has 
always taken a great interest in the national and 
local issues of the day, and affiliates with the Dem- 
ocratic party. He is in religious belief a Baptist, 
and has been a liberal supporter of the extension 
of the good work of that denomination. Our sub- 
ject and his wife, and their sons and daughters in 
their various homes, enjoy the esteem and con- 
fidence of friends and neighbors, and have a high 
place among the industrious and self-reliant citi- 
zens of their locality. 




UGH M. GILI1A.M, one of the extensive 
| land-owners of Saline County, who is liv- 
ing on section 9, township 51, range 23 
was born in La Fayette County, Mo., March 
18, 1830. The grandfather of our subject, Will- 
iam Gilham, emigrated from his native England 
to America at an early day and settled in Floyd 
County, Va. He was a stonemason G3- trade, but 
through much of his life followed the occupation 
of farming. He wedded Mary Goodkoontz, a lady 
of German descent, who lived to the advanced 
age of ninety years. Mr. Gilham died in Virginia 
man}' years previous to the death of his wife. 
They had a family of eight children, namely: 
David. Isaac, Ezekiel, Levi. Naomi. Lydia. Dru- 
cilla and Leah. All are now deceased except 
Levi and Leah, who reside in Floyd County, Va. 
The latter is the widow of Eden Eperly. 

Isaac Gilham, the father of our subject, was 



530 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



born in Floyd County, V:i., in 1802, and in 1827 
was married to Miss Mary, daughter of Chris- 
topher and Ann (Myers) Slasher. Her people 
were of German descent, and hei family removed 
to La Fayette County, Mo., in 1828, where her 
parents died. Her father there entered land and 
in his business undertakings was very successful, 
accumulating about nine hundred acres of valu- 
able Land in La Fayette ( < unity. At the time of his 
death, in 1858, he was estimated to be worth 
about $100,000. Isaac Gilham was the owner of 
a good farm of eighty acres, and was a stonemason 
and bricklayer by trade. In politics he was a Dem- 
ocrat. His death occurred in 1840, and his wife 
departed this life six years later. They had a fam- 
ily of six children: W. W., who died in Califor- 
nia in 1871; Hugh, of this sketch; Eliza, who 
became the wife of W. -I. Byars, and died in this 
county; Maria I... widow of W. K. White; Mary 
Jane, who became the wife of John Shaw, and is 
now deceased; and Nancy, wife of Matthew Wake- 
field. 

The subject of this sketch spent the first seven 
years of his life in the county of his nativity, and 
then came with his parents to this county. He 
was educated in the subscription schools during 
the winter season, while in the summer months he 
worked in the fields. At the time of his mother's 
death he was sixteen years old. and upon himself 
and his brother William, two years his senior, de- 
volved the care of four younger children. In 1849 
Mr. Gilham went to California, his brother stay- 
ing with the family, but returned in 1851. Two 
years later William went to that State, where he 
spent the remainder of his life, while Hugh took 
charge of the business and family. One of the sis- 
ters had already married, and in 1858 the last one 
married and went to a home of her own. Since 
that time Mr. Gilliam's home lias been under the 
charge of housekeepers, and is now cared for by 
his niece. 

Our subject bought the interest of the brothers 
and sisters in the home farm of one hundred and 
twenty acres, where he resided until 1806. lie 
then removed to the river three miles north and 
did a general warehouse and trading business in 
stock and grain for about ten years. Previous to 



this, for nine years he had operated a sawmill, 
which he built in 1858. On leaving the warehouse 
he returned to his farm, and has since carried on 
agricultural pursuits. From time to time he added 
to his possessions until he owned thirteen hun- 
dred acres of land, but, not wishing so much on 
his hands, he sold eight hundred acres. Of the 
live hundred acres remaining he has rented the 
entire amount except a small plat, upon which his 
home is located. His house is one of the finest in 
the township, being quite imposing in appearance. 
He has ever had his farms under a high state of 
cultivation and, in consequence, they have yielded 
to him a golden tribute in return for his care and 
labor. Mr. Gilham has led a busy and useful life, 
and his honorable career has made him a highly 
esteemed citizen, with many friends throughout 
the county. 



w**M- 



f I I I 




NDREW J. ALLISON, well known for 
many years as a leading carpenter and 
builder of La Fayette County, now suc- 
cessful! y devotes his time to agricultural 
duties and resides upon his homestead, pleasantly 
located upon section 18, township 48, range 27. 
Mr. Allison was born June 14, 1829, in Augusta 
County, Va., and is a son of John II. and Sarah 
(Neavis) Allison. Grandfather Andrew Allison was 
born in "Bonnie Scotland" and early emigrating 
to America settled in Augusta County, Va., where 
lie industriously tilled the soil and made a comfort- 
able home for his wife and the sons and daughters 
who in time clustered about the family hearth. 
The children were seven in number: Andrew, 
John II., William, Thomas, and three sisters. John 
II., the father of our subject, was born in Augusta 
County in 1812 and, like his grandfather, decided 
to make a change of residence, so when twenty- 
one years of age traveled with team and wagon to 
Logan County. Ohio, and, arriving in the Buckeye 
State in 1833, purchased a farm and settling 
thereon lived several years in Ohio. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



531 



In the year L839, John II. Allison came to La 
Fayette County, and Ideating- on land aboul 
two miles east of Odessa lived in this commu- 
nity until his death in April, 1862. Politically, lie 
was aWhig,and in religious convictions a Presby- 
terian. His wife, who died many years before 
him, passing away in 1846, was the mother of five 
suns: Andrew J.; William M.; John N., of El Do- 
rado, Mo., who served from August. 1862, in Gen. 
Shelby's Cavalry, Confederate service; Clayborne 
T., who served in the same command: and James F. 
also in the same command of Washington; all 
three came home without a scratch. Our subject's 
mother was born in Rockbridge County, Ya., and 
was the daughter of John Xeavis.a Virginia farmer 
and a citizen well known and highly respected. 
Our subject, Andrew J. Allison, spent his boyhood 
in busy industry and received a primary education 
in the district schools, and in starting out in life 
worked by the month on a farm. In 1853 he made 
a trip to New Mexico with a Government train, 
and returning home engaged in the business of a 
carpenter and builder and continued in the active 
work of his trade for fifteen years. 

In 1866, Mr. Allison located where he now re- 
sides upon eighty acres of excellent land, which 
under the intelligent cultivation of its present 
owner yields an abundant harvest. In 1858, our 
subject purchased fifty acres and then added 
twenty-six more and has himself made all the im- 
provements of the well-kept farm. Mr. Allison 
has been three times married. Mis first wife was 
Jane Radford, a daughter of John B. and Rebecca 
(Radford) Radford. This estimable lady was a 
member of the Christian Church and died in Octo- 
ber. 1859. The second wife, Miss Sallie Saunders, 
was born in this county and was the daughter of 
William and Sarah (Wood) Saunders, who came to 
Missouri about 1840. There were four children 
born of this second union: John W., Jesse P., Ar- 
thur A. and Fred J. The second wife died June 
13, 1882, aged forty-four years. The third wife 
of our subject was born March II, 1844, and was 
the daughter of William F. and Susan J. (Hender- 
son) Frakes. The Frakes were from Bourbon 
County, Ky., where the father was a farmer. They 
came to La Fayette County on the Johnson line 



in 1839 and entered and bought three hundred 
and fifty acres of land. Mr. Frakes was a Stock- 
trader and removed to Odessa in the fall of 1882, 
and died in 1891, at seventy-nine years of age. 
His wife survived him until January 10, 1892, and 
was the mother of eight children: Mary E., Lu- 
cinda M.; Anna (.'., who died and left two children ; 
Rachael W., who died young; Andrew E., Susan A., 
James G. and Joseph A. Mr. Frakes and his wife 
were members of the Christian Church and polit- 
ically in early days he was a Whig, and later a 
Democrat. Mrs. Frakes was the daughter of Will- 
iam and Elizabeth (Stark) Henderson, natives of 
Virginia, who earlj- emigrated to Kentuck}' and 
from there some time afterward came to Missouri, 
settling in 1839 in Columbus, Johnson County, 
where Mr. Frakes died. 

Mr. Allison has been a prominent member of the 
Christian Church for thirty years and has been one 
of the honored officers of that religious organiza- 
tion, serving faithfully as a Deacon. His wife has 
been connected with the same denomination since, 
her childhood. Our subject is an active Democrat 
and deepty interested in local and national issues, 
and in all things pertaining to the advancement 
of the public good is an earnest and progressive 
citizen. 



£+£{ 



"S3 



OSEPH A. WIIITSITT, a prosperous agri- 
culturist and stock-raiser, is one of the most 
able and energetic business men of I. a Fay- 
ette Count}', Mo. He was born June 7, 
1819, in the western part of Washington Township, 
and has spent his life within the borders of his 
native county, where he has self-reliantly won his 
way upward and is now a large land-holder. Our 
subject is a son of James and Sydney (Noland) 
Whitsitt, early settlers and honored residents of 
Missouri. The paternal grandfather. James Whit- 
sitt, lived and died in Kentucky, and in that good 
Old State the father of our subject was also born, 
and at seventeen years of age, a brave and fear- 



532 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



less lad, fought in the War of 1812, under the 
skillful guidance of Gen. Harrison, lie made his 
home in 1816 in La Fayette County, Mo., and 
was one of the pioneer citizens who laid the broad 
foundations of the future prosperity of the State. 

Arriving in his new home when it was an al- 
most unbroken wilderness, Father Whitsitt entered 
a farm, and in time owned six hundred acres of 
valuable land, much of it under a high state of 
cultivation. The father and mother of our subject 
were members of the First Cumberland Presby- 
terian Church, of Kentucky, and were ever dis- 
tinguished for their Christian conduct and honest 
integrity. The father died in the early part of 
1861, and the faithful wife, the mother of twelve 
children, passed away in 1880. The sons and 
daughters of the pioneer household who reached 
maturity were Nancy A. Shaw; Burrilla C. Robin- 
son, deceased; Thomas, who served in the Mexican 
War; Joseph A.; Elizabeth, who died at sixteen 
years of age; Fidelia Barton, who died in 18C0; 
and FJpton, who died at twenty-one years of age. 

Our subject was reared and educated in the little 
subscription schools of those primitive days, and 
resided with his parents until their death. He has 
made but three moves in his life, and is now lo- 
cated upon section 8, township 48, range 27, and 
is the owner of the highly improved homestead of 
three hundred acres, and also possesses other val- 
uable farming properties, owning in all about eight 
hundred acres of excellent land, most of which he 
has acquired by his energetic industry. Mr. 
Whitsitt was united in marriage in March, 1865, 
with Miss Mary C, a daughter of William and 
Rachael (Beeier) Powell, who came to La Fayette 
County in 1820, and were associated with the 
early struggles of Missouri. Mrs. Whitsitt was 
one of five children of her father, William Powell. 
The mother married a second time, her husband 
being John Daniel, unto whom she bore one child. 

Mr. and Mrs. Whitsitt are the parents of one 
child, who bears the family name of James A. 
Whitsitt, and who is a useful and honored citizen. 
Our subject is a lifelong Baptist, and, in political 
belief, is a strong Democrat. The son of one of 
the brave and fearless early pioneers of Missouri, 
he received as inheritance the sturdy independ- 



ence of those days when the pioneers were obliged 
not only to work extremely hard for their own 
sustenance, but had to protect themselves from the 
Indians, who were their too frequent visitors and 
carried away, without leave or license, whatever 
they desired as edibles, and constantly menaced 
the lives of their white brethren. Early trained 
into habits of industry and self-reliance, James A. 
Whitsitt has been an important factor in the local 
progress of the best interests of La Fayette County, 
and is to-day one of the most highly esteemed cit- 
izens within the limits of its territory. 



^o> 



r=™ RAN CIS J. O'NEILL, the reverend father of 
[a^gi St. Peter's Catholic Church at Marshall, 
\ is well known as a gentleman of education 
and culture, earnest and energetic in his pastoral 
duties, and withal an excellentand progressive citi- 
zen, liberal and intelligent in public affairs, and in 
social life genial and kindly. Our subject was born 
in County Tyrone, Ireland. His paternal grand- 
father, Neill O'Neill, was born in a house made 
famous by the Irish Rebellion. His parents, Francis 
and Catherine (Sweeney) O'Neill, were both natives 
of Ireland, where the father lived and died upon 
a farm which he had industriously cultivated for 
many years. His mother is still living there at the 
advanced age of ninety-seven years. 

Father O'Neill was the youngest of seven chil- 
dren, of whom four are now living. He was well 
grounded in the primary studies at an early age, 
and learned Greek and Latin in a classical school 
preparatory to entering All Hallow College in 
Dublin. He became a student in that institution 
of learning in 1875, and remained there for one 
year. Having long since determined to make 
America his future home, he bade his native land 
farewell, and in 1879 made a swift and pleasant 
voyage across the Atlantic, leaving Londonderry 
by the steamer " Europia," and arriving safely in 
New York after ten days upon the ocean. Re- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



533 



maining in the Empire Si:ite, he entered the Theo- 
logical Seminary of St. Bonaventure, at Cattar- 
augus, and studied there three years. He received 
numerous orders and a Sub-Deaconship in the Buf- 
falo (N. Y.) Catholic Church. A Deaconshipin the 
College Seminary of our Lady of Angels, Canada, 
was conferred upon him. He was ordained priest 
June 21, 1882, by Bishop Ryan, of the Buffalo 
Diocese. 

Father O'Neill was ordained for the diocese of 
Kansas City. After spending some time in Phila- 
delphia, in August, 1882, he went to Springfield, 
Mo. There he was assistant priest under Father 
S. IC. Kussman for about seven weeks, and then 
took charge of the Church of the Sacred Heart in 
Springfield. He was thus engaged until the fol- 
lowing November, when the church was destroyed 
by a cyclone. Without delay our energetic sub- 
ject set about making good the great loss the parish 
had sustained. His efforts met with a ready re- 
sponse from other congregations who sympathized 
with the parish of the Sacred Heart, and he also 
received encouragement from the general public, 
who appreciated his energy, courage and deter- 
mination. 

Almost entirely owing to the work of Father 
O'Neill the church was rebuilt the same year, and 
the new edifice was even more substantial and 
commodious than its predecessor and was unin- 
cumbered with debt. Our .subject continued in 
that pastorate until February 6, 1887, when he 
came to receive the charge of St. Peter, succeed- 
ing Father M. J. O'Dwyer. St. Peter's Church 
was built by Father Ilammill, who gathered to- 
gether the people in the parish and labored ear- 
nestly to establish a church in their midst. The 
first priest of St. Peter's was Father Murphy. Father 
O'Neill lias accomplished much good since he took 
charge of his present parish, and the people of St. 
Peter's Church appreciate his constant efforts in 
their spiritual behalf. 

No matter what the weather or the time of day 
or night, the reverend father is always ready 
to attend the sick, suffering and dying of his dock. 
Advising them ever for their best earthly and 
spiritual good, ready with acts of self-sacrifice and 
words of cheer for those cast down and in afflic- 



tion, he receives in return the esteem and confi- 
dence of all who know him. It may be said of 
him that he is liberal in sentiment, generous in ex- 
pression and just in judgment. In common with 
all good citizens of this great republican Govern- 
ment, he is in full sympathy with reform and 
progress, and is in every sense of the phrase a true 
and loyal American. Aside from the other valu- 
able work he has accomplished in Bishop Hogen's 
Diocese, he has improved the pastorate by an ex- 
tensive addition, and is always vigilant in the care 
of the church possessions. 






ON. JOHN J. HALL, the popular Mayor 
' of TVaverly, La Fayette Count}', Mo., is a 
pioneer resident of the State, and has been 
a leading business man of this locality for 
many years. Efficient in the discharge of public 
duty, he commands the esteem and confidence of 
his fellow-citizens, and has received various offices 
of trust and has been one of the important factors 
in the growth and rapid advancement of his 
present home. Mayor Hall is a native of Ken- 
tucky and was born in Scott County, in 1814. 
His father, Braxton P. Hall, was also a Kentuck- 
ian, and a man well known and highly respected 
throughout his neighborhood and county. The 
paternal grandfather, John Hall, was born in Vir- 
ginia, but was numbered among the early settlers 
of Kentucky, being one of the most enterprising 
and progressive citizens in his part of the State. 

The mother of our subject was Miss Catherine 
Shroyer, a daughter of Jacob Shroyer, a native of 
Maryland, but a pioneer of Kentucky, where he 
made for himself and family a permanent home. 
The boyhood of John J. Hall was passed in Scott 
County, Ky., and here he attended the subscription 
schools and received the training in habits of self- 
reliance and honest industry which has been his 
main capital in life. At the age of seventeen 
years our subject removed with his parents from 
Kentucky to Missouri, and locating at first in La 



53 I 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Fayette County, engaged in farming, and for three 
successive years continued in the duties of agri- 
culture. At the expiration of this time, he went 
to Henry County and embarked in a mercantile 
business, which he prosperously conducted from 
1834 to 1837. 

In the meantime he engaged in the manufacture 
of rope, and for a few years retained his interest 
in this successful venture, which Brsl claimed his 
attention in 1836. In the latter pari of 1837 Mr. 
Hall returned to La Fayette County, and engaged 
m the manufacture of rope until 1840, then mi 
to Miami. Saline County, and engaged in the 
same business, continuing about four years. He 
then returned to La Fayette County and engaged 
in farming for four years, and then devoted himself 
to the general merchandising and commission busi- 
ness. "When the thriving town of Waverly was 
incorporated as a city. John J. Hall became at once 
one of the "City Fathers," and through his ability 
and wise management of the prominent interests 
intrusted to his care secured the regard of the gen- 
eral public, and was in ls7;s elected Mayor of 
Waverly. retaining this position for some years. 
After four years' retirement from this honored 
office, Mayor Hall was in 1891 again elected to 
take charge of the city government, and hi- ac- 
ceptance of this responsible position gave general 
satisfaction to the community, who, regardlessof 
politics, know their Mayor to be a man of sterling 
integrity of character and excellent business at- 
tainments. 

Mr. Hall has ever been a stanch Democrat, and 
was elected upon the party ticket in 1867 as Jus- 
tice of the Peace, an office which he has held for 
the past twenty-six years, his legal decisions in the 
various cases brought before him being uniformly 
sustained by the judgment of the upper courts. 
The duties of public life do not detract from the 
enjoyment of the home pleasures shared by our 
subject with his family. It is now a little more 
than a half-century ago, since, in 1841, John J. 
Hall and Lucretia M. Craig were united in the 
bonds of matrimony. .Airs. Hall was the daughter 
of Robert Craig, of Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Hall j 
have been the parents of seven children, and of then- 
bright and intelligent family of sons and daugh- 



ters, four now survive: Blanche, Elizabeth, Dixie 

and Ella. Mr. and Mis Hall arc valued members 
of the Christian Church and have always been ac- 
tive workers in the social, benevolent and relig- 
ious enterprises of that denomination. Mayor 
Hall ha- been aii eye-witness of the remarkable 
growth and rapid development of Waverly and 
the surrounding country, and has the proud satis- 
faction of having materially assisted in the prog- 
ress of local affairs and the ultimate advancement 
of the State of Missouri. 



=^I>*-<' 




i y~- 



ENRY MEIER. The individual to whom 
this memoir is dedicated was a native of 
Germany, born there in 1848, the son of 
Henry and Caroline Meier, both of whom, 
with their family of five children, reside in that 
country at the present time. Henry Meier was 
educated in the village of his birth and came to 
America in 1869, and Brsl took up his residence 
in the city of Qurncy, 111., where he hired out as 
a farm hand. He was strong and willing, and 
had formed the determination of having some of 
these broad acres for his own, if honest and persis- 
tent effort could procure them. 

Mr. Meier was attracted by the superior advan- 
tages which the State of Missouri held out to the 

| ■ man with no capital. So. in 1871, he came 

here. For ten years he worked by the month and 
saved his scant earnings until he was able to pur- 
chase a tract of eighty acres of land in Saline 
County, Mo. A portion of this first trait he after- 
ward sold and bought one hundred and sixty 
acres, which, added to the original purchase, made 
him a snug farm of two hundred and ten acres. 
This is located in township 52, range 21, and is 
one of the nicest pieces of properly in the neigh- 
borhood. Had the life of Mr. Meier been spared, 
no doubt the farm would have been much more 
improved. 

Our subject was certainly a successful man. From 
the time of his landing upon these strange shores, 



PORTRAIT AND E-IOGR U'HK AL RECORD. 



535 



among people of a different tongue, some of them 
always ready to betray the innocenl stranger, to 
the time of liis demise, in 1892, our subject was 
always occupied, never giving himself time to re- 
grel what be did not have, and always anxious to 
proA ide well for bis family. 

In 1879, Mr. Meier married Miss Mary Deibel, 
who was born in Wisconsin in 1859, of German 
parents, and to this union three children were 
horn. Henry. Lawson and Anna May, all of whom 
are yet spared to their mother. During life Mr. 
Meier merited and received the respect and esteem 
of all with whom he was brought in contact. He 
was a good man in all the relations of life, a lov- 
ing husband and a kind father. His connection 
with the Lutheran Church was very dear to him, 
and to its support lie contributed as his means 
permitted. Politically, Mr. Meier was a Demi 
and took an active interest in the party affairs, al- 
though he never desired any office. In his death 
the community suffered a loss, and the bereaved 
family had the sympathy of all. 



*=*=* 



>g IIARLKS X. MARTIN, a prosperous and in- 
I iluential agriculturist of Saline County, has 

V_x for nearly two-score years resided upon his 
homestead in township 50, range 20, near Mar- 
shall. Our subject was born in Shelby County, 
Ky., January 24, 1815. Hi- paternal grandfather, 
Peter Martin, a native of Virginia, whose ances- 
tors were originally from Holland, died at an ad- 
vanced age in Shelby County. Ky. His children 
were: Phoebe, Moses, Joseph, .lames, Abner and 
the father of our subject, Peter Martin, who was 
born in the old Dominion, and wlen a boy re- 
moved with his parents to Shelby County, "Ky. 
He was a tiller of the soil, and fanned upon the 
old homestead where the grandfather of our sub- 
ject died. 

The mother of our subjeel was Sarah Xeal. the 
daughter of Micajah Neal, of SU< Ihj I ounty, Ky., 



and both she and her husband lived to their eighty- 
third year, the good wife surviving her life-part- 
ner for two or three years. A large family gath- 
in their home, namely: Elijah, Micajah, 
John, [ra, Charles, Luther, Ambrose Dudley, Peter 
B., Eliza, Lucy and Sarah. Of these. Luther, Ira, 
Eliza, Lucy. Elijah and Micajah are deceased. The 
father was actively interested in politics, and 
was an ardent Whig. Charles Martin, our sub- 
was married November 2l>. 1846, to Levenia 
S., daughter of Gervas and Mary B. (Sibley) Smith, 
of Henry County. Ky. Mrs. Martin was born 
August 31, 1827, and came with her husband to 
Missouri in 1854, settling November 8 upon land 
now owned by him. The family traveled by 
wagons, bringing ten head of horses, and crossed 
the Ohio River at Louisville, Ky., and the Missis- 
sippi at st. Louis, camping out by the way. 

The parly was composed of Mr. Martin, his 
wife, two children, and two brothers and two sis- 
ters of Mrs. Martin. During the journey their 
wagons were reinforced by other conveyances, 
and the train of travelers thus increased in size 
and numbers, pursued steadily their onward way. 
Starting upon their long journey in October, 1854, 
they were twenty-six days in reaching the place 
on Blackwater to which the father of Mrs. Martin 
had preceded his family, coming by water and 
bringing with him his slaves. Having purchased 
two hundred and ninety-four acres of excellent 
prairie and timber-land where he now resides, 
Mr. Martin entered upon the daily duties of agri- 
cultural life and soon brought his farm to a high 
slate of Cult i vation. 

Our subject and his wife are the parents of six 
children, three sons and three daughters, namely: 
Gervas P., born September 18, 1847; James J,., 
November 5, 1851; Mary E. Alice, who was born 
October.'!. IS,",;,, and is now the wife of J. T. 
Jones, of Saline County; Lucy C, who was bom 
in February, 1861, and married J. 1!. McFadden; 
John C. 1'... born July 25, 1 8H1: and Mignonette, 
who was bom November II. 1866, .and is the 
wife of G. W. Walker, of Henry County. Ky. The 
eldest -on. 1 1-ervas, was in the ( 'on federate sen ice, 
and bravely faced the dangers of the prison pen 
and battlefield, Mr. Martin and his wife are 



536 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



both members of religious denominations, the 
former being a Baptist and the latter a Method- 
ist. Libera] in sentiment and upright in charac- 
ter, our subject has aided both churches in their 
g 1 works, and. ever ready to promote local prog- 
ress and improvements, is numbered among the 
public-spirited citizens of Saline County. In pol- 
itics he is a Democrat and a devoted adherent of 
party principles and platform. 



m 







Ifi^ ENRY RECHTERMANN,oneof the promi- 

fl nent German-American farmers of La Fay- 
y ette County, located upon section 18, range 
\ 26, township 49, is of German birth and 
parentage, having first seen the light of day in 
the province of Hanover, Germany, October 15, 
[824. He grew up in his own country, where 
he attended the common schools, and there ob- 
tained a good German education. When he had 
reached a proper age he was given duties about 
the farm, and in time learned the principles of 
agriculture, which have been of great advantage 
to him in this country. 

In the year 1858, the subject of this sketch 
came to America, taking passage on a sailing- 
vessel at the port of Bremen, and after a voyage 
of six weeks landed in New York City. His des- 
tination was the city of Cincinnati, within which 
and its vicinity lie remained for several years. 
In 1866 our subject removed to La Fayette County, 
Mo., with his family, and located upon his pres- 
ent farm. While in Ohio he had been united in 
marriage with Miss Rosena Welker, a young lady 
residing in that State. Two children blessed this 
union, William F. and Carrie, who is now the 
wife of Augustus Rabeos. 

Our subject was married a second time, in 1867, 
in La Fayette County, Mo., the year after mak- 
ing his home there. The present Mrs. Rechter- 
mann was Miss Anne Knopf, a native of Prussia, 
who was born December 25, 1839. When about 
twenty-five years of age she came to this county 



with her brother from their native land. Five 
children have been born of this union, as follows: 
Augustus; Matilda, who is the wife of John Herr; 
Mollie, Henry and Louis. Our subject is the 
owner of two hundred and sixty- acres of land, 
which are under a fine state of cultivation. His 
early training in agricultural pursuits gave him a 
practical knowledge, which he has made available 
upon his present farm. 

Both our subject and his excellent wife are mem- 
bers of the German Evangelical Church, and in 
this connection they are well and favorably 
known. In politics Mr. Rechtermaun is a Repub- 
lican, having early decided that the principles of 
that party were the ones to which he could best 
give his allegiance. He has been a strong advo- 
cate of all educational measures, and for some time 
has been one of the School Directors of his district. 
This family is well known and much esteemed in 
the neighborhood. 



' ollN WILLIS. Our subject takes great 
pride in the development of the agricul- 
tural interests in this locality, more so, per- 
haps, as he is a native of this State, having 
been born in Carroll County, June 3, 1844. His 
interests are now mostly concentrated on the 
breeding of fine stock, although he also engages 
in general farming upon his fine place, which is 
located on section 36, Dover Township, La Fayette 
County. 

Mr. Willis is a son of John and Elizabeth 
(Spencer) Willis, the former a native of Maryland, 
who moved to Missouri and settled in Carroll 
County in 1841. The mother was a daughter of 
Jonathan Spencer, a native of Maryland. When 
the original of this sketch was but ten years of age 
bis family moved to La Fayette County. Here he 
was in attendance at the common schools, and 
helped his father on the farm. We must not 
think, however, that his boyhood life was one of 
drudgery entirely, for Missourian youth are noted 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



537 



for the many vigorous sports and gallantries in 
which they indulge. Ambitious to acquire a good 
education, in 1864 he entered Desperes Institute, 
which is located in St. Louis County. There he 
pursued his studies for eighteen months, and made 
excellenl progress. His love for bucolic life, how- 
ever, was as strong as ever, and in 1877 he began 
fanning on his own account, engaging in general 
farming until 1884, when he began breeding fine 
stock, devoting the greater part of his attention to 
trotting horses. 

In 1888 Mr. "Willis bought four blooded mares 
and one thoroughbred stallion. He has given the 
preference to the Hambletonian and Mambrino 
breeds. He now owns a two-year-old filly which 
lias already made a record of 2:48. This promising 
animal is named "Leona Ilardpine." He also has 
a two-year-old pacer, "Tesin," which has a record 
of 2:50, and "Lalla Rookh" trots half a mile in 
1:23. She was sired by "Ily Azum." Mr. Willis 
also has several good yearlings and two-year-old 
colts. Our subject is at the present time having 
graded a fine private track, which is half a mile in 
length, and which he expects to complete by 1893. 
Here he intends to train his own horses, after the 
style of the noted Kentucky stables. 

In addition to the trotters above named, our 
subject also breeds thoroughbred Polled-Angus 
cattle and Chester-White hogs. He has been very 
much interested in raising the standard of stock 
bred in this locality. lie has a good farm of two 
hundred and eighty acres which is all under culti- 
vation and finely improved. The home is a frame 
residence of a very attractive style of architecture, 
beautifully located and surrounded with all that 
will please the eye. Its interior finish and furnishing 
are in keeping with the whole establishment and 
speak well for the taste and culture of its owner. 
His barns are models of shelter for domestic 
creatures. 

February 16, 1871, Mr. Willis was united in 
marriage to Miss Jennie, daughter of Dr. R. II. 
Con-in. who is a native of the Isle of Man. .Mis. 
Willis herself was born and bred in the Isle of 
Man. She is an estimable lady, who seconds the 
efforts of her husband admirably in elevating the 
tone of their social circle. They have one son, 



who is named AVilliam C. Our subject and his 
wife are divided in their faith as to the tenets of 
religious belief, Mr. Willis being a devoted Meth- 
odist and Mrs. Willis a member of the Episcopal 
Church, but in the fundamental principles of 
Christianity and in the higher duties of man to 
man they are one. 



4€h 



H&*- 




ETER B. LA BERTEW. Our subject, who 
is a retired merchant now residing in the 
town of Dover, La Fayette County, is a 
native of Ilarrisburg, Mercer County, Ivy., 
where he was born December :>, 1820. After a 
long and eventful life, he can look back with satis- 
faction over years marked by industry and grati- 
fying results. He is a son of Asher and Bethsheba 
(Brokaw) La Bertcw, both natives of New Jersey. 
He is, however, a descendant of French ances- 
tors, his grandfather, John G. La Bertew, having 
been born in France. The latter emigrated to 
America and settled in New Jersey. The name was 
formerly spelled La Boyteaux. 

Our subject's bo3iiood days were spent in his 
native place. He attended the public schools near 
his home and at the age of fourteen years entered 
the college at Bloomington, Ind.. and there pur- 
sued his studio for three years. His father was a 
merchant by occupation, but had an idea that, all 
his sons should have a trade to fall back on incase 
of need. Thus our subject was apprenticed after 
leaving college to learn the tailor's trade, and 
worked at the same for a number of years. 

In 1842, Mr. La Bertew came to La Fayette 
County and was employed at. tailoring until 1850, 
when he began merchandising, and was thus occu- 
pied until 186 1, when he retired from active busi- 
ness pursuits. His success in a business way may 
be traced to several sources. Not only has he 
ability and foresight, but Ins career lias been 
marked by a constancy of purpose that could not 
well have done otherwise than yield him success. 
In politics our subjeel i> a Democrat and now in 



538 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



his later years takes great pleasure in the sweeping 
success that his party has enjoyed during the last 
campaign (1802). 

The original of this sketch was fraternally a mem- 
ber of Dover Lodge No. 122, A. F. & A. M., and 
his membership dates from the sealing of the char- 
ter, 1850. The family life of our subject has been 
marked by the harmony that has also pervaded his 
business relations. February 28, 1841, he was mar- 
ried to Miss Cynthia A. Sutlield, a native of Ilar- 
risburg, Kv.,and the half-century and a little more 
that they have passed together has been a shining 
testimony to inquirers that marriage is not alwa3'S 
a failure. Mr. and Mrs. La Bertew have been the 
parents of three children, two of whom are living, 
William A., and Addie, who is the wife of E. S. 
Van Anglin, of La Fayette County. In church re- 
lations, our subject and his wife are associated with 
the Baptist denomination of Dover. Their home 
is a pleasant residence, centrally located and with 
charming surroundings. 




LSl'P BROOKS LANE is a popular en- 
gineer on the Chicago cv Alton Road, hav- 
ing a run between Kansas City and Rood- 
house. There is no engineer quicker to 
grasp a point or to seize an opportunity to inform 
himself on any desired subject than he is. He is 
master of his trade, being not only thoroughly 
will "rounded in the workings of the monster of 
which he is master, but conversant with all tech- 
nical points. He has once, at least, run the gaunt- 
lei in the chances that a railroad man takes when 
embracing the profession. His engine was entirely 
demolished and he himself nearly killed. 

Mr. Lane was born in Hamilton, on the Fox 
River, in Wisconsin, October 11, 1851. He is a son 
of .1. IS. and Ann (Reynolds) Lane, the former a 
native of Ohio, and an early settler in Kenosha, 
Wis., near which town he owned a farm. Later 
he went to Hamilton, where he was employed as 



a stone mason and in teaming, and hauling goods 
between Ripon and Princeton. Afterward he lo- 
cated on a farm near Kenosha and followed the 
agricultural calling until he retired from active 
labor and took up his residence in the town of 
Kenosha, lie is an ardent Republican. 

Our subject's maternal grandfather was Owen 
Reynolds, a native of Wales, who came to the 
United States and located in Kenosha at an early 
day. The Lane family comprised six boys and 
one girl. The eldest brother was in the navy and 
belonged to the Mississippi Squadron. Our sub- 
ject is the second in order of birth and was reared 
on his father's farm. He enjoyed the advantages 
of a district school until thirteen years of age, and 
then started out in life for himself, being vari- 
ously employed until eighteen. 

For a time Mr. Lane was a telegrapher at Keno- 
sha, and later became a brakeman on a passenger 
tram between Kenosha and Chicago. Remaining 
thus employed for two years, at the end of that 
time he became a fireman on the Chicago & North- 
western Road and was thus employed for five years. 
He then entered upon a run between Chicago and 
Green Lay, keeping that for two years. Later he 
was promoted to a position as an engineer on the 
Chicago & Northwestern Railroad, being a switch 
engineer in Milwaukee, and then had a run from 
Chicago to Milwaukee and also from Chicago to 
Janesville. In 1881 he went to Montana and 
spent one delightful year in traveling and hunt- 
ing buffaloes and bears. 

On returning to Chicago our subject took a 
position on the Chicago & Alton road as engineer, 
with a route between Chicago and Braidwood. 
After a connection of six months, he went to 
Bloomington in the employ of the same road, and 
in September of 188.'! came to this division and 
located at Slater. He runs the engine that is 
known as the "first extra passenger." His magician 
of the silver rails is No. 221, and he has presided 
over its throttle for more than two years. It is a 
passenger engine, as the greater part of his engi- 
neering work has been on passenger trains. 

In ISM! Mr. Lane had an accident between 
Shackleford and Alt. Leonard. His engine struck 
some cattle on the track, ran over two of the an i- 



' 



% 



V 




y07tf^d^^t^ 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



54 1 



raals, and was then thrown from the track. In 
this accident the fireman was killed. In April of 
1890, a serious collision occurred between Laddonia 
and Farber, in which our subject was severely in- 
jured. His engine was completely wrecked and he 
only saved Ins life by jumping. The engine was 
rebuilt and is the one he now runs. 

Mr. Lane was married in Kenosha, Wis., July 
16, 1874, his bride being Miss Ella Reeve, who was 
born in Salem, of the same State, but reared and 
educated in the city where her marriage was sol- 
emnized. She is a daughter of S. P. Reeve, who 
is a carpenter there. Mr. and Mrs. Lane are the 
parents of two children, Adelhert and Ethel. Our 
subject belongs to the Brotherhood of Locomotive 
Engineers, being a member of the Eighth Division, 
and is also identified with the Brotherhood of 
Locomotive Firemen. In religious matters he is 
liberal and his wife is a Presbyterian. Mrs. Lane 
has made a very pleasant home for her husband 
and family, and is no small contributor to the so- 
cial harmony of the home locality. 



iii i 



ps^TROTHER RENICK. The man of s 
^^? ous impulses is a blessing to his co 
\/Jyi uity, even if at times his kindness 



TROTHER RENICK. The man of gener- 

commu- 

lesses aie 
misplaced. A frank manner and cheery 
disposition, with honesty of life, combine to 
make an individual popular among his associates. 
( >f Mr. Renick it may be said that he was a whole- 
souled man, generous to a fault, utterlj unselfish, 
modestly refusing' office, kindly giving counsel, 
and yet a leader of men, because they respected 
him and were glad to follow his wise and judicious 
directions. 

Our subject was the sou of William and Betsj 
(Renick) Renick, natives of Maryland, who re- 
moved to Kentucky and made their home in Barren 
County, near Glasgow. The father was born Sep- 
tember ,"), 1762. The grandfather was Samuel 
Renick, also a native of Maryland, where he died. 
The eight children born to William Renick and his 



27 



good wife have been called from earth. The father 
was a sincere and consistent member of the Cum- 
berland Presbyterian Church. His ancestors were 
Scotch-Irish people, some of whom took part in 
the Revolutionary struggle. 

Strother Renick was born in Barren County, 
Ky., January L9, 1804, and remained on a farm 
until fifteen years of age. In 1820 he removed 
to Missouri, following his father, who had come 
in 1819, and made a claim near the site of Wel- 
lington. In 1822, having attracted the attention 
of Gen. McRea, a man of means and enterprise, 
our subject was employed by the latter to take a 
small stock of good- on pack mules over the then 
trackless prairies to Mexico, known in those days 
as the -Spanish country." During this trip, while 
detained and snowbound on the banks of the Ar- 
kansas River, he attained the nineteenth annivers- 
ary of his birth, January 19,1823. Proving suc- 
cessful on this trading expedition, he returned to 
Missouri and afterward made several similar trips 
for himself. He was absenl on these expeditions 
to Mexico some six years in all, during which 
time he accumulated the money that laid the 
foundation of the large fortune afterward acquired. 
In this way he learned to speak the Spanish lan- 
guage with fluency, which knowledge was after- 
ward called into requisition by the Circuit Court, 
when he acted as interpreter in the trial of a Span- 
iard for murder at the Court House in the old 
town of Lexington. 

In November, L839, Mr. Renick married Miss 
Rebecca II. Livesay, daughter of Fountain ami 
Mary (Handly) Livesay, both natives of Virginia, 
the father being a fanner and blacksmith. In 
1833 the latter brought his family to Missouri and 
settled in Lexington. Nine years later, in 1842, he 
located on a farm one mile east of his first pur- 
chase, where he died at the age Of sixtv vcars. 
His widow survived him many years, dying when 
she was niuetv-two years old. 1 U ner religious 
belief she was a member Of the Old-school I'resbv- 

terian Church. They were the parents of eight 
children, four boys and four girls, three of whom 
are now living. Mrs. Renick was born March 18, 
1813, in Greenbrier County. Va., where she was 
reared and received a fairly good education. 



542 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



After his marriage Mr. Renick located on section 
25, township 50, range 2:». where he had purchased 
four hundred and eighty acres of school land, 
paying therefor $2 per acre. In addition to gen- 
eral farming, he operated as a trader of mules 
and horses in the South, and made trips there 
every other year. <>n his place he made a speci- 
alty of raising hemp, in which he was very suc- 
cessful. From time to time he added to his prop- 
erty until he became the owner of over two 
thousand acres of land, but sold off at various 
times, and at his death retained in his possession 
eight hundred and thirty-five acres. No children 
were born to this wedded pair, but, with gener- 
ous and noble impulse, they reared five little ones 
to maturity. The children of their adoption are: 
Mary R. Renick, wife of Samuel W. Creasey, and 
the mother of one child; C. R. died May 5, 
1867; Bettie Livesay is the wife of James W. 
Renick;" Joseph Lightner married Anna, daughter 
of John C. Handly, and they have four children: 
Florence R., Kittic 1!., Willie Belle and Strother 
R.; Belle Lightner, wife of William II. Poindex- 
ter, has eight children; and Kate Lightner, Mrs. 
II. II. Corbin, is the mother of two children. 

Our subject and his wife were both members of 
the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. lie be- 
came a very active worker in that society and 
gave more to churches than any other man in La 
Fayette County; in fact, lie aided all the large 
churches, as well as colleges, in this county. Dur- 
ing the Civil War he remained at home, declin- 
ing to take any active part in the conflict. His 
sympathies were with the South, and he was fre- 
quently threatened with injury because of his 
well-known sentiments. His kindness toward crea- 
tures in general is shown in the fact that his 
slaves, of which he owned many, positively re- 
fused to leave him and had to be taken away by 
force. lie was a decided loser by the war. his 
losses aggregating 130,000. After the war, and 
until his death, he was an active and influential 
member of the Democratic party, having been a 
very earnest member of the Whig party as long 
as it had an existence. Again and again did he 
positively refuse to accept office, which his admir- 
ing fellow-citizens sought to thrust upon him. 



Charitable to a fault, a friend to the cause of edu- 
cation, a leader whom the people were glad to 
follow, and friendly to all, he passed away De- 
cember 10, 1891, in the faith of the Cumberland 
Presbyterian Church. His remains lie buried in 
Arnold Cemetery, one and one-half miles east of 
his old home place. 



^-*-»~ 



JETER UPIIOl SF.,:i prominentand wealthy 
old settler and retired farmer of La Fayette 
County, Mo., was born in the province of 
| \ Westphalia, Germany, April 11, 1818, and 
is a son of Henry Uphouse, a native of Germany. 
a farmer of that country, and also a soldier of the 
War of 1814, who died there at the age of eighty- 
nine years. The mother of our subject was named 
Mary Horsmann, and she lived to the remarkable 
age of one hundred and five years, four months 
and fifteen days, and at the age of one hundred 
years was able to carry a pail of water with ease. 
On that day she celebrated her birthday, and peo- 
ple came from far and near to see a relic of those 
olden days. She reared six children: William, 
Emily, Peter, Harmon, Casper and Anna, and one 
child died when young. Both parents came to this 
country, and after becoming settled they joined 
with the Baptist denomination, as at that time 
their own church, the Lutheran, was very small. 
Our subject was reared and educated in the Old 
Country until he was fourteen years old, and came 
with his parents to this country in 1848. Two 
and one-half months were spent upon the ocean in 
the voyage, and the party endured many hardships 
upon the way. They landed at New Orleans, 
came up the river to St. Louis, and spent the win- 
ter there. The winter was very severe, and the 
river froze; there was no chance for any agricul- 
tural work until spring, and it was a case of neces- 
sity for them to remain. Our subject had 1150 in 
money when he settled at this place. Neighbors 
were two miles away, and no doubt he would very 
often have been a convert to the ancient faith 



TOETRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



543 



which kepi a vestal lamp burning, when, on the 
darkest and coldest of winter'mornings, he had to 
turn out Cora tramp of two miles to the nearest 
neighbor for some live coals to start the kitchen 
lire. 

Mr. Uphouse buill a Log cabin in the wilderness. 
In these late days it is the pleasure of the artistic 
cavilers of other less favored lands to declare that 
the architecture of America has sprung from the 
log hut. In a measure they may speak the truth, 
lint that unpretentious structure has been the germ 
of a series of woodland cottages, villas and retreats 
which arc not oniy comfortable, but at the same 
time are picturesque. It is not probable that the 
artistic side of the subject struck Mr. Uphouse 
when he erected his cozy cabin on the lonely 
prairie. Deer at that time were so plentiful that 
a part of his first year was spent in driving them 
from his corn, and one neighbor killed sixty- three 
in one season, and dried most of the meat. 

The nearest mills at that time required three or 
four days' travel to reach, and there the corn was 
ground into meal in a mortar made in the top of 
a stump. The nearest trading-station, when it was 
desirable or necessary to do a little shopping, was 
at Lexington, twenty- five miles away, and with no 
roads to follow, only Indian trails, and sometimes, 
in cases of freshet, streams to ford. In 18 411 Miss 
Catherine Westerhouse, a native of Germany, came 
to lie his wife and share his pioneer life. No chil- 
dren have been born of this marriage, but the 
warm hearts of our subject and his wife were 
opened to four orphan children, who have found 
a home at their hearth. Mrs. Uphouse died in 
1882, when she had reached the age Of sixty 
years. In 1888 Mr. Uphouse married a second 
time, in the month of May, and his wife was Mrs. 
Lena Winkleman, who had been married twice be- 
fore. She was horn in Germany, and had lived 
for eleven years in Liverpool, England, and came 
to the United Stales in 1881. 

Our subject settled upon his present farm before 
it became the site of a town. He bought firstone 
hundred and twenty acres, improved that, and 
then bought more, until now he has live hundred 
and twenty-five acres, all improved land. In 1881 
he retired from active life, and rents his lam). In 



former days he raised much stock, and his first wife 
sold $40 worth of butter per month, which was 
sent to St. Louis. In his political belief, Mr. I'p- 
house affiliates with the Democratic party. His 
wife belongs to the Baptist Church, while he is a 
member of the Methodist. They are highly re- 
garded citizens of the town of Concordia. 



eHARLES C WALLACE, now County Re- 
corder of La Fayette County, located in 
Lexington, Mo., was born in Woodford 
County, Ky., October 10. 1835. He was a son of 
Henry and Elizabeth (Carlyle) Wallace, the former 
a native of Kentuck3' and the latter of Virginia. 
Charles C, the youngest of a family of ten chil- 
dren, accompanied his parents to La Fayette County 
when eight years of age. His early education was' 
received in the subscription schools of his State, 
supplemented by attendance at the Masonic Col- 
lege in Lexington, the name of which now is Cen- 
tral Female College. 

When our subject closed his school life he began 
his business career by becoming a clerk in a general 
store, in which capacity he served until the break- 
ing out, of the Civil War. The clamor of war 
awoke in his heart an enthusiasm which resulted in 
his becoming a member of a Missouri company 
under Capt. II. A. Bledsoe, and serving as a Gun- 
Sergeant in his army under Gen. Price. For four 
years he faithfully performed his duty, enduring 
many hardships with heroism and having mam- 
narrow escapes from danger and death. For a 
time, he served under the noted Confederate Gen- 
erals Joe E. Johnston and .1. 15. Hood, and in Har- 
dee's Corps in Claiborne's Division, A.rmy of the 
Tennessee. 

After the war, Mr. Wallace returned to Lex- 
ington, where he clerked for differenl parties, 
as the ravages or war had left, him with lim- 
ited means. In his political opinions, he was r 
1 lemocrat, active in the ranks of the party, and in 



544 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



June, 1884, was elected City Register and Treas- 
urer for a term of two years; upon the expiration 
of this time he was re-elected, thus serving four 
years. In November, 1890,his election took place 
to the oilice of County Recorder for a term of four 
years, on the Democratic ticket, with a handsome 
majority. 

In June, 1874, Mr. Wallace was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Lizzie M. Kennedy, of Lexington, 
Mo. She was born in Kentucky, a daughter of 
George Kennedy, a resident of La Fayette County. 
Mr. and Mrs. Wallace have a family of six chil- 
dren, four boys and two girls, as follows: Bessie II., 
Charles ('., Jr., Lilburn, E. Carlyle, George K. and 
Margaret C. Both our subject and his wife have 
been members of the Baptist Church for a number 
of years, active in its interest and finding work 
within its walls. Mr. Wallace has become well 
known in the county for the efficient manner in 
which he has conducted the offices of the county, 
giving satisfaction to both parties, a very difficult 
feat to perform. 






^•J.** 1 * 






) AMES W. RENICK, a prosperous and en- 
ergetic farmer, located upon his homestead 
of one hundred and sixty acres, section 27, 
township 48, range 27, is one of the repre- 
sentative and progressive citizens of La Fayette 
County, and is the first Postmaster of Broadlands. 
A native of the State, and all his lifetime closely 
identified with the growth and advancement of 
La Fayette County, he was born near Wellington, 
( October 1, 1842. Our subject is a son of Andrew 
and Sabina (Livessay) Renick. Andrew Renick 
came to .Missouri from Virginia in 1835, and lo- 
cated near Wellington, and later, in 1842, settled 
upon section 34, township 48, range 27, and bought 
six hundred and seven acres of excellent land, 
which, with three hundred additional acres, he 
owned at the time of his death. He was attacked 
with the cholera while driving stock to St. Louis, 
and died at St. Charles in 1852. 



Andrew Renick was a successful agriculturist 
and stock-raiser, and was widely known as an en- 
ergetic and upright man. His wife survived him 
until 1874, and was a devoted mother to her fam- 
ily of three sons and five daughters, who were: 
William S., Robert F., James W., Mary R., Sarah 
I., Emma Y., Amanda S. and Josephine A. James 
\V.. our subject, received a common-school educa- 
tion, and, though not having yet attained his ma- 
jority, enlisted in the fall of 18(11 in the First 
Missouri Regiment, Company E, and gallantly 
participated in many of the most decisive battles 
of the Civil War. He took an active part in the 
engagements of Elkhorn, Corinth (Miss.). Yieks- 
burg, Baker's Creek, Grand Gulf, luka, Atlanta, 
Peach Tree Creek, Altoona (Mo.), Columbia and 
Franklin (Tenn.) 

Mr. Renick was almost continuously, during the 
entire period of his military service, at the front, 
and, constantly exposed to danger, received severe 
wounds. He was injured in the left arm at Cor- 
inth, and wounded in the right arm at Kenesaw 
Mountain, both of his arms having been broken. 
The last two battles in which our subject engaged 
were Mobile and Spanish Fort, and he was dis- 
charged from service in Mississippi in July, 1865, 
having with courage and fidelity given four years 
of his life to the dangers and privations of active 
warfare. Once again a civilian, Mr. Renick re- 
turned to agricultural duties, and now owns six 
hundred acres of fine land all in one body, with 
the exception of eighty acres of timber-land. 
Upon December S», 1875, our subject was united in 
marriage with Miss Sal lie A. Green well, who was 
born in Columbus, Johnson County, a daughter of 
Ralph and Nancy (Williams) Green well, who came 
to Missouri from Fa3'ette County, Ky., about 
1852, and who were highly regarded by their 
friends and neighbors. The happy home of Mr. 
and Mrs. Renick has been blessed by the birth 
of six children: Nannie S., William A., James R., 
Mary B., Robert L. and Clarence G. 

Our subject and his estimable wife are members 
of the Christian Church, and are numbered among 
the active workers and liberal supporters of that 
religious organization. Politically, Mr. Renick is 
a strong Democrat and ardent advocate of the 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



545 



party founded by the immortal Thomas Jefferson. 
Winning his way upward with honest energy and 
sterling integrity, he lias ever been a prominent 
promoter of all objects <>f enterprise and an advo- 
cate of educational advancement, and has liber- 
ally aided in local improvements, lie and his 
wife and family of bright, attractive young people 
are social favorites, and enjoy the confidence of a 
large circle of friends. 



» -=^§>*<I= 



-Vl I.KX W. LAUGH LIN, a prosperous agri- 
culturist, taught school in the early days, 
and has also served with efficient ability as 
v)j Justice of the Peace. He is now actively 

engaged in the cultivation of his valuable home- 
stead located in Washington Township, La Fayette 
Count3', Mo., and is well known and highly re- 
spected as an energetic, intelligent and upright citi- 
zen. Our subject was born March 8, 1840, in Coles 
County, III, and is the son of Harvey P. and Eliza 
M. K. (Newman) Laughlin. The paternal grand- 
father, Alex Laughlin, was a native of Tennessee, 
and a farmer by occupation, and bravely assisted 
the Government in the War of 1812. His wife 
was Miss Lavina King, a daughter of William 
King, owner of extensive salt works in West Vir- 
ginia. In 1833, Grandfather and Grandmother 
Laughlin moved to Coles County, 111., and later 
both husband and wife passed away in Jefferson 
County, Iowa. They were members of the Cum- 
berland Presbyterian Church, and devoted Chris- 
tian people, who were highly regarded by all who 
knew them. 

The sons and daughters who gathered around the 
family hearth were William, John. Harvey, Alex, 
Jonathan, Mary, Virginia, Amanda. Evaline and 
Melvina, and all were trained to religious observ- 
ance, their father having been in the early part of bis 
life an Elder in the Old-school Presbyterian Church. 
Great-grandfather Laughlin was born in Ireland, 
but early emigrating to this country, married a 
German lady, and thus bequeathed to his descend- 



ants the virtues of both nationalities. The father 
of our subject was born in the Tennessee home- 
stead, and, locating with his parents in Illinois, re- 
moved with them later to Jefferson County, Iowa, 
and with his wife, who was born in Tennessee, 
made his permanent home in this latter State. The 
eight children who blessed their home were Alex 
W.; William M., who served in the Thirtieth Iowa 
Infantry; Thomas S., Floyd K., Sarah J.. Margaret 
L., Mary ('. and Blanche L. 

Alex, the eldest of the family and our subject. 
was reared upon a farm, and received instruction 
in the district and select schools. At eighteen 
years of age, he began life for himself, teaching in 
the winter schools and during the fall for about 
twenty terms, at the same time farming upon his 
father's homestead. In 1806, he with his two 
brothers bought, unc hundred and fifty-five acres in 
Iowa. In 1888, .Mr. Laughlin removed to Saline 
County, where he raised a crop, and in the same fall 
came to his present location, settling upon eighty 
acres, to which he has since added, now owning 
one hundred and fifty-seven acres. Our subject 
served bravely in the Federal army, enlisting 
April 4, 1862, in Company I, Seventeenth Iowa In- 
fantry, and participated in the siege of Corinth, bat- 
tles of Iuka, Corinth, Port Gibson, Jackson, Cham- 
pion Hill, siege of Vickburg, Chattanooga, and 
Missionary Ridge, and was stationed at Tilton. ( .a.. 
where he was captured in October, 1864. and sent 
to Anderson ville, Cahaba and Lawton.Ga. He was 
discharged in 1865 from Andersonville, and re- 
turned to his home after years of danger and pri- 
vation, and after experiencing the full horror of 
being captured and held a prisoner of war. 

Entering the service of the Government a private, 
Mr. Laughlin received well-deserved promotion, 
first being detailed as Orderly, then made Third 
Sergeant, later made First Sergeant, then Sergeant- 
Major, and though giving three years of faithful 
service and almost constantly at the front, es- 
caped even a slight wound. Our subject has been 
twice married. His first wife was Elvira J. Lyons, 
daughter of David and Mary Lyons. This esti- 
mable lady died in 1875, leaving a family of five 
children, four of whom lived to mature years: 
Myrtle M., married to Mr. Hoc: Lillian C. Alden 



546 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



II. and Warren L. The second wife, Sarah M., is 
the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Whitaker, 

natives of England, as is also their daughter, Mrs. 
Laughlin. The maiden name of Mrs. Wliitaker was 
Jane Wood. This well-known and highly respected 
lady is the mother of one child, a daughter, Ruth. 
Our . subject and his present wife have been ac- 
tively connected with the Cumberland Presbyterian 
Church, he being an Elder. The first Mrs. Laugh- 
lin was also actively connected with that church. 
Fraternally, Mr. Laughlin isan honored member of 
the Ancient Free & Accepted Masons and takes an 
active interest in politics, both national and local. 
A firm supporter of educational advancement, and 
desirous to assist in the promotion of the best in- 
terests of the community, our subject is justly 
ranked among the public-spirited and progressive 
citizens of to-day. 



*=*=4 y 



~RANK M.GRAY. A half-century ago the 

PGray family, which was then located in 
Marion County, this State, was made happy 
by the advent of a son and heir, who is the subject 
of this sketch and now a resident of township 49, 
range 26. He is the son of the Rev. Fincelius R. 
and Margaret (Ferguson) Gray, the former a na- 
tive of Kentucky, who emigrated with his father 
to this State in the '30s. 

After remaining for a time in Missouri our sub- 
ject's father returned to Kentucky and there made 
his home until 1859, when he came back to Mis- 
souri and settled on a farm in La Fayette County, 
whereon our subject now lives. He there died, 
August 17, 1890. lie was one of the pioneers of 
this Locality, having settled in the woods when the 
country was unbroken by roads. Being so iden- 
tified with the early growth of this region, he 
knew and was known by all the settlers hereabout. 
He was the father of eight children, four of whom 
are now living: Leticia; Mary A., who is the wife 
of J. P. Bear; Susan C. and Frank M. Fincelius 



Gray was a minister in the Presbyterian Church 
and an organizer of churches of that denomination 
in this locality, and when a resident of Northern 
Missouri he was one of the first preachers to min- 
ister to the people in that part of the country. 
He was at one time identified with the Odd Fel- 
lows' Society. In his death the country lost one 
of its representative and best citizens. His wife 
departed this life in the year L851. Frank M. 
Gray grew up in this locality where he now lives. 
He acquired his education under the supervi- 
sion of his father, who was a scholarly man. As 
was the custom in his youth, he was brought up to 
think more of the man who worked than of the 
one who lived in idleness, and was well drilled in 
agricultural duties. He was married September 3, 
1872, to Miss Martha E. Gray, a native of Ken- 
tucky and a daughter of James and Mary Gray. 
By this union there have been born five children, 
whose names are Cathline, Florence, James, Fan- 
nie and Fincelius. 

Our subject is the owner of one hundred and 
twenty acres of land, which he has himself devel- 
oped. Politically he is a Democrat, and although 
he has no aspiration for public office the interests 
of the country lie close to his heart. He is a man 
whose standard of honor and culture is high, 
and, living with this constantly in view, his own 
character has ever approached his ideal. 



~^MH 



- 



H 




ON. ELISHA M. EDWARDS, the well- 
known, energetic and enterprising lawyer 
and ex-State Senator, of Waverly, was born 
in Cabell County, W. Va., January 26, 
1823, but for more than a half-century has been 
closely identified with the prominent and growing 
interests of La Fayette County, Mo., and has held 
various official positions of trust in his adopted 
State. The father of our subject, Joseph Edwards, 
was a native of Pennsylvania, and the paternal 
grandfather, Edward Edwards, was also born in 
the Quaker State. The mother of Elisha M. Ed- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



547 



wards was Sara McComas, who was a descendant 
of the McComas family who settled in Virginia in 
1620. The Edwards are of Welsh ancestry, and 

inherit the sturdy virtues of their forefathers. 

Mr. Edwards remained in West. Virginia until 
he was seven years old, when he removed with his 
parent- to Kentucky, where he received an educa- 
tion in the private schools and passed his youth. 
Arriving at an age when he desired to be self-sus- 
taining, our subject learned the tailor's trade, in 
which he found ready employment, and at the 
same time ambitiously read law. Determined to 
try his fortunes in a new home, Mr. Edwards came 
to Missouri, and upon November 2, 1839, made 
his home in Johnson County and engaged in busi- 
ness as a tailor, though he also continued the study 
of law. In 1861, our subject was admitted to the 
Bar, and began the practice of law in Waverly, Mo. 

In 1857 Mr. Edwards received the appointment 
of Postmaster of Waverly, and held the position 
for one year, when he resigned. Our subject, as- 
sisted by Charles II. Collins, of Waverly, drafted 
the charter for the incorporation of Waverly, which 
charter was approved and accepted December 23, 
1859. Mr. Edwards was one of the first Aldermen 
of the city of Waverly, and also ably occupied the 
Mayor's Chair for four years, materially aiding 
by his excellent counsel in the progress and local 
improvements of his home city. In 1876, Mr. Ed- 
wards was elected to the Missouri Senate, efficiently 
serving a term of four years, and was rewarded by 
his constituents with a re-election in 1880. Since 
1884 our subject has devoted himself to his excel- 
lent legal business, but is still active in politics 
and was a delegate to the two last Democratic Slate 
Conventions, where, by convincing logic and sound 
argument, he successfully sustained the wishes of 
his political friends and neighbors. 

Fraternally, Mr. Edwards has, since 1849, been 
a member of Waverly Lodge No. 61, A. F. & 
A. M. In 1849 he was united in marriage with 
Miss Mary 15.. daughter of Peter F. Lyons, a native 
of Kentucky. By this estimable lady our subject 
had eleven children, of whom but one child, a son, 
now survives, (i. W. II. Edwards. In May, L871, 
Mr. Edwards married his present wife, then Mrs. 
Frances R. Berryman, a daughter of R. F. Rollins, 



a native of Kentucky. < )f the three children whose 
presence has blessed the pleasant home of Mr. and 
Mrs. Edwards, one only is living, Frank R., who 
attended Wentworth Military Academy, at Lexing- 
ton, Mo., and St. Benedict College, in Atchison, 
Kan., for two years. This son, now in the dawn 
of early manhood, gives promise of a bright and 
successful career. 

Mr. and Mrs. Edwards are among the valued 
and honored members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church South, and are ever active in the good 
works and various enterprises of that denomina- 
tion. Our subject owns fine farming property, 
and is extensively and profitably interested in 
agricultural pursuits. His legal duties, however, 
occupy the most of his time, and aside from a large 
private practice, he is, and has been, City Attorney 
for the past six years. For one year he was also local 
attorney for the Missouri Pacific Railroad on the 
Boonville Branch. An upright, useful and honored 
citizen, always interested in progress and reform, 
Mr. Edwards has ever wielded a powerful inlluence 
in behalf of right and justice, and has won a high 
place in the esteem and confidence of all who 
know him. 



* 



ijB_ 






i 



j 



'JlJ OI1N R. SMITH, an honored and represen- 
tative citizen of La Fayette County, Mo., 
residing upon his farm located on section 
1, township 49, range 27, was born in War- 
ren County, Ohio, June 3, 1840. He is a son of 
Hugh and Sarah (Rogers) Smith, the former a na- 
tive of Maine, and the latter of New Jersey. This 
worthy couple were early settlers of Warren 
County, and both died in the year I860, in that 
State. John was reared to manhood in his native 
county, early learning the duties of farm life, and 
receiving his education in the public schools of 
Warren County. Upon the breaking out of the 
Civil War, Mr. Smith hastened to place his name 
among those ready to defend their country's tlag, 
and in the summer of 1861 became a member of 



548 



PORTRAIT ANT BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Company A, Thirty-fifth Ohio Infantry, and was 
assigned to duty in the army of the Cumberland, 
(hiring his service being under the distinguished 
Generals, Thomas, Rosecrans and Buell. 

That our subject became acquainted with the 
horrors and honors of war may be inferred when 
it is known thai he took part in the fearful battles 
of Perryville, Corinth. Chickamauga, missionary 
Ridge, Kenesaw Mountain and the siege of Atlanta. 
At this time his term of service expired, and he 
was discharged in Louisville. Ky.. in September, 
1864. He returned at once to Ohio, and in the 
fall of 1865 came to La Fayette County. Mo. The 
class of settlers who had preceded him to this 
county promised to become the best of citizens. 
therefore Mr. Smith decided to locate permanently 
here. His first settlement was made in Lexington 
Township, where he remained until 1881, when he 
located upon his present farm, where he has suc- 
ceeded in developing the land until the place is 
considered second to none in Ihe county. 

In this desirable part of the county Mr. Smith 
Owns three hundred ami fifty acres of land, so well 
improved that the stranger need wander no far- 
ther to decide upon the capabilities of the soil of 
La Fayette County. His buildings, fences, or- 
chards and farm implements are such as might be 
expected upon a place of this kind. The marriage 
of Mr. Smith took place June 1". 1870, when Miss 
Aniri Ferguson became hi- happy wife. She was 
born in Adams County, Miss., a daughter of Will- 
iam 1. and Elizabeth (Brabston) Ferguson, the 
former a native of Frankfort, Ky.. and the latter 
of Mississippi, the ancestors of the families having 
come to America from Scotland and Wales. In 
1850 William Ferguson migrated from Mississippi 
to Missouri, settling upon the farm where our sub- 
ject now resides, and was an early settler in the 
county. His demise occurred here December 20, 
1876, his wife surviving him until May 20, 1889. 

Mrs. Smith is not the only one of her family 
now living, as her brothers and sisters are yet left, 
and are well known and respected in their several 

neighbor! Is. They are as follows: Dr. .lames 

Ferguson, of Mayview, Mo.: William, a resident of 
Vernon County, Mo.; Alice, the wife of Dr. S. 
Ilardman. of Kansas City, Mo.: and Clifton, a 



resident of Jackson, Miss. William Ferguson was 
one of the best-known men of this locality during 
life, and left to his family a spotless name and the 
record of a life of good deeds. In the Old-school 
Presbyterian Church he was a valued member, his 
walk in life agreeing with his profession. In his 
political feelings Mr. Ferguson was a Democrat, 
aud when he died La Fayette County lost one of 
her strongest citizens. 

Mr. and Mrs. Smith have an interesting family, 
only one of whom, Ltinsford, has been taken out 
of the family circle. The remaining five arc as 
follows: Hugh, Grace. Clifton, Roger and Laur- 
ence. Both Mr. Smith and his excellent wife are 
active members of the Missionary Baptist Church. 
and in its communion and services they find a 
broad field for influence and work. In his politi- 
cal faith Mr. Smith is a Republican, as earnest in 
that body as in all of the affairs of life. 



• FY. GEORGE W. HYDE, a prominent and 
C influential resident of Lexington. Mo., was 
V bom in Chaucellorsville, Spottsylvania 
County, Va.. March 25, 1838, a son of 
Richard and Eliza D. Hyde. The grandfather 
Hyde was of English birth, and during his life 
made frequent visits to his native country. The 
family traces its descent to Edward Hyde, Earl of 
Clarendon, in honor of whom the celebrated Hyde 
Park in England was named. The father of our 
subject removed to Chariton County, Mo., in 1839, 
and there reared a family of eight sons and one 
daughter. Both he and his wife were valued mem- 
of the Old-school Presbyterian Church. 

Our subject was but one year old when his 
parents came to Missouri and settled near Keytcs- 
ville, where he was reared. Mr. Hyde was 
converted at Keytesville, and connected himself 
with the Baptist Church there in May, 1853, and 
he has continued a faithful member of that de- 
nomination ever since. After his conversion he 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



549 



felt called upon to enter the ministry, and in pur- 
suance of this idea entered the Missouri Univer- 
sity in September, 1855, where, after taking a full 
course, he graduated in July, 1859. The follow- 
ing October lie entered the Southern Baptist Theo- 
logical Seminary, then located a1 Greenville, S. C, 
where he took the full course, graduating there- 
from in May, 1862. He was the only student 
from Missouri in this seminary until it was closed 
during the war. While a student there he held 
his membership in the Columbia Baptist Church, 
and was made Superintendent of its Sunday- 
school, and was licensed to preach by the same. 
Our subject was ordained at the l'eterville Church, 
Powhatan County, Va., in August, 1863, 

From 1862 to 1865 Mr. Hyde preached at a 
military post in Powhatan County, Ya.. called 
Huguenot Springs, the Rev. J. B. Jeter having 
procured him a Chaplaincy in the Confederate army. 
At this place his labors were much blessed, many 
of the soldiers professing com ersion and being bap- 
tized, and it was during this period of his life thai 
he was ordained to the full work of the ministry. 
After the war Mr. Hyde returned to Missouri, and 
in September, 1866, engaged in an agency for the 
Sunday-school Board of the Southern Baptist Con- 
vention, and prosecuted this work for some time. 
In October, 1867. he married Mi-- Anna, the only 
child of Judge B. C. Clark, of Cooper County, 
Mo., but she died in July, 187m, having been the 
mother of four children, and in March. 188(1. our 
subject married Mrs. E. G. Garnett, of Dover. 

Rev. Mr. Hyde spent one year as pastor of the 
churches at Keytesville and Brunswick, but the 
greater part of his ministerial life has been spent 
with the churches at Mt. Nebo, Concord, Mt. Her- 
man and Boonville, all in Cooper County, and for 
many years in the Concord Association. Mr. Hyde 
has twice been agent of William Jewell College, 
and for one year was one of the general mission- 
aries of the General Association. He w.a- one of 
the original eight who founded the Jeremiah 
Vardeman School of Theology in William Jewell 
College, for which purpose he gave $5,000, and 
beholds the position of Visitor to the Vardeman 
School. For twenty-two years he has been a mem- 
ber of the Board of Trustees of the college, and 



for eight years has held the honorable position of 
Curator of Stephens' College; he is also a Trustee 
of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. 
While a student at Greenville, S. C, he superin- 
tended a large colored Sunday-school, which met 
Sunday afternoons in the gallery of the Baptist 
Church. In this work he was seconded by the 
church, and had for teachers some of the best 
students in the seminary. While in attendance 
upon the meeting of the Southern Baptist Con- 
vention at Greenville, in May, 1882, Mr. Hyde 
met a colored man who was then, and is now, a 
member of the Sunday-school, who said, "Thank 
God I see you, my brother! Those were golden 
seeds you sowed among us, and they have yielded 
a blessed harvest." 

For a number of years our subject has been a 
member of the Board of Trustees of the Baptist 
Female College, at Lexington, Mo., and served as 
its President for a period of eight years. In 1890 
the William Jewell College conferred upon him 
the degree of Doctor of Divinity. For five years 
he was assistant corresponding secretary under Dr. 
W. Pope Yeaman, Corresponding Secretary of the 
General Association of the State of Missouri, after 
which he organized and conducted the work of 
the Home Mission Board of the Southern Baptist 
Convention for about six years, being so success- 
ful m his labors that he turned over to the Board 
a large amount of money. At present he is the 
General Agent for the Missouri Baptist Sanitarium, 
located in St. Louis, and for several years he has 
served with efficiency as Vice-President for Mis- 
souri of the Home Mission Board of the Southern 
Baptist Convention. 



OSEPH SCHIESZER, a successful general 
agriculturist and an energetic citizen of Sa- 
line County, is pleasantly located in town- 
'\^J : ship 5(1, range 19, upon what was formerly 
known as the Hardeman place, near the Hardeman 
post-office. Our subject was born on the banks of 



550 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



the Rhine, in Wurtemberg, March 14, 1832. His 
father, Anthony Schieszer, was born in Wurtom- 
berg, where lie passed his entire life. Joseph 
Schieszer was the eldest of nine children, all of 
whom remained in Germany but himself. Heemi- 
grated to America when only nineteen years old, 
and, landing in New York June 2, 1851, found 
himself a stranger in a strange land. 

Willing to accept any respectable work, our 
subject was variously employed, although princi- 
pally engaged in railroad work, and in a brief 
time had journeyed through nineteen States, 
tramping on foot over much of Ohio, Indiana, 
Tennessee, Kentucky and Minnesota. He was en- 
gaged in the construction of the Illinois Central 
Railroad from the time the first spadeful of soil was 
turned, and also worked on the Missouri Pacific, 
when its construction was begun at St. Louis. In 
1857, he settled on land in Minnesota, and experi- 
enced the privations and dangers incidental to life 
on the frontier, surrounded by Indians, hostile to 
the advance of civilization. In 18C1, our subject, 
having been deprived of his wife by death, rented 
his farm and stock, and took his little daughter to 
Chicago. 

During the temporary residence of Mr. Schieszer 
in the Garden Citj', the Indians rose en masse and 
committed the fearful massacres and terrible atro- 
cities which destroyed so many homes and lives 
of men, women and children in the remote parts 
of Minnesota. While the absence of our subject 
and his child from their former home mercifully 
preserved their lives, Mr. Schieszer lost all of his 
property but the bare land itself, — house, barns, 
stock and farming implements, all were destroyed, 
and of the labor and accumulation of years, noth- 
ing was left, save the desolated acres, whose 
abundant crop was also a total loss. After remain- 
ing in Chicago about one month, our subject went 
lo St. Louis. Mo., and for the succeeding twenty 
years made that city his home, or perhaps we 
should say his headquarters, as during a greater 
portion of this time he was engaged in teaming 
and business which necessitated frequent absences 
from the city. 

Mr. Schieszer was in the service of the Federal 
Government daring the Civil War, and was en- 



gaged on board supply boats, on the Mississippi, 
Ohio, Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers. He was 
present at the taking of Yicksburg, and was an 
eye-witness of many thrilling and historical scenes 
of those exciting days in our national existence. 
In March, 1880, he removed to his present loca- 
tion, and purchased about two hundred acres of 
1 land — the old Hardeman farm. Here he prosper- 
ously devoted himself to the duties of general 
agriculture, and, identifying himself with all the 
best interests of his new home, has won the respect 
of the community, to whom he is well known as 
an honest, industrious and law-abiding citizen. 

Our subject has been married three times, enter- 
ing into the bonds of wedlock first with Miss Car- 
oline Ostwold in 1856. His second wife, whom 
he married in 1865, was Miss Agnes Gardiner. Sep- 
tember 7, 1870, he was united iu matrimony with 
Mrs. Barbara Keller, his present wife. The chil- 
dren of the second marriage are: Frank, Joseph, 
John and Katie; the daughter and sons of the last 
union are Annie, Robert, Matthew, Edward and 
Lawrence. The maiden name of Mrs. Schieszer 
was Barbara Witt, and she has by her first marriage 
two children, Frederick and Michael Keller. The 
intelligent sons and daughters of Mr. and Mrs. 
Schieszer are taking place among the useful and 
respected citizens of our great republic, and enjoy 
the esteem of a large circle of friends and acquaint- 
ances. 



^*MM^§- 



yilLLIAM EVERT, a prominent and pro- 
gressive citizen of Concordia, La Fayette 
Wy/ Count}', and a member of one of the fam- 
ilies who first settled in Freedom Township, is the 
subject of this notice. He was born here Novem- 
ber 30, 1849. His father, Louis, was a native of 
Germany, having been born in the province of 
Hanover, at which place he was reared to agricul- 
tural life and there married. Like many others, 
he became tired of the hard life in the contracted 
space which falls to the lot of the German farmer 
in the closely settled portions of the Fatherland, 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



55 I 



and eagerly drank in the wonderful tales of the 
great green prairies of the Western World which 
were waiting for settlers. Consequently, in 1829, 
he set sail from Germany, and after thirteen long 
and weary weeks he landed upon American soil 
in the city of New Orleans, whence he came up the 
mightj .Mississippi and landed in Lexington. 

Our subject's father was not long in entering 
four hundred acres of tine land, and settled in the 
place when his only neighbor was also a German. 
The log cabin which Mr. Evert erected at that 
time stood until 1S44, when he was able to replace 
it with the comfortable house which sheltered him 
in his old age. One of the most American feat- 
ures of the new home was the visits of the cop- 
per-colored savages who were not slow in making 
their appearance at the doors of the settlers" 
cabins. All trading was done at Lexington, 
though later Waverly offered the same facilities. 
(Tame was abundant, and until the appetite palled, 
the venison was a welcome addition to a not very 
varied bill of fare. 

Mr. Evert developed a large tract of land and 
died here at the age of sixty-eight years. He had 
married Dorothea Rade, who was born in Hanover 
also, and she became the mother of three boys and 
one girl. Their names are: Christiana. Fritz, 
Louis and William. Loth Mr. and Mrs. Evert 
were consistent and pious members of the Evangel- 
ical Church, and it was through their instrument- 
ality that the present church was erected in 1854. 
She is still living and quite active at the age of 
seventy-eight. 

Our subject was reared upon the farm and at- 
tended both English and German schools. The 
first of these temples of learning were made of 
logs, and were perfect in nothing but ventilation. 
The slab benches were like those of all the pio- 
neer schoolhouses, and the teachers were often as 
primitive as the houses. They often appeared to 
be of the opinion that their powers were unlim- 
ited, and proceeded to improve the manners and 
tempers of their pupils as well as to enlighten their 
understandings. 

July 4, 1868, Mr. Evert married Miss Chris- 
tiana Meyer, who was born in Saline County, Mo., 
and eight children have been added to the family 



in the years that have followed, though onl\ six 
of them are yet living. The children were named 
as follows: Otto, Lizzie, Amelia (deceased), Rachel, 

Laura, Henry (deceased). William and Anna. Mr. 
Evert settled upon his present farm after his mar- 
riage, and there was then not much improvement 
on the place except a log house. There were only 
one hundred and fifty acres in the place, but now 
he has two hundred and fifteen acres and all are 
finely improved, and this work he has done him- 
self, lie carries on stock and grain farming, and 
buj'S hogs and cattle, which he ships to Kansas City. 
Mr. Evert and his good wife are members of 
the St. John Evangelical Church. In politics, he 
was for long a Republican, but has lately been 
converted to the principles enunciated by the Peo- 
ple's party, and has become a member of the 
Farmers' Alliance. Mr. Evert has seen most of 
the growth of the county, and is a man of much 
prominence here. 



^sfE 



EI^M- 



ffiOHN CATRON, for over three-score years 
and ten a continuous and honored resident 
^=J i of La Fayette County, Mo., and a lifetime 
'\^/' and prosperous agriculturist of Lexington 
Township, located upon ranges 26 and 27, town- 
ship 50, has but a faint remembrance of his early 
home in White County, Tenn., where he was born 
February 211, IS 12. Having removed with his 
parents to Missouri when but five years old, the 
associations of his entire life are interwoven with 
the scenes and incidents, the progress and improve- 
ments of his adopted state. Our subject is de- 
scended upon the paternal side from German an- 
cestry, while his mother's forefathers were sturdy 
Welshmen. Grandfather Jacob Catron was born 
and bred in the Fatherland, but came to America 
and made his home in Virginia, where he reared 
his family. 

John Catron is a son of Christopher and Eu- 
phemie (Jones) Catron, for a long time resi- 
dents of Mis. Catron's native state. Tennessee, 



552 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



where her husband was a prosperous farmer; 
but Christopher Catron was born in Grayson 
County, Va., and in the old Dominion received 
the rudimentary education which the schools of 
those early days afforded. Mr. and Mrs. Chris- 
topher Cation removed with their family to the 
Territory of Missouri, and located in Saline 
County, where they remained one year, but early 
in the fall of 1818 made their permanent home in 
La Fayette County, which was formerly Lillard 
County. SO named in honor of an early settler, who 
was a member of the convention that formed the 
Constitution of the State. The latter became dis- 
satisfied and moved back to Tennessee and wrote 
an unfavorable account of Missouri, and the people 
changed the name of the county to La Fayette. 
Settling' upon a farm, our subject's parents experi- 
enced all the privations and discomforts of pio- 
neer life, but, energetic, industrious and enterpris- 
ing, they aided their neighbors to la3 - the broad 
foundation of the future State of Missouri, which, 
however, did not arrive at the full dignity of 
Statehood until three years after the Cations came 
within the borders of La Fayette County. 

Our subject attended the little subscription school 
at a very tender age, but brief was his school- 
ing, for his father died August 19, 1819, when our 
subject was only seven years old, and he was even 
then compelled to assist his widowed mother to 
the best of his ability, lie was the third of five 
children, and as the two younger were naturally 
unable to do anything for their own support, John, 
child as he was, was obliged to begin the struggle 
of life. In 1828, he was apprenticed to a brick- 
layer, and, working steadily two years, acquired the 
trade, but since that time he has engaged in the 
duties of agriculture, which he has made a profit- 
able occupation, and from the tilling of the soil 
and stock-raising lias amassed a competence. His 
valuable farm of five hundred and thirty acres is 
desirably located, and over four hundred and fifty 
acres are under a high state of improvement. 

In 1833 Mi" Mary A. Fletcher, a most estimable 
lady and a native of Virginia, became the wife of 
our subject. She is a (laughter of James Fletcher, 
a native of Virginia, who settled in La Fayette 
County in the year 1818, and continued his resi- 



dence in this portion of Missouri until his death, 
in 1860. Mr. Fletcher was an excellent citizen 
and a good friend, and his death was most sincerely 
mourned as a public loss. The home of Mr. and 
Mrs. Catron has beeu blessed by the birth of 
eight children, seven of whom are yet living. 
These sons and daughters are: George M., James 
F.. Thomas B.; Elizabeth, the wife of James A. 
Gordon, a successful business man of Marshall. Sa- 
line County, Mo.; Carry, married to Jesse Nave, 
who lives in Bates County, Mo.; John, a resident 
well known in Henry County, Mo., his present 
home; and Mary Jane, the widow of John P. Good- 
son. The various members of the family are im- 
portant factors in the social and business elements 
of their several localities, and enjoy the confidence 
and esteem of their friends and fellow-citizens. 

Always a leading promoter in the many inter- 
ests of his home neighborhood and vicinity, Mr. 
Catron has been content to accomplish what he 
could of good quietly and unostentatiously, and 
has never aspired to official positions or honors. 
Although he is not a politician in the common ac- 
ceptation of the term, he is an ardent and lifelong 
Democrat, and enjoys the success and triumphs of 
his party, desiring always that in both local and 
national issues the best men for the place shall 
head the ticket. Our subject's father had the first 
twenty-seven acres of prairie broken in the county. 
and had the first shingles made and the first plank 
sawed in the county. 



"*- 



cf^p^HOMAS R. LANDRUM, a leading business 
«f»§§^ man and a well-known dealer in saddles. 
^jsg? harness, and farming implements, enjoys an 
excellent and rapidly extending trade in Waverly 
and the surrounding country of La Fayette 
County, Mo. Our subject came to Waverly about 
a score of years ago, and with intelligent energy 
and ambition, identified himself with the growing 
and important interests of his home and county. 
and well merits the esteem and confidence be- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



553 



.stowed upon him by the residents of the nourish- 
ing city. Mr. Landrum is a native of Campbell 
County, Va., and was born in 1849. His father, 
J. J. Landrum, was also a native Virginian, and 
passed the entire early portion of his life in the 
Old Dominion, having received his education and 
formed his family ties there. 

The mother of our subject was Mary C. Lan- 
drum, a daughter of Richard Landrum, also a resi- 
dent of the Sunny South. The paternal grand- 
father, Burton Landrum, was widely known in 
Virginia, and was esteemed as an -honorable and 
upright citizen. Our subject remained in his 
early home throughout his boyhood, and attended 
the common schools, and assisted his father in the 
daily round of duty. At the age of eighteen 
years he self-reliantly began to prepare himself for 
the active work of life, and learned the carriage- 
maker's trade, immediately receiving ready and 
profitable employment, in which he engaged for 
several succeeding years. In 1873 Mr. Landrum 
made his home in Waverly, and here worked ui a 
wagon and carriage manufactory up to 1889. 

In the latter year our subject devoted himself 
to his present business, and handles a complete line 
of farming implements, wagons, saddles and har- 
ness. Thoroughly understanding the details of 
his business, and carrying a fine stock, second to 
none in this locality, Mr. Landrum has succeeded 
beyond his most sanguine expectations, and is 
still further extending his trade into the adjoining 
neighborhoods of the county. In 1883 our sub- 
ject was united in marriage with Miss Nannie 
Wakefield, a lady of worth, and highly esteemed 
by a widening circle of friends and acquaintances. 
The commodious and pleasant home of Mr. and 
Mis. Landrum has been blessed by the birth of 
one son, Hugh C. Landrum, a boy of promise and 
ability, and one daughter, Mary Marguerite. 

Mr. and Mrs. Landrum have long been members 
of the Christian Church, and are valued as earnest 
laborers in the work and benevolent enterprises of 
that religious organization, and are ever read] to 
assist in any good cause which presents itself to 
their notice. Fraternally our subject is a member 
of Waverly Lodge No. 61, A. F. & A. M., and is also 
associated in active membership with Waverly 



Lodge, A. O. U. W. In political affiliations Mr. 
Landrum is a prominent Democrat, deeply inter- 
ested in the success of his party and the manage- 
ment of national and local affairs, but he has never 
been an office-seeker, and is content to do his 
duty, as an humble and faithful American citizen, 
at the [mils. A man of sterling integrity of char- 
acter, public-spirited and progressive, our subject 
has materially aided in the best interests of Wav- 
erly. and in the city and throughout the county 
has a host of friends and well-wishers. 



ffiOHN B. BURBRIDGE, M. D. Residing in 
I the town of Dover, La Fayette County, few 
//^sa I are better known than our subject, who, 
<$§£jJ having been a prominent physician of this 
locality, has now retired from the practice of his 
profession and gives himself up to the social en- 
joyment derived from meeting his old friends. 
Dr. Burbridge was born in Clarke County, Ky., 
March 10, 182G. lie is the son of Thomas and 
Elizabeth (Ferguson) Burbridge, the former of 
Virginia and the latter of Kentucky. The pater- 
nal grandsire was Litchfield Burbridge, a native of 
Spottsylvania, Va.. and a soldier in the Revolu- 
tionary War. The maternal grandfather was 
Nathan Ferguson, a resident of Kentucky. 

Dr. Burbridge passed his boyhood in his native 
State and county. He attended the public school 
and helped his father on the farm. At the age of 
sixteen he became a student, in Bacon College, at 
Harrisburg. Va., and there pursued his studies for 
two years. He then entered Transylvania Col- 
lege, which was and is still located at Lexing- 
ton, Ky. There he remained four years and in 
1847 completed the medical course and received 
his diploma. That same year he began the prac- 
tice of his profession in Garrard County. Ky., but 
continued it for only a year. 

Preferring the life of a country gentleman, Dr. 
Burbridge took up farming in Shelby County, and 
remained there until I860, at which time he re- 



.-,.-, I 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



moved to La Fayette County, Mo., and settled on 
a farm. lie lias carried on general farming until 
the present time. He has a good farm comprising 
two hundred acres, which is all under cultivation 
and well improved. 

Our subject's first marriage took place May 11. 
1848, the lady of his choice being Miss Emma 
Buchanan. She presented him with five daughters, 
four of whom are living. They are: Mart, Eliza- 
beth, Sallie and Emma. Mrs. Emma Burbridge 
died May 6, 187."), and September 19, 1876, the 
Doctor was united to his present wife, who was 
Miss Emma Ililyard, a resident of La Fayette 
but born in Kentucky. Dr. and Mrs. Burbridge are 
both devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church South. They have a pleasant and com- 
fortable home in Dover, and, surrounded by con- 
genial friends, are passing in comfort their declin- 
ing years. 



~N IIILI1' F. AYRES, a leading and reprcsenta- 
) tive citizen of La Fayette County, occupies 

•S a pleasant home in township 49. range 26. 
There, upon a fine farm of four hundred 
and sixteen acres of land, which he has brought 
to its present state of perfect cultivation, he enjoys 
the life of a successful agriculturist of the great 
State of Missouri. The birth of Mr. Ayres took 
place in Jefferson County, Ky., December 27, 
1836, and he is a son of Thomas II. and Elizabeth 
(Ebert) Ayres, both of whom were natives of 
Virginia. Reared to agricultural pursuits in his 
native State, he early became acquainted with the 
different and best modes of cultivating the soil, 
which knowledge he has applied upon his own 
land. 

The education of our subject was above the 
average of farmer boys, as he not only attended 
the private schools of the nearest village, but in 
addition studied for two years in the High School 
at Ilardinsburgh, Ky. To the knowledge acquired 



in school he has added by general reading upon 
topics of public interest. When a boy he re- 
moved with his parents to Hancock County, Ky., 
and in that county grew to manhood, and re- 
mained until he came to La Fayette County, Mo., 
in 1869, and settled upon his present place. The 
marriage of Mr. Ayres took place March 7. 1859, 
with Miss Adalaide C. Brown, a native of Jefferson 
County, Ky., who was bora in April, 1840, the 
daughter of James and Ann (Cannon) Brown. 
This union has been blessed with a family of four 
children, as follows: Annie E., the wife of W. W. 
Higgins; Lulu; Katie, the wife of G. Twyman; 
and Ebert E. 

The farm belonging to Mr. Ayres would excite 
admiration from any one, with its cultivated 
fields. its meadows and timber-land, its orchards 
and comfortable buildings. The fine residence 
was erected several years since, and all the sur- 
roundings are in harmony with its modern style 
of architecture and appearance. Our subject is a 
prominent man in his county, and has served as 
Justice of the Peace for no less than twelve years, 
taking part actively in the deliberations and 
councils of the Democratic party, and always per- 
forming his share in all public enterprises prom- 
ising advantage to county or State. He is actively 
identified with the Masonic fraternity and the 
Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In his relig- 
ious belief he is a member of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church South, in which he has acceptably 
served as Steward for many years. 



^'OIIN WALTON. a prosperous and enterpris- 
ing general merchant of Waverly, La Fay- 
ette County, Mo., has for the past thirty 
years successfully conducted his present 
business, which from small beginnings hasextended 
its custom into the surrounding neighborhoods 
and farming localities. Our subject was born in 
Yorkshire, England, in the year 1815. His pa- 
rents were John and Betty ( l'histlewate) Walton, 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



555 



born and bred in the Queen's dominions, and sub- 
stantial members of the farming- community of 
England. The father and mother thriftily trained 

their sons and daughters to habits of industry 
and self-reliance and thus well fitted them for the 
battle Of life. 

Mr, Walton spent his youthful days in his na- 
tive land, and attended a private school, and 
worked upon his father's farm. Arriving at ma- 
tun' years, he began the battle of life for himself, 
and when able to make a home for another mar- 
ried. It was in 1841, that he married Bliss Esther 
Allen, a daughter of John Allen, an Englishman 
by birth and education. Mrs. Walton was born 
in England and reared and educated in the home 
of her ancestors. Mr. and Mrs. Walton have been 
the parents of four children, three of whom now 
survive, John E., Christopher and William J. 

I n the early part of 1849, Mr. Walton decided 
to leave behind him the pleasant associations of 
early life and try his fortunes in a new country. 
He therefore embarked with wife and children 
for America, and crossing the broad Atlantic, was 
landed with his worldly possessions safe and 
sound upon American shores. Reaching New 
York March 15, 184 ( .», the family journcj'ed di- 
rect to La Fayette County, Mo., and here located 
upon a farm, where our subject industriously 
sowed, planted and reaped a harvest for a full 
half-score of years. In I860, he made a departure 
from the line of agricultural work and entered the 
mercantile field, where lie still profitably remains. 
Engaged in merchandising, he has made an ex- 
tended acquaintance and many friends, who ap- 
preciate his fair dealing and kindly courtes} - . 

In polities our subject is a strong Democrat, and 
firmly advocates the principles of the party which 
receives his vote. Appreciating a republican gov- 
ernment, Mr. Walton is always interested in the 
outcome of local and national issues, and identify- 
ing himself with the growth and progress of our 
great republic, is a true American citizen. Our 
subject and his family arc attendants at the South- 
ern Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mr. Walton 
has been an active member of the same for many 
years, liberally assisting in the benevolent, social 
and religious enterprises of the denomination. 



For a number of terms Mr. Walton held the im- 
portant official position of City Treasurer, and dis- 
charged the duties of the office with marked abil- 
ity. A Christian gentleman of sterling integrity 
of character and more than ordinary business abil- 
ity and intelligence, he lias been an important 
factor in the upbuilding of the progressive inter- 
ests of Wavcrly, where he is widely known and 
regarded with esteem and honor. 



"jfOHN T. TAYLOR. The city of Lexington 
affords plenty of employment for the taste 
and skill which our subject brings to bear 
in his chosen calling, which is that of a 
contracting painter, doing all kinds of both plain 
and ornamental work. Mr. Taylor was born in 
Lancashire, Englaud, September 30, 1843, and 
spent his boyhood in the "tight little isle" until 
eleven years of age, when he emigrated with his 
parents to America. After a long voj r age the 
family landed at New Orleans, and soon after pro- 
ceeded up the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers to 
Dover, then crossed the river and went on a farm 
for a while, when they came to Lexington, La 
Fayette County, Bio. 

Mr. Taylor's parents were George and Elizabeth 
(Clark) Taylor, the latter of whom still survives, 
and resides in Lexington. George Taylor was a 
cotton spinner by trade, and was later interested 
in mining for coal, having little or no use for the 
first mentioned trade after coming to America. 
John T. attended school in Lexington until four- 
teen years of age. and then set himself to learn 
the painter's trade, to which he has been constant 
until the present time. He has finished some very 
large and difficult pieces of work in Lexington. 
and as a painter has no superior. He contracts 
for the painting of bouses, churches and buildings 
of every description, and docs a great deal of 
fancy and decorative sign painting. 

In his political belief Mr. Taylor is a pro- 
nounced Democrat. Fraternally he is a member 



556 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



of Orion Lodge No. 45, of the Independent Order 

of < »dd Fellows, and has been quite active in his 
lodge connection. January 28, 1869, he married 
Miss Mary B., a daughter of Jacob Neet, of Lex- 
ington, Mo. They have been the parents of five 
children, there being two sons and three daughters, 
who arc as follows: Hettie M., who is the wife of 
"William Cullein.of Lexington; George J., Sarah E., 
Susan S., and John T., Jr. These children have 
been carefully reared and educated, and have 
promising futures. Mr. Taylor is a member of 
the Episcopal Church, while his wife is a member 
of the Christian Church. The family residence is 
a very pleasant, home on Third Street. 

In 1SG 1 Mr. Taylor enlisted in the Confederate 
army for six months, after which term of service 
he crossed the plains to Mexico, and from there 
went to Leavenworth. After his return home 
from there he made a trip to Salt Lake by way of 
Ft. Laramie, frrmi there back to Nebraska City, 
then to Denver, where in 1864 he joined the 
Union army for one hundred days to tight Indians. 
He served as a member of the Third Colorado 
Cavalry. 



~^m 



(«ps*T. SAVIOR'S ACADEMY, conducted by 
>^5 the Sisters of the Loretto Institute, is lo- 
MOp) catcc ' on English Avenue and Jefferson 
' Street, in the western part of Marshall. 

The school, designed for the education of girls 
and young ladies, was established mainly by the 
efforts of the Rev. M. J. O'Dwyer, a pioneer priest 
of the parish of St. Peter, at Marshall. Aided 
by the hearty co-operation of many of the best 
citizens of the town, the untiring and energetic 
Father O'Dwyer persevered until in September, 
1884, this institution, now one of the largest of its 
kind in Central Missouri, was opened for the recep- 
tion of pupils. 

Conducted by the Sisters of Loretto, the Acad- 
emy has from the very first day received excellent 
patronage, not only from the Catholics, but from 



all, without distinction of creed; one positive rule 
of the institute being that as pupils are received 
without distinction of creed, no influence what- 
ever will be used to change their religious convic- 
tions. The course of study embraces all the ordin- 
ary and higher branches of a thorough literary 
and polite education. Especial attention is also 
paid to the arts of music, drawing, and painting, 
the Corp.* of teachers containing talent of the high- 
est order. The buildings are spacious and well 
ventilated, and in 1892 a large addition was made 
to the original building, which had not sufficient 
rooms to accommodate all the pupils who desired 
to enjoy the benefit offered by the course of this 
excellent school. 

Boarders as well as day scholars arc in constant 
attendance and parents living at a distance can 
thus secure a good home for their daughters, where 
their health and mental improvement will both be 
considered. Few cities of the size of Marshall 
possess an institution of the standing and real ex- 
cellence of character to which the Academy of St. 
Savior has attained. The buildings are substantial 
and most complete in their appointments. The first 
building is fifty feet long by sixty feet in width 
and is three stories high. The new and commodi- 
ous structuie lately erected is 56x80 feet in dimen- 
sions. It contains a fine exhibition hall, with a 
seating capacity of five hundred, and has a large 
stage, the whole lighted by gas and heated by 
steam. 

The pleasant location of the school and the at- 
tractive surroundings are the admiration of the 
passer-by, and have undoubtedly been factors in 
the assured success of the educational enterprise. 
From the opening da} - the attendance was over 
one hundred in number, and the roll of students 
has been constantly increasing. The Sisters of 
Loretto are widely known for their self -sacrificing 
devotion to the cause of education and for the 
high order of their knowledge and attainments. The 
mother institute, in Marion County, Ky., has en- 
rolled upon the list of pupils many names now 
famous among the noble and gifted women of to- 
day. The Sisters in charge at Marshall are most 
energetic and efficient in the discharge of their 
duties. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



559 



The First Sister Superior was Sister Dolores Jack- 
son, who retained the supervison of the work for 
two years, when her health failed and she was ap- 
pointed to a position where the duties were Lessse- 
vereand trying. This excellent womanand devout 
Christian was a native of St. Louis and died in Ken- 
lucky. The faculty of Sisters whobegan the work 
in this school were Sisters Mary Kevin. Annette, 
Mary Berchman, Alberta and Laura. The last 
three named remain in the institution, and are 
highly valued and beloved by their pupils. The 
students are required to dress in a neat uniform, 
and in all matters that pertain to the conduct of 
affairs the utmost decorum is rigidly enforced, but 
each pupil is at all times sure of a ready interest 
i" her prosperity and happiness, and the utmost 
cordiality and good-will always prevail between the 
teachers and pupils of this celebrated institution 
of learning-. 



-3S- 




&HOMAS B. CAMPBELL, a prosperous and 
representative general agriculturist, and at 
one time a leading stock-raiser and breeder 
of Shorthorn cattle, now devotes much of his at- 
tention and capita] to the breeding, care and man- 
agement of fine-blooded trotting horses, and han- 
dles the Hambletonian, Mambrino, and American 
Star breeds. Lorn in Huntsville, Ala., on the 
16th of June, L 829, our subject came with his par- 
ents to the state of Missouri, in the very early 

,,a - vs " f his °oy' d, and has tor many years been 

closely identified with the prominent business in- 
terests of Lexington Township, La Fayette County 
ILs highly improved farm of six hundred acres is 
pleasantly located upon section 3, township 50 
range 2.;. and is .me of the most productive and 
valuable agricultural properties in this section of 
the Mate. 

The remote ancestors of .Mr. Campbell were 

Scotch, but the immediate branches of his f am . 

ily, patcnal and maternal, were American-born 

citizens. ll,s parents were James and Eliza A. 

28 



(Jennings) Campbell ; the father was a native 
Kentuckian, but removing when a little lad to 
Tennessee, was reBred ,„ ,,,,, [attel S|;ih , , mi| mar 

iicd. the marriage occurring in La Fayette ( ounty, 
Mo., his wife, who was the daughterof David Jen- 
nings, also born in Tennessee. The father of our 
subject served bravely in the War of 1812, and 
engaged in the conflict in Florida, when the Semi- 
nole Indians were finally subdued. When a trifle 
more than four years of age, our subject remove,] 
from Alabama to his future lifetime home, lo- 
cating with his parents, in 18.3-1, in La Fayette 
County, Mo., and while a little lad attended the 
private subscription schools, and assisted his father 
upon the old home farm. 

In 1850 Mr. Campbell entered the University of 
Missouri, located at Columbia, and graduated with 
honor in 1852. His studies ended, our subject 
applied himself to agricultural duties, and vet re- 
mains upon the farm where he first made his ;„_ 
dividual start in life. Among the other stock 
cared for on the large acreage are a large number 
of excellent mules, a profitable invest,,, cut. and an 
animal whose raising is well repaid by future 
gains. Many of the blooded horses on the place 
are Kentucky highbred trotters. Among the horses 
is "Billy Bolton," with a record of 2.24, a valu- 
able and handsome animal, and one of the finest 
in this part of the State. At the head of the .stud 
is"Ingomar," No. 7872, by -Aberdeen." 27. dam 
"Princess," by "Mambrino Patchen," second dam. 
"Queen Vic," by "Mambrino Chief." He is a beau- 
tiful bay, sixteen hands high, and bids fair for a 
sire trotter. Xexton the Hsl is "Edinborou; 
No. 9821, by '-Aberdeen," 27, dam "Allie Thomp- 
son," by "Almonte- 33. He also has a lot of choice 
bred brood mares. In 1882 Mr. Campbell secured 
two deer, and has raised a large number of fawns 
now owning quite an extensive deer-park, a most 
attractive addition to the cultivated fields, and 
"lie that elicits much admiration from the pass 

by. 

Mr. Campbell was married in [856 to Miss Sallie 
M. Ilix, a daughter of < >. B . Hix, a most estimable 
Citizen. Mrs. Campbell is the mother of t] 
children, two sons and one daughter. Frank \V 
i5 "" eldest-born ; Bird II., the second child! 



560 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Caltlia, the youngest, and the daughter of the 
house and home. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell are de- 
voted members of the Christian Church, and are 

ever foremost in the good work of that religious 
organization, and are among the earnest support- 
ers of social, benevolent and religious enterprises. 
Our subject is a sturdy Democrat, and maintains 
the principles of the party, giving his vote and in- 
fluence in behalf of the platform reared by his 
American ancestry. As a true and faithful citizen 
of the United States, he is always in favor of the 
best man for the place, and believes that worth 
and merit should be ever considered in the selec- 
tion of local and national candidates for all public 
offices of trust. 






_*C=S» 



"H3E5T 



W^ILLIAM II. P1LKINGTON has for many 
years been prominently identified with 
the principal interests of La Fayette 
County as one of its most successful and enter- 
prising farmers. The highly improved estate 
which he owns and operates is located on section 
9, township 48, range 26, and is embellished with 
all the buildings necessary tor the successful prose- 
cution of agricultural work. The residence was 
erected by Mr. Pilkington atacost of about$l,400, 
and is substantial and complete in every detail. 
The barns are commodious, the wheat bins have a 
capacity of eight hundred bushels, and the corn- 
cribs, which are double, hold sixteen hundred 
bushels. The orchards contain a large number of 
trees bearing fine grades of fruit, and everything 
about the place shows careful oversight and pru- 
dent management. 

The father of our subject, William Pilkington, 
was born in Lancashire, England, in 1803, and in 
his native country was united in marriage with 
Miss Hannah Towers, a native of the same shire 
as himself, and born in 1806. In 1829 they came 
to America and settled at Lowell. Mass., whence 
they removed to Stockport, N. Y., and there re- 
sided for thirteen years. Afterward they removed 



to the West and settled on a farm near Providence, 
Bureau County, 111., the trip hither being made 
from Albany to Chicago via canal and the Lakes. 
William Pilkington commenced to clear and im- 
prove the taw prairie land which he had purchased, 
and. in order to erect a suitable structure for the 
abode of his family, was forced to haul lumber a 
distance of one hundred and eighteen miles. 

After residing in Illinois for twenty-seven years, 
during which time he engaged as a tiller of the 
soil, AVilham Pilkington came to Missouri in 1866 
and settled in La Fayette County. For some time 
he owned and was proprietor of a store in town- 
ship 48, range 26, and, both as a business man and 
in a social way. he became well known throughout 
this section of country. His death occurred in 
1870. His widow still survives, making her home 
in Bureau County, 111. They were, in their re- 
ligious connections, members of the Episcopal 
Church, in which he was an active worker. In 
politics, he was a Whig until the formation of the 
Republican party, with which he afterward alrlli- 
ated, and his fellow-citizens often called him to 
service in official capacities. By trade he was a 
calico weaver, but the most of his active life was 
spent in farming and merchandising. 

The parental family included ten children, of 
whom six now survive. Our subject, who is the 
only member of the family now residing in Mis- 
souri, was born in Lowell, Mass., November 
25, 1830. His childhood days were passed in New 
York State, and he accompanied his parents in 
their removal to Illinois, where he was for a time 
a pupil in the district schools of Bureau County, 
and also attended a select school there. He re- 
mained at home until he was twenty-two years of 
age, meanwhile aiding his father in the work of 
breaking the soil and harvesting the grain on the 
home farm. 

In 1852, Mr. Pilkington went to California by 
the Nicaragua route to San Francisco, and for one 
year worked for his uncle, who had a trading-post 
at the Third Crossing of the Calaveras River. 
Thence he removed to Santa Cruz, on the Bay of 
Monterey, where he engaged in farming pursuits 
for two years. He then returned to Illinois and 
farmed a portion of the old homestead, which he 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



5G1 



had purchased from his father. In 1868 he came 
to Missouri and located on his present farm, 
which was then only partly improved. He now 
lias two hundred acres, all under cultivation, and 
there engages in general farming and stock-raising. 
Sheep, hogs, cattle and horses of good grades may 
be seen on his farm, and he has met with success 
in this line of agriculture. 

The marriage of Mr. Pilkington in 1858 united 
him with Miss .Mary, daughter of Richard Ware, 
of Crooke, North Tawton, Devonshire, England, 
who settled in Bureau County, 111., April 2, 1859. 
Mrs. Pilkington was born in England July 1~>, 
1833, and is a lady of refined character and great 
kindness of heart. Although having no children 
of their own. Mr. and Mrs. Pilkington have taken 
into their home and reared to maturity three chil- 
dren: William R. Corscr, Annie Ware and Sue 
Ware. The adopted son has been given the bene- 
fit of a good, practical education and is fitted for 
a position of usefulness and honor. Annie is a 
student at Warrensburgh Normal School. The re- 
ligious home of the family is in the Episcopal 
Church, in which denomination they are earnest 
workers. In his political belief, .Air. Pilkington is 
a Republican, loyal at all times to party principles, 
lie was Road Commissioner in Stark County, 111., 
for six years, and has also served as Road Over- 
seer in this county. Socially, he is a member of 
the Grange, of which he has been Master for eight 
vears. 



-*—-&••::■•&: 



E\ . TIIOMAs M. COBB. One who has 
been interested in ministerial work is al- 
ways more or less of a scholar, and when 
^©) scholarly attainments are united with bus- 
iness tact and ability, the combination is a most 
happy one in its commercial relations, and this is 
why the Triumph Pressed Brick Company of Lex- 
ington is to be congratulated on being so well 
officered. Its President, who is our subject, is a 
man of the highest mental attainments and withal 




a gentleman having marked acquisitive faculties. 
Mr. Cobb was bom in La Fayette County, October 
17, 1842, and is a son of .lames M. and Mary | Pet- 
ers) Cobb. 

Our subject's father came to Lexington in April. 
1835, and is still living in La Fayette County. 
He is a native of North Carolina. His father. 
Morris Cobb, also a native of North Carolina, was 
engaged for many years in the iron business in 
Tennessee. The ancestry of the American branch 
of the Cobb family can be traced to its founders. 
who came over from England with Sir Walter 
Raleigh and made settlement in North Carolina. 
Our subject's mother is of German ancestry, her 
American forefathers having settled in Virginia at 
an early day. 

Mr. Cobb spent his boyhood on a farm in La 
layette County, and was sent to a private school. 
Later he entered Chapel Hill College, this county, 
where he pursued his studies until the breaking 
out of the war. He then entered Elliott's Battal- 
ion in the State service of Missouri in 1861, and 
enlisted in the Confederate army, joining the Sec- 
ond Missouri Infantry, which was commanded by 
F. M. Cockrell. He served under him in the Con- 
federate army until the close of the war. in A [nil 
of 1865. lie was in the battles of Pea Ridge, 
Farmington, Iuka, Corinth, Ft. Gibson, Champion 
Hill, in the siege of Vicksburg, Kingston (Ga.), 
New Hope Church, Pine Mountain, Kenesaw 
Mountain, Franklin and Nashville (Tenn.). He was 
twice wounded and was taken prisoner at Vicks- 
burg. While being sent by boat up the river to 
Alton, 111., in June, 1863, in a moment when lie 
was free from the observation of the guards, he 
jumped overboard and made his escape but was 
re-captured the same night. 

After the close of the war Mr. Cobb went to Ft. 
Laramie, Mont., and while there was engaged as a 
guard on a freighting expedition, thai office being 
necessitated by the hostility of the Indians. On 
returning to Missouri in May, 1866, the principal 
of thissketch entered the ministry of the Method- 
ist Episcopal Church South, and took charge of 
the pastorate of Westport, Jackson County, this 
State. After remaining there three vears be 
served in various other cities, having been scut to 



562 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Springfield, Jefferson City, Harrisonville, Inde- 
pendence and Lexington. In the fall of 1878 he 
was appointed Presiding Elder of the Springfield 
District, and thus officiated for three years. 

In 1886 the Rev. Mr. Cobb was appointed Pre- 
siding Elder of the Lexington District of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church South and discharged 
the duties of the office until December, 1889, when 
on account of failing health he left the ministry 
and has since been unable to perform ministerial 
duties. Mr. Cobb has been a delegate to four Gen- 
eral Conferences of his church. While enthusias- 
tic in his chosen work, our subject felt it to be en- 
tirely worthy of the cause to employ his business 
and executive talents in business enterprise. He 
was one of the organizers of the Exchange Bank of 
Springfield, Mo., and also one of the organizers of 
the Midland National Bank at Kansas City, at the 
present time being a stockholder in both of these. 
He also owns a finely improved farm in Johnson 
County. 

In politics the original of this sketch is a stanch 
Democrat. In 1881 he was appointed Chaplain of 
the State Legislature. He is a member of Golden 
Square Lodge No. 102, A. F.& A. M.,of Westport, 
Mo. He is also a member of the Westport Lodge, 
I. O. ( >. I •'. 

May 15, 1866, Mr. Cobb was married to Miss 
Mary A. Wagoner, a daughter of Amos Wagoner, 
a native of Kentucky. She died January 14, 
1867. The following year he was married to the 
present Mrs. Cobb, who was a Miss Cameron 
Houck, a daughter of Solomon Ilouck, a native of 
Virginia. She was born in Cooper County, Mo. 
They have been the parents of six children, live of 
whom are living at the present time. There are 
three daughters and two sons. Helen C. is a grad- 
uate of Central College Conservatory of Music, 
having taken the highest honors in the Class of 
'89. In L889 and 1890, she took a post-graduate 
course and now is first assistant of the musical 
department in Hamilton College, Lexington, Ky. 
Her sister, Mary C, who is a painter and vocalist 
of marked talent, is at home, while Bessie is still a 
student at Central College. Thomas M., Jr., is also 
studying at Central College, while William B. isa 
member of the High School. The family resi- 



dence is located at the corner of Twentieth and 
Mam Streets and is a commodious and homelike 
place. The members of the family are each taught 
to look for and bring out the best features in the 
natures of others. 




SA BKKUITMAN HATCH. 



a prosperous 



and representative farmer and well-known 
and highly respected citizen of La Fay- 
ette County, Mo., is pleasantly located 
upon section 32, range 27. township 4 l J, where he 
cultivates a valuable farm of one hundred and 
fifty-four acres. Mr. Hatch was born in Aurora, 
Erie County, N. Y., February in, 182*, and was 
the son of Wilder and Hannah (Tabor) Hatch. 
The paternal grandfather of our subject, and in 
whose honor he was named, was Asa Hatch, a na- 
tive of New Hampshire, and a soldier of the Revo- 
lutionary War. who served his country faithfully 
in her struggle for national independence. He 
was by occupation a farmer, and immediately 
after the close of the war settled in Jefferson 
(Ounty. N. Y., and removed after a time to Erie 
County, finally locating in Steuben County, where 
he [iassed away, deeply regretted by all who knew 
him. His estimable wife was Sarah Wilder, who 
reared four children: Susan, Jeremiah, Wilder, and 
one other whose name is not recorded. In religi- 
ous belief the grandparents were both Presbyteri- 
ans and earnest Christian people. 

The father of our subject, Wilder Hatch, was a 
native of New Hampshire, and removed with his 
parents to New York, where he lived in Jefferson 
and Erie Counties. Raised upon a farm, he en- 
gaged in the duties of agriculture as the business 
of his life, and deciding to try a new field of labor 
went to Walworth County, Wis., in 1810. During 
the latter part of the gold excitement in Califor- 
nia, he started for the Pacific Slope, in search of 
the glittering treasure of the Golden State. Many 
years have passed and never a word from him has 
ever reached his family, who have long mourned 






PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



563 



him as dead. Wilder Hatch was twice married, 
and by his first wife became the father of a daugh- 
ter, Sarah, and one son, Wilder. The second wife 
was the mother of our subject, and bore her hus- 
band but one living child. She survived her hus- 
band's disappearance a number of years, and at 
the age of sixty-three died in 1856, in Porter 
County, Ind. She was a most estimable lady and 
a member of the Baptist Church. Her father. 
Earl Tabor, the maternal grandfather of our sub- 
ject, was in early life a Connecticut farmer, and 
removed to Saratoga, N. Y., and from there to 
Erie County, where he died at the age of eighty 
years. 

The wife of Earl Tabor, Susannah Brightman, 
became the mother of these sons and daughters: 
James, Bradford, Phoebe, Susannah, Hannah, 
Jesse, Helen and Fannie, who gathered a bright, 
merry band around the family hearth nearly a 
century ago. Grandmother Tabor was the daugh- 
ter of an English officer, who received his commis- 
sion from King George the Third, of "Merrie 
England." Asa Brightman Hatch was reared upon 
a farm, and like his paternal ancestors, has fol- 
lowed the occupation of a tiller of the soil all his 
life. He has been a bread-winner from almost his 
earliest remembrance, and had but very little op- 
portunity tn gain an education. He accompanied 
his parents to Wisconsin, and remained there 
eleven years, and at the expiration of that length 
of time went with his mother to Porter Count}-, 
Ind., and resided there until the fall of 1865, when 
he located in Missouri, and purchased two hun- 
dred and forty acres uf land. For twenty-eight 

years he has lived in his present neighbor!) I, 

and has been closely associated with the upward 
growth and progress of his part of the county. 
Our subject was married to Laviuia Arundel, a 
native of Pennsylvania, and a daughter of John 
and Eliza (Patterson) Arundel, of Scotch parent- 
age. Mr. and Mrs. Hatch have been the parents of 
five children, three of whom survive: Viola is the 
wife of Ira Sigman; Charlotte is the wife of 
Samuel Dunn; Maude is the youngest. Cora E. 
died at twenty-three years of age. Mr. and Mrs. 
Hatch are Unitarians in belief, and are ever ready 
to assisl in all worthy enterprises. Mr. Hatch n:i- 



in early days a member of the Free Soil Party, 
but in later life has been an ardent Republican, 
and an earnesl advocate of the principles and 
platform of the party which now receives his vote. 
A self-made man, conscientious, upright, energetic 
and faithful in the performance of duty, he enjoys 
the respect and confidence of a large circle of true 
friends, who thoroughly appreciate his sterling in- 
tegrity of character. 



•§^HN=€~^ 



y^ILLIAM L. SMITH, a prominent agricul- 
turist of La Fayette County, Mo., resid- 
W^/ ing upon his farm in township 49, section 
10, range 27, is the subject of this sketch. His 
parents were Lawson and Sarah (Riley) Smith, na- 
tives of Kentucky and Maryland, respectively, 
both good and worthy people, who, in 183!». re- 
moved to La Fayette County, Mo., from Nicholas 
County, Ky., and in 1842 settled upon the farm 
where our subject now resides. Mr. Smith, Sr., 
was a farmer, and, upon coming into Missouri, de- 
cided to engage in that business to the exclusion 
of all else, selecting a tract of Government land 
in a county where there was but little settlement 
prior to his coming. La Fayette County offered 
many advantages to the pioneer settler, which lie 
was quick to take advantage of, and here made his 
home until his death in 1885. The cheerful, help- 
ful wife, the mother of our subject, survived' her 
husband but one year. 

Our subject's brother and sister are Wesley I... 
and Gcorgie, the latter now the wife of Dr. Amos 
Graves, of San Antonio, Tex., where he was one 
of the pioneers of thecountry. William L. smith, 
our subject, was born in Nicholas County. Ky., 
September 27, 1834, being a child of tender years 
when his parents came to this State. His child- 
hood and youth were passed in the pioneer home 
in the new country, and he remembered main- 
scenes of those times, especially the tiresome modes 
of farming when only ox-teams were used as beasts 



564 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



of burden. William early displayed signs of un- 
usual intelligence, and was afforded the advantages 
offered at the Chapel Hill High School of this 
county, and also a term at the old Masonic College 
at Lexington, Mo. He thus obtained the founda- 
tions of a good education, and as he has always 
possessed a thirst for knowledge, has become a 
well-informed man from later diversified reading. 
One of the most important events in the life of 
our subject was his marriage, April 27, 1867, with 
.Mary O., daughter of John Young, an early settler 
of Lexington Township, La Fayette County, a son 
of ex-Gov. Young, of Missouri. The mother of 
Mrs. Smith was of the family of Bellas, early set- 
tlers of the county. The wedded life of Mr. and 
Mrs. Smith has been productive to them of nine 
children, namely: James Y., Riley, Forrest, Upton 
B., William, Nannie, Orlena, Matilda and Bettie, 
the latter deceased. During the "late unpleasant- 
ness," Mr. Smith served in the army for four 
months in Company I. commanded by ('apt. With- 
ers, in Price's Division, and took part in the bat- 
tle of Lexington, Mo. Mr. Smith was reared a 
Democrat, taught to believe that the principles of 
that party arc the ones best suited for the govern- 
ment of this country; hence has always followed 
his early instruction, and votes with the followers 
of Jackson and Cleveland. Almost all of the 
growth of the county has come under his eye, and 
with much of it he has been prominently identified, 
having always favored all interests which had for 
their object the advantage of his home county. In 
Mr. Smith La Fayette County has a citizen of in- 
telligence and influence. 



JfeN 



OSEPH D. MILLER, for nearly two-score 
years a highly respected resident anil a 
well-known builder and contractor of Wav- 
erLy, La Fayette County, Mo., has now re- 
tired from active business duties, and, in the eve- 
ning of his life, enjoys the competence gained by 
years of energetic industry. Arriving in Wftverly 



in the infancy of this flourishing city, he at once 
engaged in business, and erected many of the most 
substantial and best stores and dwellings of the 
place. Energetic and efficient in the daily work 
of life, and thoroughly upright and reliable in 
business transactions, our subject gained the con- 
fidence of the general public, and received various 
offices of trust, whose duties he ever performed 
with able and conscientious fidelity. 

Mr. Miller is a native of Franklin County, Ky., 
and is a son of Aaron Miller, who was born and 
reared in the Quaker State, but who made his 
home later in Kentucky, and there married Miss 
Mary Zook, the mother of our subject, and a most 
devoted wife and loving parent. Mr. Miller at- 
tended the common schools of Kentucky through 
his boyhood, and at seventeen years of age pre- 
pared for future independence and usefulness by 
apprenticing himself to a carpenter. It was not 
very long before he became skilled in the use of 
the various tools of the trade, and relf-reliantly 
determined to seek a new field of work and win 
his way to future prosperity and success. Locat- 
ing in Missouri in 1856, he made his permanent 
home in Waverlv, and soon identified himself 
with the growing interests of the town. From 
the date of his arrival until 1872, he was one of 
the busiest builders and contractors in that por- 
tion of the State. 

In 1872 Mr. Miller was appointed Postmaster of 
Waverlv, which position he held most acceptably 
for the succeeding ten years, when he resigned of- 
ficial duties and again entered into his old busi- 
ness as a builder and contractor. He however did 
not long continue in business, as in 18.S.'! he retired 
from active work. Our subject can point with 
pride to his handiwork, not only in Waverlv, but 
throughout the surrounding country, main' of the 
finest residences in the county having been 
erected under his supervision. In 1845, before 
coming to Waverlv, Mr. Miller was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Mildred, a daughter of David 
Haggerty, a native of Kentucky, in which State 
Mrs. Miller was born, educated and married. Mr. 
and Mrs. Miller are the parents of two children, 
Margaret N. and David S. Our subject is a de- 
voted member of the Christian Church, and with 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



565 



his good wife has ever been prominent in the 
leading- work and benevolenl enterprises of that 
religious denomination. 

Mr. Miller is a prominent and stanch Repub- 
lican, and an earnest advocate of his party. He 
has been an Alderman of Waverly two terms, and 
while occupying the position of a "City Father" 
materially aided in Local progress and improve- 
ment. As a citizen of integrity of character and 
intelligence, he is conscientiously opposed to the 
manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors, and 
strongly favors legislative prohibition. Keenly 
alive to the needs of the present hour, our subject 
ever casts his influence into the balance of right 
and justice. 



* 



ffi OHN KROENCKE, one of the most promi- 
nent financial and social factors of the town 
of Concordia, Mo., is engaged there in the 
handling of dry goods, groceries, clothing 
and notions. His place of business is on South 
Schiller Street, where he is located in a handsome 
two-story brick building, of which he occupies 
three rooms. The lower ones are 24x60 feet, and 
the upper one, which is used for carpets and gen- 
eral surplus stock, is of the same size. Our subject 
is the oldest merchant in Concordia, having lo- 
cated here when there was not a house in the place. 
The birth of Mr. Kroencke took place near Bre- 
men, in the province of Hanover, Germany, De- 
cember 4, 1841. His father, Herman, was a native 
of the same place, while his mother, whose maiden 
name was Mary E. Shu maker, was also a native of 
that province, and there this worthy couple reared 
seven children. Our subject was the last of the 
line, and came to this country with his parents 
when he was thirteen years of age, in 1854. He 
was old enough to remember the pleasures and 
ill -comforts of that long journey, and gladly stepped 
ashore in the city of New Orleans. Another water 
trip was necessary to bring the family to Benton 
County, Mo., and there the father, being an edu- 



cated man, secured pupils and taught school. At 
this place Mr. Kroencke. our subject, attended 
school until he was eighteen years of age, and in 
the spring of 1857 he came here and worked on a 
farm in the summers, and went to school in Ben- 
ton County during the winters. 

About this time the Civil War broke out, and 
our subject enlisted in the army, June 13, 1861, in 
Company B, of the German Missouri Regiment, 
under Col. Cook, and was discharged September 
13, 1861. During his term of service our subjeel 
had been in the battles of Cold Camp, Lookout 
Station, and in several skirmishes. After his re- 
turn he operated a hemp factory here, in 1862, 
which he continued until 1869, when he opened 
his present store. At that time the town was in 
the future, but the good judgment of Mr. Kroencke 
told him that every indication pointed toward the 
growth of this section. 

On October 9, 1865, our subject married Miss 
Sophia Brockman, who was born in La Fayette 
County, Mo., and they have four children, as fol- 
lows: Annie, now Mrs. Meyer; George, Mary and 
Sophia, deceased. Mrs. Kroencke was taken away 
in 1870. Mr. Kroencke was again married, March 
13, 1873, taking for his second wife Miss Sophia 
Frerking, who was born in this county, and nine 
children were born of this marriage, but only 
seven are living. The children were as follows: 
Herman, who is deceased; Ida, William, Arthur, 
Martha (deceased), Alfred, Ella, and Edwin and 
Carrie, twins. 

Our subject erected the present fine store build- 
ing in 1876, and carries from $10,000 to $15,0Q0 
worth of stock, anil has always a trade to warrant 
so great an investment, lie is a very prominent 
man here, a stockholder in the Concordia Savings 
Bank, and has been Vice-president of the hank for 
the past twelve years. Our subject and his fam- 
ily are active members of the Evangelical Lutheran 
Church. When the town was first incorporated he 
was a member of the first Board of Trustees, and is 
now an Alderman under the new corporation as a 
town of the fourth class, and has served many years 
as a member of the School Hoard. Iieside having 
served in many minor capacities, which have fully 
illustrated the public confidence and esteem in 






PORTRAIT AM' RhV.RATHR Al. RECORD. 



- In his | 
eal opinioi - I has always been an ardent 

and 

- 




ATHEW W. HALL. The position that 

- s a 

1 s. He has 

S 

fair 
fice. Ho must 
be an account;, s ing is a burg 

aiuou' ■ _ He 

.«d wiih him 
- 

• 

nty, 
Hon. M. W. 
M. IX. «as born jus ; v • ..March 

N .:han H. Hall. 

was for t. - :*res- 

:an Church of Lex 

fatht and was educated at Lex- 

■ere he acquired his r of 

in the old medical college. Later he 

here he was engaged in the 

f his profession for I ears, and 

while there he was married 

- he moved I S Count v. 

;ere he was 5 
in re - -.enccd physician. In 

1 to his present 1 ve miles 

k. and has practiced con tin u- 
f a short time when he 
was a prisoner at Alton during the late war. hav- 
ing been captured at the Black - jrrender. 
• ■ fine farm. of which he acquired the pre- 
emption pape - from • eminent. 
This has been the family home sine-. 

Mathew Hall spent his boyhood days on the old 
home farm, and acquired the rudiments of his ed- 



Later, be entered 

M>'.. and then re- 
turned to Saline County to engage in farming, his 

Stant from the old home- 

I. where he still lives. IK was elected to his 

sent position in 1886, and in 1890 was re- 

- ond time. It goes without say- 

: his re-elections, that his incumbency 

of the office has been highly satis 

Mr. Hall was married February 15, 1883, to 
: .s. a daughter of the Rev. C. C 
W Is, f the Mi thod slEpis pal Chiurch South, 
ro children whose names are John 
and Woods, and these they are bringing up to a 
: manhood and in the faith of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. Our subject is one 
oily of eight children, of whom three 
of the boys became physicians. The eldest is Dr. 
C. Lester, of K . - - :\ ; W. K. is an attorney in 
Kansas City: John R. is a physician at Marshall: 
Louis - Mrs. W. W. Trigg, of Boonville, 

en W., is next in order: 
Pr. T. B. is p: _ :ul: Flor- 

ida is tin S . ekelford. of Boonville; 

and Elbe is Mrs. Fred W. Glover, of Kansas City. 
Our - - er was a member of the S 

361 during the memorab. - -• 
Miss iri out of the Union. 



'AMES - >HER. an encr. : ter- 

prising and na: <-n of Loxir. gl 

. M .. who 
N . •■ of 

the a - - ssful general agriculturists and ex- 

--aisers in his portion of I 
Prog, ss d his methods and ideas, our subject 

has, with but comparatively little capital to I . 
life with, won a competence, and upright in char- 
acter and daily walk. g usiness with 
honor and integrity, commands the e steem of the 
community among whom he has been a constant 
dweller all his life. Our subject is the son of 



Li III 



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i '. ~- ' i - • y i.i. ".• '. 

4efsae«4 rise w -~-:h..n>t o: isr- | 5L MALEX BT. i - c:>s:«-. <\ 

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5G8 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



nicipal burgh, which has furnished to America 
thousands of lii'r most loyal and upright citizens 
of to-day. Grandfather Ewing emigrated to the 
United States during the eighteenth century, and 
at once identified himself with all the interests of 
his adopted country and nave to its service a use- 
ful citizenship. The parents of our subject were 
.Tames and Hannah (Ewing) Mallory, the latter a 
daughter of John Ewing, of Virginia, in which 
State both the husband and wife were born. 

Mr. Mallory spent the days of early boyhood in 
his birthplace, attending the common schools of 
Rockingham County and assisting his father in gen- 
eral farming duties. Before our subject was twelve 
years of age his father died, and in. 1837 he re- 
moved with his widowed mother to LaFayette 
County, Mo., where he has ever since been success- 
fully engaged in farming. The homestead of Mr. 
Mallory contains two hundred acres, all under ex- 
cellent cultivation, and is one of the most valuable 
pieces of farming land in this portion of the 
county. In 1859 I. X. Mallory and Miss Rebecca 
('.. a daughter of Samuel Hodges, of Norfolk. Va.. 
were united in marriage. The happy home of Mr. 
and Mrs. Mallory has been blessed by the birth 
(if two children, both daughters, Lilian and Han- 
nah B. 

The family residence is attractively situated in 
a beautiful grove of walnut trees, the admiration 
of every passer-by, which during the warm days 
of summer make a cooling shade and lovely bit of 
waving verdure, softly shadowing the lawn and 
the broad approach to the house. Mr. Mallory is 
a sturdy Democrat and deeply interested in the 
-in cess of the party of which he is a lifetime ad- 
herent. He and his family are well known and 
have a large circle of friends, acquaintances of many 
long years. His brother, .lames H. Mallory, is also 
numbered among the reliable citizens and useful 
agriculturists of Dover Township, La Fayette 
County, Me 

Many years older than our subject, James Mai- 
ling was born in Rockingham County, Va., Sep- 
tember 5, 1811, and also attended the neighboring 
schools and was early trained in agricultural duties 
upon his father's farm. In 1837 he came with his 
mother and brother t<> l.a Fayette County, and has 



from that time to this remained a tiller of the soil 
within its borders. Nearly fifty-six years have 
elapsed since Mr. Mallory, a young and energetic 
man, jounced to the then sparsely settled State 
of Missouri, and wonderful has been the growth 
and progress of these changing years. The un- 
broken prairie and the heavy timber have suc- 
cumbed to the tide of settlement, and the rude log 
cabins, the early home of the pioneers, are now no 
more, save where now and then they have been 
preserved as landmarks of the past. 

James II. Mallory is located upon section 34, 
township 51, range 25, and owns an excellent 
farm well improved, and yearly increasing in 
value. He has been ever highly respected for his 
sterling traits and undoubted integrity of charac- 
ter. As is our subject, so is he an ardent Demo- 
crat and a firm believer in the principles and plat- 
form of the party to which he and his family lend 
their earnest support and active aid. Fraternally, 
Mr. Mallory is a Mason and a member of Dover 
Lodge, A. F. ife A. M., and inside of the order and 
throughout the community where his life has been 
passed, he has a host of warm friends. 



| iVILLIAM M. IIFTCIIERSON. Conspicuous 

\/\i/i am011 o tue sons °f tue Old Dominion who 
ffiif/ came to Saline County at an early date, 
and did their part toward the advancement of its 
interests, ma}' be mentioned the name of the gen- 
tleman of whom we write, and who now, his 
busy life ended, has passed to his final reward. 

Mr. Hutcherson was born in Culpeper County, 
Va., and came to this State and county in 1855. 
He worked at his trade, that of a carpenter, until 
the year 1869, and then married the widow of 
(apt. Ed Brown, who resided near Fairville. Mrs- 
Hutcherson bore the maiden name of Willis, and 
traced her ancestry to England. Two brothers, 
William A. and Robert II. Willis, came to this 
county in the fall of 1857 and 1859, respectively. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



569 



Robert served as Sheriff of Saline County for two 
terms, and William entered the ranks of the Con- 
federate army in 1861, and was killed in the battle 
of Boonville during the same year. 

Mr. and Mrs. Ilutcherson had a family of four 
children: Edwin M., Lelia, Lester W. and Garnett 
R. The mother died in 1889. She united in her 
character the virtues of her Virginian ancestors, 
and possessed to an unusual degree their graces of 
disposition, which win and retain friends. Her 
grandfather. Benjamin F. Willis, was a native of 
Virginia, and was a son of (apt. Isaac Willis, who 
served as Captain in the War of L812. 



»>^'».'^ w * 



? I ' I ' |V- 



\f AMES II. SYDENSTRICKER has for nearly 
a quarter of a century been numbered 
among the successful agriculturists of La 
Fa3 r ette County, Mo., and resides upon his 
well-cultivated homestead on section 9, township 
48, range 27. Our Subject is a native of West 
Virginia, and was born in Greenbrier County, 
near White Sulphur Springs, November 27, 1842, 
a son of Michael and Hannah (Hapstonstall) Syd- 
enstricker. His paternal grandfather, Henry Syd- 
enstricker, was a native of Germany, but early 
emigrated to America and settled in Virginia, 
where he died at a good old age. His wife was 
a worthy and industrious German housewife, and 
the devoted mother of the sons and daughter who 
blessed her home with their presence. The chil- 
dren were Michael, Lewis, Samuel. Henry, James 
and Catherine, who grew up honest, upright and 
hard-working citizens. Grandfather and Grand- 
mother Sydenstricker were faithful members of 
the Old-School Presbyterian Church. 

Michael Sydenstricker. an energetic tiller of 
the soil, was born in Greenbrier County, where 
he spent his entire life and died in 1868, aged 
about sixty. Samuel, his only living brother, re- 
sides in Vinton County, Ohio, .lames died dur- 
ing his service in the Confederate army. The 
father of our subject was a member of the An- 



cient Free and Accepted Masons, and belonged 
to the Presbyterian Church. His wife, born in 
Greenbrier County, W. Va., still survives, and is 
now eighty years of age. .lames II. Sydenstricker 
is a self-educated man, and early began to make 
his own way in the world. In June, 1861, he en- 
listed in Company I). Fourteenth Virginia Cav- 
alry, and was an active participant in the battles 
of Cannafax Ferry, Roanoke (N. C), Fisher's 
Hill, Winchester, Martinsburg, Gettysburg, Spen- 
cerville, Opequan, Harris burgh and Front Royal. 
He was captured in November, 1864, and taken 
to Point Lookout, Md.. and discharged from 
prison the last of May. 

Constantly exposed to dangers and privations, 
our subject was never wounded, but was captured 
four times during the fearless service which he 
rendered in those troublous times. He was a Cor- 
poral when taken prisoner first at Roanoke, N. C. 
He was paroled after fourteen days and exchanged. 
Later he was captured at Lewisburgh, but escaped; 
then made a prisoner at Lynchburgh, but again 
escaped, and in the last encounter had six bullet 
holes shot through his overcoat, and his horse 
shot from under him. The war having ended, Mr. 
Sydenstricker entered upon the duties of agricul- 
ture and farmed until 1866, when he came to Car- 
rollton and worked in a furnace for six month-, 
making oil. In July, 1866, our subject went to 
Vinton County, Ohio, and worked upon a farm 
four 3 r ears. 

In September, 1869, Mr. Sydenstricker came to 
La Fayette County, Mo., and settled near May- 
view in 1875, buying and locating upon eighty 
acres where he now resides. Prospering steadily, 
our subject is now the owner of a valuable farm 
of two hundred and nineteen acres, pleasantly 
situated, and I In- home of a happy family. Mr. 
Sydenstricker married Miss Sallie E. Wtiitsitt, born 
in Jessamine County. Ky., a daughter of Preston 
and Catherine (Hunter) Wnitsitt, who were native 
Kentuckians, but removed to Missouri and settled 
in La Fayette County in 1858, where they both 
died. 

Mr. and Mrs. S\ denstricker have been the parents 
of eight children, seven of the sons and daughters 
now surviving. Vernon is in college, studying 



570 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



for the ministry; Josie M., Minnie L., demons, 
Mary, Lily and Albert. James is deceased. Our 
subject and his estimable wife were formerly 
members of the Christian Union Church in Ohio, 
but since 1871 have been connected with the 
Cumberland Presbyterian Church, of which they 
are both valued members and active supporters in 
the benevolent enterprises and extension of its 
Christian influence. Politically, our subject is a 
strong Democrat, and is deeply interested in all 
that pertains t" the welfare and prosperity of his 
fellow-citizens. 



[EY. GEORGE D. WILLINGHAM, B. E. D., 

A. B., pastor of the Cumberland Presby- 
terian Church of Slater, and a man who is 
loved and respected by his people, as indeed 
by all who know him, was born in Audrain 
County, Mo., near Mexico, February 22, 1852. 
IIi> father, George Willingham, was a native of 
Henderson County, Ky., and was born in 1818. 

Mr. Willingham. Sr.. was four years old on com- 
ing to Missouri with his parents, who at that time 
located in Warren County, where he was reared. 
Later, he moved to Audrain County, thence to 
Macon, Randolph, Chariton and Saline Counties 
successively, remaining at Blackburn, in the latter 
county, three years. While in Randolph County, 
he engaged in farming. In 1885, lie removed to 
Prcscott, Ark., and was there connected with the 
Methodist Episcopal Church South. His wife was 
Permelia A. Wilson, daughter of David Wilson, a 
native of Tennessee but one of the early settlers 
in Boone County, Mo., and later a resident of Au- 
drain County. The daughter was born in Boone 
County, in 1824, and was the mother of twelve 
children, there being seven girls and five bO} - s, of 
whom ten are still living. The three older broth- 
ers served in the war — John in the Tenth Illinois 
from 1863 to the close of the war, and Thomas and 
Warren in the State Militia at Macon. 

George l>. Willingham was reared, in Macon 



County near Blooinington and remained there un- 
til sixteen years of age, attending the district 
school, which was a log edifice in the forest with 
most pioneer appointments. At sixteen lie came 
to Randolph County and was engaged on a farm 
for four years, after which he attended the State 
Normal School at Kirksvilleand graduated in 1875 
and received the degree of B. E. D. After this lie 
taught, and then attended the Normal until he be- 
came a candidate for the ministry, having been 
converted in 1874, at which time he had become a 
member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. 
In March, 1879, he received his license to preach 
in the McGee Presbytery, and in the fall of the 
same year he entered the Lincoln University at 
Lincoln, 111., and graduated in 1882 with the de- 
gree of Bachelor of Arts. His first charge was m 
supplying a pulpit at Bethany, Moultrie County. 
111., until September, 1882, when he entered the 
Union Theological Seminary of New York City. 
While there he served as a supply and did mission 
work in the city and on Long Island to defray his 
expenses. During this time he was ordained, the 
ceremony taking place at Waynesburgh, Pa., in 
1884, while he was supplying the church there. He 
graduated from the Theological Seminary in May. 
1885. 

After graduation the Rev. Mr. Willingham re- 
ceived a call from the church at Mclveesport, Pa. 
This he accepted and remained there two years 
and two months, lifting from the church at that 
time an indebtedness of 12,600. In September, he 
resigned to accept a call to Garden City, Kan. 
There he took charge of a young and thriving 
church, whose pastor he continued to be for two 
years and eight months, or until coming to Slater. 

During the first two years that Mr. Willingham 
was in Slater, in addition to his work here he 
preached at Mt. Horeb, three miles away, but that 
church has since become self-supporting. lie was 
called to this church in April, 1892. and was in- 
stalled by the New Lebanon Presbytery the third 
Sunday in June, 1892. Since he has been here 
the membership of his church has grown from 
sixty-seven to one hundred and five, and a new 
parsonage has been built. 

Mr. Williii'diam was one of the three who came 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



.-,71 



from the Kansas Synod and located the Missouri 
Valley College at Marshall. He was elected a 
Trustee by the Synod, but on moving to this place 
could no longer serve. He has organized various 
church societies and gives his devoted attention to 
his church work. 

Our subject was married at La Grange, Mo., 
February '22, 1887, to Miss Clara L. Cook, whose 
birthplace was Amboy, 111. She was reared in 
Obio and is a daughter of James M. Cook, of that 
State, his residence being at Findlav. She is a 
graduate of the High School of Ravenna, Ohio, and 
later entered Wellesley (Mass.) College, and then 
Lincoln University, at Lincoln, 111. She is a highly 
educated and cultured woman, whose advantages 
are of great assistance to her husband in his work. 
They have one child, who is named James Cook. 

Mr. Willingham is a member of the Free and 
Accepted Masons of Madison, Mo., belonging to 
Lodge No. 91. He is also a member of the Inde- 
pendent Order of Odd Fellows, Garden City En- 
campment. In politics, he is a Prohibitionist, lie 
is a pleasant, affable gentleman, having that royal 
gift of magnetism which brings him into harmony 
with the sinner as well as the saint. He is a 
learned man, an eloquent preacher, and a pastor 
witli whom Slater will be very sorry to part and 
whose place could not readily be supplied. 



/^gj OL. HENRY C. CHILLS, a prominent resi- 
flf^L dent of .May view, Mo., is the subject of the 

V_y present notice. The birth of Col. Chiles 
took place in Montgomery County, Ky.. July 6, 
1818, and he is a son of William and Nancy (Pugh) 
Chiles, the former a native of Virginia, and the 
latter of Kentucky, both families having descended 
from sturdy Scotch and Welsh stork. In his na- 
tive State our subject passed a happy boyhood. 
growing to man's estate with the strength and 
vigor Of perfect health, and he soon outstripped 
his companions in the little log sehoolhouse, as he 



also excelled them in the manly sports of the 
times. Before the attainment of his sixteenth 
year Col. Chiles had displayed those military 
tastes which have clung to him since, making of 
him at one time in his career a prominent member 
of the State militia. 

Although the advantages offered by the schools 
of his time were very inadequate, our subject was 
a youth of quick perception and readily absorbed 
all the mental food which was provided, later sup- 
plementing it with much reading and association 
with cultured society, so that Col. Chiles has never 
felt any educational deficiency, whatever the posi- 
tion he has been called upon to assume. The first 
marriage of Col. Chiles was with Miss .Maria Wil- 
son, November 4, 1810, in the State of Kentucky, 
and two children resulted from this union: Will- 
iam H., now an attorney at Lexington, Mo., and 
George P., now a resident of Colorado. Mis. 
Chiles was removed by death from her family in- 
1845, and in 1858 our subject became the hus- 
band of Mrs. Ruth Fearing, of Helena, Ark., and 
one son, Walter, a resident of this county, was 
born to them. The mother passed away in 1865, 
and three years later, in October, 1868, Col. Chiles 
married Mrs. Levinia C. < Waves, of Lexington. Mo., 
and one daughter. Mrs. 15. II. Campbell, was born 
of this marriage. 

In 1859 Col. Chiles came to La Fayette County, 
settling upon section 1, township 49, range 27, 
where he remained until 1889, and then removed 
to the village of May view, which has been his 
place of residence ever since. For many years the 
Colonel has been a prominent man in the political 
life of the county, and in 1862-63 he was called 
upon to represent his district in the State Legisla- 
ture. His election was upon the Democratic 
ticket, in which party his influence has been felt 
all over the State. Much of the progress of the 
county has been made since his residence here. 
and with almost all of the important measures 
Col. Chiles has been in sympathy. 

Col. Chiles is one of the Directors of the Amer- 
ican Bank of Higginsville, and is also a Trustee of 
the Village Board of Mayview. Formerly he was 
a strong Democrat, but latterly has become inter- 
ested in the new issues started by the People's 



572 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



party, taking a deep concern in the workings of 
the Grange and Farmers' Alliance. Whatever 
Col. Chiles undertakes he does with his whole 
heart, and to his progressive and enterprising 
spirit many of the advances made in this county 
and part of the State may be directly traced. 
His character is above reproach, his social and 
commercial standing of the very best, and among 
the citizens of La Fayette County he is pointed 
out as one of the most popular and prominent in 
the community. 



!>*<!- 



eAMILLUS BARNETT, a prosperous farmer 
and highly respected citizen now residing 
upon section 10, township 50, range 26, 
Lexington Township, La Fayette County, Mo., has 
been for fifty-seven years a daily observer of 
the growth and improvement of his adopted State. 
Earnest, energetic and progressive, he has mate- 
rially aided in the advancement of the leading in- 
terests of his neighborhood and vicinity, and been 
an important factor in the upward tendency and 
broad development of enterprise. Our subject 
was born in the State of Kentucky, Madison 
County, March 7. 1821, and is a son of Alexander 
and Elizabeth M. (Dinwiddic) Burnett. 

The parents of Mr. Barnett were both native 
Virginians, and were reared and educated in the 
Old Dominion. The Dinwiddies are of Scotch 
descent and claim a prominent place in the early 
history of our country. Robert Dinwiddie, Lieu- 
tenant-Governor of Virginia, arrived in the colony 
in 1752, and remained until January, 1758, when 
he went to England. His administration covered 
a stirring period in Colonial history, and he had 
the sagacity to discern the capacity of Washington, 
whom, in 1753, he appointed Adjutant-General of 
one of the four military districts of Virginia. 
The county of Dinwiddie is named in honor of 
Governor Dinwiddie, and numerous descendants 
perpetuate the name, not only in Virginia, but 
throughout the North, South, East and West. 



Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Barnett made their 
home in Kentucky and there our subject spent 
hi- boyhood, attending school and assisting his 
father in the duties of agricultural life. In 
the year of 1836, his father having in the 
meantime died, Cam ill us came with his widowed 
mother to Lexington Township, where they set- 
tled upon a farm, and he, assisting in the culti- 
vation of the soil, still found time to attend the 
winter school, and thus increased his stock of 
knowledge. At the age of twenty-one years he 
began life for himself, and from that day to this 
has prosperously continued a general agriculturist. 
and stock-raiser. II is valuable farm of six hundred 
and twenty-five acres is one of the best managed 
in this portion of the State. Mostly under high 
cultivation, the acres annually yield an abundant 
harvest, and are a shining example of the success 
which hones; and well-directed energy can achieve 
in the production of the necessities of life. 

The pleasant home and the comforts which the 
broad acres afford are shared by Mr. Barnett with 
a family widely known and highly regarded for 
their intelligence and native worth. The mar- 
riage of our subject occurred in 1843, during which 
year Camillus Barnett and Miss Martha Young 
were united in the bonds of matrimony. Mrs. 
Barnett was the daughter of James Young, a na- 
tive of Tennessee, an upright man and excellent 
citizen. The home of Mr. and Mis. Barnett was 
blessed by the birth of ten children, eight of 
whom, four sons and four daughters, now survive. 
These brothers and sisters are Martha, the wife of 
Ben Higgins; Camillus, Jr., married Minnie Good- 
win; Margaret, the wife of William Waddell; Rob- 
ert D. married Rose W. Young; Samuel W. mar- 
ried Mary A. Yancey; Hattie, the wife of Charles 
L. Glascock; Carrie F; and Edward M. married 
Mary Bennett. Occupying positions of respect 
and influence, and each and all honest and re- 
liable citizens and worthy representatives of Amer- 
ican manhood and womanhood, our subject may 
rejoice in the descendants who will preserve his 
name and honor in the coming generation. 

Mr. Barnett and his wife have a large circle 
of friends and are numbered among the pioneers 
of the county, for so many long years their per- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



573 



manent home. Our subject has never sought po- 
litical office, but nevertheless is deeply interested 
in the political situation, and in the management 
of both national and local positions deems it most 
important that such grave interests should be 
only intrusted to the hands of men of tried in- 
tegrity and upright principle. As have been all 
his family, so is he a stanch Democrat, and au 
ardent advocate of party principles. 



-j-fr-M-I-.Sg'S^-I-fr-M-r 



<-S"5"5-*~ 



-••J*A«J»fcJ» * 




[JGUST G. MEINERSHAGEN is a farmer 

and stock-raiser living on section 1 ^town- 
ship 19, range 26. He is a native of War- 
ren County, Mo., where he was born March 
12, 1852. His parents, William and Minnie Mei- 
nershagen, both of whom are natives of Germany, 
are now residents of this county, where the father 
is a successful farmer. 

The Meinershagen family comprise the follow- 
ing named children, of whom our subject is one: 
Henry; Herman; Frederick; Charles; Catherine, 
wife of II. A. Schoppenhorst; August (1.; and 
Annie, wife of Charles Shaffer. These children 
were reared in the teachings of the Evangelical 
Association, and the principles of the highest type 
of manhood and womanhood were early inculcated 
in their youthful minds. Our subject was reared 
to man's estate in the county where he was born. 
He received the educational advantages enjoyed 
by the youth of his home district, and the inter- 
vals in school work were Idled with the duties in- 
cident to his farm life. He has always been a 
farmer, and being one who is enthusiastic in his 
chosen calling, his efforts have been crowned with 
success. 

The original of this sketch was married April (I, 
1877, to Miss Louisa, daughter of Henry Hackman, 
of Warren County, Mo. They have become the 
parents of six children, whose names are: Paulina, 
Edward, Albert. Annie, .Mamie and Lizzie. Mr. 
Meinershagen came to La Fayette County in 1S77. 
and has since carried on his farming operations 



here. He now owns one hundred and sixty-seven 
acres of land, and has wrested from adverse cir- 
cumstances a success that shows his efforts to have 
been energetic and sustained. The family home 
is all that could be desired, a line brick residence 
with all the comforts and conveniences that are a 
pari of our modern homes. It is finished inside 
most tastefully and furnished in keeping with the 
house and the station of its owner. Good fruit 
trees embellish the place, and the whole surround- 
ings are of the best sort. 

Our subjeet is a Republican in politics, but ir- 
respective of part}' or office incumbents he desires 
the greatest good to the greatest number. He is a 
member of the church in which his parents reared 
their family — the Evangelical Association. 



*- ♦= 



_s 



r 



♦=•S•=•5• 




B. BENNING,a prominent and well-known 

resident of the town of Mayview, Mo., is 
lf^ the subject of this notice. As President of 
the Bank of Mayview Mr. Benning is well known 
in commercial circles, and the large business he 
conducts by himself in lumber, white and yellow 
[line, building materials, hardware, farm imple- 
ments and harness, testifies to his success a- a 
merchant. Mr. Benning is a native of La Fayette 
County, Mo., having been born here September 
16, 1853, a son of Anthony I), and Bettie Ben- 
ning, early settlers of the county. They were the 
parents of the following children, beside our sub- 
ject: James A., Taylor 1!., John G., Ottie V., Rob- 
ert L. and Thomas E. 

Our subject was reared to farm life, but a- he 
grew older developed tastes which made of him a 
merchant, although the owner of a line farm of 
one hundred and sixty acres. The hardware bus- 
iness has been a very profitable one. necessitating, 
to accommodate the business in all its branches, a 
building 20x80 feet. Since 18.su Mr. Benning has 
been located in his present quarters, and carries a 
stock valued at about $8,000, while he docs a bus- 



:,7 1 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



iness which will average perhaps 820,000 per year. 
His education was received in the schools of Lex- 
ington, and such was his ability that upon the or- 
ganization of the hank in Mayview in February, 
1891, he was made its President, and has served 
since then with credit to himself and all con- 
cerned. 

The marriage of our subject was celebrated Feb- 
ruary 25, 1886, with Miss Maggie Logan, and four 
bright and interesting children have come into the 
family, namely: Murray G., Bettie, Mary L. and 
Marguerite. The father of Mr. Beuning was a 
prominent man in this neighborhood, and was 
the Postmaster of Tabu fur some time, and an 
early settler. Our subject has also taken a front 
place in polities in the county. His adherence is 
to the Democratic party, and in it his influence is 
felt throughout the neighborhood. Mr. Benning 
is a member of the Baptist Church, in which he 
finds active and congenial companionship. He 
is regarded as one of the successful business men 
of the county, and possesses the esteem and con- 
fidence of the community. 




5, for the past twenty- 
general agriculturist 
l\ [ — *} and stock-raiser of La Fayette County, Mo., 
and widely known as an upright, energetic and en- 
terprising citizen, now resides upon his highly im- 
proved homestead located upon section 3, town- 
ship 48, range 27. Our subject was born in Bed- 
ford County, Va., May 21, 1820, and is the son of 
William and Polly (Page) Thomas. His paternal 
grandfather, Isaac Thomas, was born in Maryland, 
and tilled the soil of his native State, but later re- 
moved to Bedford County, Ya., where he died 
upon New Year's Day of 1825, passing away very 
suddenly after his dinner. His wife was Miss 
Polly DeWitt, and a member of an old Southern 
family. She was the mother of a large family of 
sons and daughters, who grew up to lie useful, in- 
dustrious and honored citizens. 



The father of our subject was born in January, 
1790, in Bedford County, and in 1828 removed 
with his family to Kanawha Comity. W. Va. In 
1850, William Thomas again removed his home, 
this time journeying to Missouri and settling in 
Jackson County, which he made his permanent abid- 
ing-place until his death in 1862. It was thought 
that his life might have been much prolonged 
if he had not taken a walk from Kansas City to 
his home, a distance of seven miles. In religious 
belief he was a Baptist, and politically gave his 
preference and vote to the Democratic party. 
William Thomas was twice married, and by his 
first wife became the father of thirteen children, 
eleven of the brothers and sisters reaching adult 
age. Elizabeth was the eldest-born, and then came 
Polly. William. James, Nancy, Matilda, Ed A., 
Abigail, Millie and Catherine. John died young, 
but ten of the children married and reared families 
of their own. 

The second wife of the father of our subject 
was Mary Ilandshaw, who bore her husband one 
child, a daughter, Rebecca, who died at sixteen 
years of age. The mother of Edmond A. Thomas 
was a native of Bedford County, Ya., and was the 
daughter of Edward and Elizabeth (Gutridge) 
Page, the maternal grandfather of our subject 
being a Virginia farmer. Edmond A. Thomas was 
mainly self-educated, and was reared to the salt 
w r ork, and at nineteen years of age began life for 
himself, boating salt down the river, and continued 
in this business until June, 1865, when, after fol- 
lowing the river business from April 3, 1837, he 
retired to a small farm and there entered into the 
duties of agriculture, industriously improving his 
one hundred and eighty-eight acres until in 1867 
he sold out his interests there. Coming to Mis- 
souri in the month of March, he settled where he 
now resides and bought two hundred and twenty 
acres, a portion of which land he has since given 
to his children, reserving for himself one hundred 
and forty acres, all highly improved. 

When Mr. Thomas came to Missouri he hail 
$5,000 which he had himself gained by industrious 
toil, and having won his way upward is literally a 
self-made man. Our subject has been twice mar- 
ried. His first wife was Miss Mary A. Thrush, 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



575 



daughter of George and Elizabeth (Boggus) 
Thrush. Mr. Thomas is the father of four chil- 
dren, of whom but two now survive, William W. 
and George R. His first wife, a most estimable 
lady, died July L3, 1878, aged fifty-six years. She 
was born in Kanawha County, W. Ya. The sec- 
ond wife was Mrs. Mary J. Hill, nee Dulmg. Mr. 
Thomas and his family and both of his wives have 
been members of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
South, but our subject was formerly a member of 
the Christian Church. An earnest, upright and 
intelligent citizen, ever striving to assist those 
less fortunate than himself, and always ready to 
aid in the march of local improvement, and for- 
ward the advancement of facilities for a liberal 
education which he was himself denied, our subject 
is a true American citizen and enjoys the esteem 
of the entire community, among whom his busy 
life has been passed. 



/^gj\ ORNELIUS A. WILLIARD is manager of 
([( r the agricultural department of the Confed- 

V ' crate Home, which is located on section 25, 

Dover Township, La Layette County. He is a na- 
tive of Erederick County, Md., and was born July 
."., is is, ;l son of Israel and Lavina (Her) Williard, 
both natives of Maryland. Comparatively little 
is known of the ancestry of the family, but this 
much has been ascertained, that English and Ger- 
man blood are mingled in our subject's veins. His 
paternal grandfather, John Williard, was a native 
of Maryland. It is not known In us who was the 
founder of the American branch of the family. 

Our subject spent his boyhood in his native 
county, laying the foundation of a good education 
in the common schools in the vicinity of his home, 
and learning many practical Lessons concerning 
farming, with his father as director. He remained 
at home until twenty-one }'ears of age. and then 
began farming on his own account. 

In February, 1883, Mr. Williard moved to Mason 
County, 111., and there remained for three years. 

29 



That locality, however, failed to fulfill his expecta- 
tions, and in December, 1886, he moved again and 
located in this county, where he farmed until 1890. 
He then accepted the position of manager of the 
department of the institution as above mentioned. 
and still holds the position. 

In 18G8, our subject married Miss Harriet, a 
daughter of Enoch Kepner. of Adams County. Pa. 
They have been the parents of four children, three 
sons and one daughter, who arc a- follows: Anna, 
John, William and Elmer. Mr. Williard is a mem- 
ber of Higginsville Lodge No. 448, I. O. 0. E. In 
politics, he is a Jefferson ian Democrat, and is 
greatly regarded by his constituents as a firm ad- 
vocate of his party's principles. 



~S 



€+^ 



t^=> 



[= 




AVID M. SMITH, a well-known and suc- 
cessful business man of the city of Lex- 
ington, Mo., is the subject of the present 
writing. The birth of Mr. Smith took 
place in this city, July 5, 1852, and he was the 
third son in the family of five children born to 
Harrison and Martha (Groves) Smith. The father 
was a very prominent man in Lexington, at one 
time having been elected to the honorable position 
of Ma3'or of the city for a period covering five 
terms, and took part actively in the movement^ of 
the Democratic party throughout the county. His 
business in early life was that of a distiller, but 
later he removed to La Eayette County, in 1844, 
there became a farmer, and died in lsSG, in his 
seventy-second year. He was a son of John Smith. 
The mother of our subject was in her maiden- 
hood Martha .1. Cloves, of Tennessee, a daugh- 
ter of William Groves, and is now living in Lex- 
ington, in her sixty-fifth year. David, our subject , 
was reared in his happy home in Lexington, at- 
tended the public school, and at the age of eigh- 
teen years, entered the mercantile business in the 
capacity at first of clerk. Growing ambitious, our 
subject began a business of his own, commencing 
in a small way at first in the old market-house. 



576 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



whore he continued for eight years. Honesty in 
dealing and close application to business brought 
its own reward, .and he was enabled in a few years 
to build up a first-class trade in fine groceries. 

In 1891, our subject removed to Ins present 
stand, on Franklin Avenue, where may lie found 
one of the best and most carefully selected stocks 
in the city. The marriage of our subject took 
place in 1892 to Miss Maria E. Wilson, who was 
born in Clark County, Mo., a daughter of L. Wil- 
son, and they reside in a comfortable brick resi- 
dence upon one of the pleasant streets of the city. 
Both Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members of the 
Christian Church, active in good works, and held 
in the highest esteem by the community. In his 
political opinions, our subject follows the example 
of his worthy father, supporting the principles of 
Democracy. 




,EV. NATHANIEL PEACHEE, ordained to 
the ministry of the Christian Church full 
toily-seven years ago, and universally es- 
^@ teemed by all who know him, is now en- 
gaged in agricultural pursuits, and successfully 
conducts a line farm located upon section 4, town- 
ship 50, range 27, Lexington Township, La Fay- 
ette County, Mo. ( >ur subject was born in Davis 
County, Ind.. June 1, 1822, and is the son of 
.lames and Mary (Rigdon) Peachee. The family 
is descended from English ancestry, and the pa- 
ternal grandfather, Benjamin, fought ardently and 
bravely under the immediate command of Gen. 
Washington during the Revolutionary War. The 
father of our subject was born in Maryland, and 
the mother was a native of Tennessee. 

In early boyhood our reverend subject received 
only the educational advantages offered by the 
little subscription schools of Davis County, Ind. 
He well improved every opportunity to increase 
hi* stock of knowledge and is mainly self-edu- 
cated, as have Been numerous of the eminent men 



of our country. Devoting himself to the duties 
of general agriculture upon his farm, the time 
passed and he arrived at the thirtieth year of his 
life without making any change in the even tenor 
of his way. In the fall of 1851, he removed from 
his birthplace, and locating in La Fayette County, 
Mo., settled upon his present farm in 1880, where 
he remained continuously until the present time. 
After due preparation, Mr. Peachee was, in 1847, 
ordained to the ministry of the Christian Church, 
of which religious denomination he has been a 
faithful and honored member for over half a cen- 
tury. At present he is an Elder of the Lexington 
Christian Church, and is ever among the foremost 
in promoting the good work of that religious or- 
ganization. 

In 1871 Rev. Mr. Peachee was appointed Super- 
intendent of the Poor Farm of La Fayette County, 
Mo., and ably conducting the affairs of the refuge for 
the unfortunate and indigent of the county, retained 
the position for seven years. Attending to the 
physical wants and spiritual needs ot all who came 
under his kindly care, our subject was peculiarly 
well adapted to accomplish much of good during 
these years. In 1845 Mr. Peachee was united in 
marriage with Miss Martha J. Ward, a daughter of 
William Ward, an old resident and prominent cit- 
izen of North Carolina, his native State. Our 
subject and his excellent wife were the parents of 
the following children: Minerva is the eldest, 
Zilpha .1. is the second daughter, and then accord- 
ing to their birth are Martha E., Emma J., Lucy 
W.. William A., Alice, Fannie M., Ella and Ollie. 
In the family is also a grandson, Louis. The 
Rev. Mr. Peachee and family all occupy posi- 
tions entitling them to respect, and are re- 
garded as representative, earnest, true and loyal 
American citizens, ever ready to aid in all good 
work, and assist in the social or benevolent enter- 
prises of their homes and localities. The wife 
and mother of the family passed from earth June 
8, 1891. Our subject is a strong Democrat, stanch 
in his political convictions and belief, and has al- 
ways voted the ticket, as did his father before him. 
Never taking a prominent or leading position in 
the political world, and never desiring promotion 
to official duty, Mr. Peachee has ever been extremely 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



577 



interested in the local and national conduct of af- 
fairs, intelligently realizing the necessity of pre- 
serving the power and strength of our great 
Republic only through the wise and judicious 
management of those who guide the Ship of State. 
During the forty-one years of his residence in Mis- 
souri, our subject has ever used his invaluable in- 
fluence in behalf of the best interests of his neigh- 
borhood and vicinity, and that he has effected 
much of good who can doubt. In his unselfish 
labors for others, he has gained the lasting grati- 
tude and kindly remembrance of scores of others 
less fortunate than himself, and won the generous 
commendation and high regard of every true cit- 
izen. 




'J^ON. JOHN S. BLACK WELL, an able and 
\l successful legal practitioner of Lexington, 
Mo., and from 1888 to 1882 the Prosecut- 
ing Attorney of La Fayette County, has 
held several positions of trust, and, ever discharg- 
ing the several duties committed to his care with 
efficient fidelity, enjoys the esteem and confidence 
of the general public. Our subject was born in 
Anderson County, Ky., January 8, 1832. His 
father, John Blackwell, was a native of Fauquier 
County, Ya., and was a planter and trader of the 
Old Dominion. The paternal grandfather was 
Robert Blackwell, whose direct ancestry were En- 
glish born, members of the family coming to 
America in the year 1600. The maiden name of 
Mr. Black well's mother was Rachel Lawrence, a 
native of Kentucky, and a daughter of Samuel 
Lawrence, who was born in Virginia. 

The Lawrence family were originally from the 
Queen's dominions, and were of English nativity. 
The early life of our subject was passed in Ander- 
derson and Franklin Counties. Ky. At the age 
of eighteen years, attracted to the Pacific Coast by 
the fabulons stories of the golden wealth of Cali- 
fornia, Mr. Blackwell. leaving behind him home 
and friends, took the long journey thither and 
there engaged in mining and trading. Remaining 



in the Golden State for a number of years,he 
read law in the office of Atty.-Gen. Thomas II. 
Williams and John .1. Musser, and was admitted to 
the Bar of California at Placerville, El Dorado 
County. Later our subject went to Nevada Ter- 
ritory and entered into partnership with John 
Reed, of Lander County, and successfully engaged 
in the practice of law for three years. 

After an absence of fifteen years Mr. Blackwell 
returned to his early home, but remained only a 
brief time in Kentucky, soon locating in Welling- 
ton, La Fayette County, Mo., where he opened an 
office and at (nice entered into a prosperous prac- 
tice, continuing in the same until his election to 
the position of Prosecuting Attorney of La Fay- 
ette County. His duties then required his resi- 
dence in Lexington, and since 1878 he has bsen 
an honored and well-known citizen of the county 
seat. In 1886, retiring from the office to which 
he had been elected four years before, he con- 
tinued the practice of law, and has prosperously 
continued in the same from that time to this. 
Our subject is a prominent Democrat, especially 
interested in the county and State elections and 
the general conduct of local affairs. 

While Prosecuting Attorney Mr. Blackwell was 
Chairman of the Democratic Central Committee, 
and is now Chairman of the Democratic County 
Committee, and has been prominent in the politi- 
cal gatherings in various portions of the State 
since 1872. He also received the honor of bein°- 
sent as a Delegate to the National Convention, 
which, meeting in Chicago in June, 1892, nomi- 
nated G rover Cleveland and Adlai Stevenson to 
the high positions of President and Vice-Presi- 
dent. It is a little more than a score of years 
since, upon May 7, 1872, our subject entered into 
the bonds of matrimony with Miss Bettie M. Rog- 
ers, a daughter of Elijah and Sarah F. Rogers. 
Mrs. Blackwell is a native of La Fayette County, 
and has a large circle of friends in her lifetime 
home. Mr. and Mrs. Blackwell are the parents of 
three children: Horace 1'.. a graduate of Bethany; 
George Pattenburg and Mary K. Our subject is 
an ardent advocate of educational advancement, 
and the sons and daughter of his household have 
ample opportunity to receive an extended course 



578 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



of instruction. Actively and efficiently aiding in 
in all social, benevolent, religious and business en- 
terprises of his county and home neighborhood, 
Mr. Blackwell has been among the most liberal 
supporters of the several colleges located in the 
city, and is numbered among the public-spirited 
citizens, whose pleasure it has ever been to pro- 
mote the best interests and local improvements of 
the State. Progressive in his ideas, energetic in 
bis methods, and withal possessing excellent judg- 
ment, our subject is thoroughly adapted to occupy 
with ability and honor a leading position in the 
ci immunity, whose confidence and esteem he long 
ago won, and yet worthily retains. 

Fraternally Mr. lilaekwell is associated with the 
Masons, and is a member of the De Molay Com- 
mander}' No. 10, K. T. He was Master of the 
Blue Lodge three terms, and for two terms was 
High Priest of the Chapter, and was also twice 
Eminent Commander of the Commandery. The 
friend of others less fortunate than himself, ex- 
tending a ready relief to all worthy objects of his 
beneficence, and socially genial and liberal in sen- 
timent, our subject has a host of friends and well- 
wishers throughout Missouri, Kentucky, and the 
far West. 



<s|p*HOMAS II. HITCHINGS, an energetic and 

i/(F~\ enterprising agriculturist, successfully con- 
vey ducting a fine farm, located pleasantly in 
Washington Township, La Fayette County., Mo., 
is one of the substantial citizens of the State, and, 
a good friend and neighbor, upright in character, 
commands the confidence of the community among 
whom his busy life is passed. Our subject was 
born in South Wales, county of Pembroke, Octo- 
ber 12, 1830, and was the son of Thomas and 
Sarah (Points) Hitchings. The father was a farmer 
of South Wales, and was twice married. Thomas II. 
was the only child of his mother, and was reared 
by his paternal grandfather, George Hitchings, a 
tiller of the soil. When but a young lad ten or 



twelve years of age, our subject began to be self- 
supporting, and, making his own way in the world, 
at seventeen years of age entered the British 
army, and served as a soldier for two years and 
eight months, being honorably discharged in the 
fall of 1852. 

Mr. Hitchings then decided to try his fortunes 
in the United States, and arriving safely in New 
York, at first made his home in Albany. From 
there he went to Rochester, and in 1854 journeyed 
to St. Louis, thence by river to Kansas City, and 
with his wife and thirteen associates located on 
Seven Mile Reserve, taken from the Pottawatomie 
Reservation, and settled upon a claim of one hun- 
dred and sixty acres. He was one of the original 
settlers of Ocwattama, and prominent among its 
founders. His wife died here in 1855, and in 
1856 the Border Ruffians forced him to leave 
his home. Entirely destitute after being driven 
from his homestead, he came to La Fayette County, 
Mo., and hired out by the month. The old 
neighbors and friends in the vicinity of his late 
home endeavored to induce him to return and 
assist them to make Kansas a slave State. He, 
however, remained in Missouri, and continued to 
work (Hit by the month until his marriage, when 
he rented a farm for three years and was prosper- 
ing, when the war broke out, and for the second 
time he lost all the accumulations of hard labor. 

In the fall of 1862, Mr. Hitchings enlisted 
in the State Militia, Federal service, Company 
F, Seventy-first Missouri Regiment, which later 
was consolidated with Company I, Fifth Pro- 
visional Regiment. Our subject served as Cor- 
poral, and later was honorably discharged. He 
immediately enlisted in the twelve-month volun- 
teers, and was made Sergeant, serving with effi- 
cient ability and bravery until the close of the war, 
in 1865. He was in the detail used by the Govern- 
ment in hunting down the guerrillas and numer- 
ous desperadoes who then infested that portion of 
the country. The war ended, our subject located 
upon forty acres where he now resides, and which 
he has improved and added to until he now owns 
one hundred and ten acres of valuable property, 
which lie has industriously and successfully brought 
from timber-land into a high state of cultivation. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



579 



Mr. Hitchings married his first wife, Sarah Thomas, 
a native of England, while lie was in the British 

army. She was the mother of one son, who died 
at five years of age. As before stated, this estima- 
ble woman died in Kansas. 

On the .'id of August. 1859, our subject was 
united in marriage with Miss Sarah E. Starr. 
daughter of Sampson and Anna Mary (Scaggs) 
Starr. Mr. and Mrs. Hitchings are the parents of 
the following children: Charles resides in Wash- 
ington; John II. is a citizen of Portland, Ore.; 
Sarah .1. is the eldest daughter; Anna E. is the 
wife of Sherman Kinnamon; and Mary E. is the 
youngest. The two sons who died are James W. 
and Walter Mc. Our subject, his wife and the 
daughters, are all valued members of the Cumber- 
land Presbyterian Church, and are ever foremost 
in the promotion of the good work of that relig- 
ious organization. Our subject was one of the 
original John Brown men in his county, and par- 
ticipated in the early border war. In political 
affiliation, Mr. Hitchings is an ardent Republican, 
and earnest advocate of the principles of the part}'. 
He is always read}' to assist in local improvement, 
and is a friend to educational advancement, and 
in all things pertaining to the best interests of the 
State and county is a public-spirited and enter- 
prising citizen. 



^O 



XL ^^ ENRY CONRAD, a prosperous general 

*^ agriculturist and successful stock-raiser re- 
siding upon section 21, Washington Town- 
'§}) ship, La Fayette County, Mo., is an intelli- 
gent, industrious and uprighl citizen, and com- 
mands the esteem and high regard of all his friends 
and neighbors. Our subject was born July 12, 
1842, in Hesse-Darmstadt, and is the son of George 
and Catherine (Kile) Conrad. John Conrad, the 
paternal grandfather, was a carpenter by trade 
and an enterprising man, emigrating to the United 
States in 1<S4<'.. He was accompanied by his wife, 



Elizabeth, and his son < teorge and the latter 's family, 

hut led behind him one daughter, who c fcinued to 

reside in the Fatherland. TheConrads were twen- 
ty-one days upon the broad Atlantic, and safely 
landing in New York, proceeded upon their waj to 
Beardstown, 111., where the mother of our subject 
had two uncles living. 

Grandfather Conrad died in 1864, and his good 
wile survived him about four years. This worthy 
couple were faithful members of the Lutheran 
Church, and were ever consistent Christians. 
George Conrad learned his trade of wagon-maker 
in his native land and followed this occupation 
during his comparatively brief life, dying in 1854, 
at about thirty-six years of age. He left a widow 
and three children. Henry, our subject, was the 
eldest; the second son. John, is a resident of Mis- 
souri; and the little daughter passed aw.ay at two 
years of age. The mother afterward married 
Lewis Zemme, and bore her second husband two 
children, Margaret and Lewis, and is still living 
and makes her home with her husband in Illinois. 
( )ur subject was reared upon a farm, and received 
his early education in the Lutheran Church School, 
finally completing his studies by a two-winters 
course of instruction after he had worked for two 
years at the blacksmith's trade. 

At seventeen years of age, Henry Conrad began 
the struggle of life for himself, working out by the 
month until the 19th of August, 1861, when he 
enlisted in Company D, Twenty-sixth Illinois In- 
fantry. Our subject was a brave and ardent sup- 
porter of the Government of his adopted country, 
and faithfully engaged in the battles of Island 
No. 10, siege of Corinth, Iuka, Missionary Ridge, 
Corinth, and was present at the engagements 
of Jackson, Miss., and the siege of Vicksburg. 
Severely wounded at Missionary Ridge, he was 
captured and imprisoned in Libby and Belle Is- 
land, and from March to August experienced the 
horrors of Andersonville. He was then taken to 
Charleston, S. ('.. and from the 1st of September 
in February was imprisoned there and in Florence, 
N. ('. Finally Mr. Conrad was inarched to Rich- 
mond, and was paroled, and came to St. Louis, 
where his health received attention for four weeks 
in the hospital, lie was then given a month's 



580 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



furlough, at the expiration of which time he re- 
ported at Springfield, and in June, I860, received 
from the Government his honorable discharge 
from military service. 

Soon after our subject engaged in work upon 
a farm, and in the spring of 1807 came to Cass 
County, Mo., and for two years farmed upon 
rented land, and then removed to Jackson County, 
which part of the State he made his home for seven 
years; he then traded his stock for ninety acres of 
laud, added fifty acres in the spring of 1880, and 
sold this property, and located on his present val- 
uable homestead. Mr. Conrad married Miss Susan 
Pierce, born in Bertie County, N. C, and the 
daughter of George W. anil Phoebe (Meazel) Pierce. 
George Pierce, the grandfather of Mrs. Conrad 
was a planter of North Carolina, and her father, 
George W. Pierce, was a prosperous merchant and 
highly respected citizen of the same State, lie 
died early in life, and left one child. Mrs. Pierce 
married Thomas Hardin, and bore him a son and 
daughter, and came with her family to Illinois in 
an early day. The Pierce family were of the 
Baptist persuasion, but our subject and his wife 
are members of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. and 
Mrs. Conrad are the parents of nine children, seven 
of whom are now surviving. The sons and daugh- 
ters are: J. May, George H., William II. and Ed- 
ward E. (twins), Orville, Ollie and Bertha. 

.Mr. Conrad is politically a Republican, and 
takes an active interest in the outcome of local 
and national issues. He has won his way upward 
by energetic effort and is an earnest, self-reliant 
and patriotic American citizen. 



_^S3) 



MM§ 



©>~_ 



(e>— 



ON. I1ENKY C. WALLACE, of Lexington, 
Mo., was born August 18, 1823, in Wood- 
ford County, Ky., a son of Henry and 
Elizabeth Wallace, the latter a daughter of 
George Carlyle, a soldier of the Revolutionary 
War,a native of Virginia and a resident of Wood- 
ford County. Our subject is a descendant of one 




of the oldest and most honored families of the 
■•dark and bloody ground." His ancestors are 
traced back to Scotland, but in this country they 
made their first settlement in Pennsylvania and 
later in Virginia. His grandfather. Caleb Wallace, 
was among the first settlers in that portion of Vir- 
ginia which was afterward taken into the State 
of Kentucky. In the year 1792 he was a member 
of four successive conventions at Danville prepar- 
atory to the separation of Kentucky from Virginia. 

Caleb Wallace, grandfather of our subject, was 
also a member of the Constitutional Convention 
which formed the first constitution of Kentucky 
at Danville in 1 7:»2. as well as a member of the 
Constitutional Convention that framed the second 
constitution of Kentucky at Frankfort in 1797; 
also a Presidential Elector from Kentucky in 1797, 
when John Adams was elected President, and was 
one of the first Judges of the Court of Appeals of 
Kentucky, appointed in 1792, soon after that State- 
was admitted into the Union. He served for 
twenty years in the latter capacity, associated with 
the most distinguished jurists of Kentucky's early 
history, and resided successively in Lincoln, Fay- 
ette and Woodford Counties. 

The father of our subject, (apt. Henry Wallace, 
was born in Kentucky March 24, 1792, soon after 
the admission of the State, and is supposed to have 
been the first male child born in the State after 
its admission into the Union. Capt. Wallace was 
a soldier of the War of 1812 with England under 
Gen. William II. Harrison, and served with that 
officer in the North, which was then known as the 
Northwest Territory, against the hostile Indians, 
who were incited to deeds of violence by British 
emissaries. He participated in the battle of Mas- 
sissinway December 18,1812. After the war, Capt 
Wallace became a farmer and a prominent and in- 
fluential citizen of Woodford County, Ky., until 
the spring of 1844, when he removed to Missouri 
and settled in Lexington and resided in that vicin- 
ity until his death. May 27, 1875. He was a man 
of high moral character and unspotted integ- 
rity, a useful member of society and long con- 
nected with the Baptist Church. At his death at 
the advanced age of eighty-three years, he was 
mourned by his numerous children and grand- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



58 1 



children, as well as by many of bis fellow-citizens. 
The Hon. Caleb Wallace, the eldest brother of the 
subject of this sketch, was a member of the Senate 
of Kentucky, from Boyle County, in 1850 and 
1851. 

Henry C. Wallace enjoyed the advantages of 
Sinking Spring Academy in bis native county and 
was attending Center College at Danville, Ky.,when 
bis father emigrated to Missouri, but was forced by 
impaired health, resulting from a long and severe 
attack of typhoid fever, to leave college in 1844. 
Although his health gradually improved after he 
removed to Missouri, it did not permit of his re- 
suming his collegiate course, but he continued to 
prosecute his studies during several years with 
such assistance as he could then secure at Lexing- 
ton. In 1847, he commenced to teach school in 
that town, which calling he continued for a year 
and a-half, after which he began the study of law 
with F. C. Sharp, his brother-in-law, now deceased. 
This gentleman afterward became a prominent 
member of the St. Louis Bar and is remembered 
for his legal ability. Mr. Wallace was admitted to 
practice in 1849, and after pursuing his profession 
for eighteen months with good success he attended 
the law school at Louisville, Ky., being graduated 
from that institution in 1851. He then returned 
to Lexington and has ever since been assiduously 
engaged in the study and practice of law. 

Although often solicited by his fellow-citizens 
to become a candidate for Representative and 
Senator in the General Assembly, and by the Bar 
to suffer his name to be used as a candidate for 
Judge of the Circuit Court, he has always declined, 
preferring the practice of his profession to the 
emoluments of office. Other than having held the 
Office of Justice of the Peace and that of City At- 
torney, each from 184!) to 1853, he had never until 
his election to the Constitutional Convention, 
which met in 1875, desired to hold official posi- 
tion. The large vote he received when elected to 
the Constitutional Convention, in the three coun- 
ties composing the Seventeenth Senatorial District, 
La Fayette, Pettis and Saline, evinced the estima- 
tion in which he is held by bis fellow-citizens. 
The proceedings of that convention will best attest 
the extent of his labors and the influence that he 



exercised in forming the organic law of the State. 
In religion our subject is a Baptist, belonging 
to the First Baptist Church of Lexington, and is 
and has been for twelve successive years Modera- 
tor of the LaFayette and Johnson Association. 
He is also a Knight Templar Mason. Politically, 
he was an old-line Whig, bu1 since the dissolution 
of that party he has affiliated with and is a warm 
supporter of the Democratic party. Mr. Wallace 
married. June 4, 1863, .Miss Lizzie Sharp, sister of 
I". C. Sharp above mentioned, and daughter of 
Absalom M. Sharp, of Christian County. Ky. By 
her he has live children surviving, three boys and 
two iiirls, the eldest being in his twenty-seventh 
year. In stature. Mr. Wallace is somewhat below 
the medium height, but of compact build and ath- 
letic form. His face corresponds with his physique, 
indicating earnestness and strength of character. 
In his social intercourse he is geniai, polite and 
entertaining, at all times affable and gentleman^- 
in his demeanor. While giving due attention to 
the amenities of life and to his duties as an earnest 
Christian, he may be said to have devoted himself 
mainly to his profession. 

Selecting the law as his sphere, early in life Mr. 
Wallace had devoted his energies to that, ignoring 
other aspirations to make himself what he is to- 
day, a thorough master of legal science in all its 
ramifications. The common law, the statutes of 
Missouri, the history, progress and growth of jur- 
isprudence, as well as the higher and more abstruse 
principles of equity, are all completely at his com- 
mand, constituting him a leader of the Bar, which 
position is readily conceded him by his associates. 
As a practitioner he is cautious, vigilant and inde- 
fatigable, contesting every point with unyielding 
tenacity and employing his vast store of legal 
knowledge in sustaining his positions and attack- 
ing those of his adversary. In argument. Mr. 
Wallace is clear, forcible, logical and convincing, 
his irreproachable personal character and untarn- 
ished honor giving him great weight with juries, 
and his known ability and learning equally im- 
pressing the Bench. In the Supreme Court of 
Missouri, where he enjoys a large practice, no one 
has achieved greater successes than he. his years of 
study and faithful toil tilting him pre-eminently 



' 



E 









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• 









. ~ . 






- 



- 



:- 






' " -- 



^ 















584 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



place. He attended a private school until fifteen 
years of age, and then prepared for college at 
Pleasant Hill Academy, where he spent two years. 
In 1872 he entered William Jewell College, 
where he pursued his studies for six years, gradu- 
ating in 1878 from the classical course. In the 
fall of 1878, having fitted himself for the minis- 
try, our subject took the pastorate of the Baptist 
Church of Lamar, in Barton County, this State, 
where he remained for two years. In the fall of 
1880, he was elected to the chair of Greek and 
Latin in the Southwest Baptist College, at Bolivar, 
this State, and held the position for four years, at 
the same time performing the pastoral duties of 
the First Baptist Church of that place. 

In 1884, the Rev. Mr. Wilson was elected to the 
Presidency of the Pierce City College, and for 
four years maintained his connections with that 
institution, during which time it advanced greatly 
in comparative standing, and his severance with it 
was attended by the regret of Trustees and patrons. 
He came to Lexington in 1888, and for three years 
held the position as Principal of the college. In 
the fall of 1891 he became President of the Baptist 
Female College, which position he still holds. 
This institution has at the present time an enroll- 
ment of about one hundred and thirty-five stu- 
dents, and the faculty numbers thirteen members. 
It is one of the oldest institutions of the kind in 
the West, having been founded in 1855. 

Such branches as tend to the development of the 
more refined side of woman's character receive 
special attention at the Baptist College, and art 
and music are departments which rank in thor- 
oughness with many Fastern institutions. In 
1880, President Wilson married Miss Carrie (.'.. 
a daughter of Mr. Jesse Smith, of Illinois. Mr. 
and Mrs. Wilson are the parents of four children. 
They have but one daughter living, Grace J. 

The family residence is in the college building, 
and the taste which Mrs. Wilson brings to the ar- 
rangement of the house adds greatly to its attrac- 
tiveness. The school has made a steady and sub- 
stantial growth since its founding, and now ranks 
among the first in the State. President Wilson is 
a noble gentleman, beside being an enthusiastic 
educator, ami i> an earnest, faithful Baptist minis- 



ter. His cultured and genial wife is especially 
adapted to fill the important and responsible posi- 
tion of foster-mother to the man)' young women 
who are brought into more or le>s close relations 
with her. She is virtually matron of the institu- 
tion, and her admirable and ladylike bearing and 
her Christian examplecannot but be of inestimable 
value, and will be felt in the lives of the young 
ladies who go out from this institution for long 
years to come. The grade of scholarship is of the 
very highest order, and the mental and moral 
training of the pupils is of the best kind. 



<= 



"S3 



^+£ 



IS_~_ 



\17 EWIS W. COX. Our subject is one of the 
I (7S| thrifty and successful farmers of La Fayette 
J-— >v\ County, whose success redounds not only 
to the splendid condition of the country, but to 
his own good qualities. Mr. Cox now resides on 
section 28, Dover Township. He is a native of 
this county, and was born in 1884. His father, 
Solomon Cox, who was born in Virginia, moved to 
Missouri in 1817. His mother was before her mar- 
riage Miss Deborah Collins, also a native of Vir- 
ginia. 

Mr. Cox passed his boyhood in his native place, 
laying the foundation of a good education in the 
public schools near his home. He was reared 
as a farmer's boy, with a practical knowledge of 
the duties incident to farm life. At the age of 
twenty-four he began farming on his own account, 
and since that time has been continuously en- 
gaged in general farming and stock-raising. 

The tract of which our subject is the owner com- 
prises three hundred and twenty-five acres of as 
good land as there is in the vicinity of Dover. It 
is all under cultivation, and well improved. While 
the gold fever was still at its height, in 1852, Mr. 
Cox went to California by the overland route, and 
after a long and tedious trip, in which, however, 
he saw more of the country through which he 
passed than it is possible to see in the present mode 
of travel, he reached the Golden State, where he 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



585 



spent eighteen months in prospecting. In 1854 he 

retraced his steps and returned to La Fayette 
County. That same spring, however, he again went 
to California, and again remained two years, in 

1856 returning to La Fayette County. 

November 17, 18.38, our subject was married to 
.Miss Eliza Fletcher, a daughter of .lames Fletcher, 
a native of Virginia, and one of the early settlers 
in Missouri. The years that they have passed to- 
gether since have been tilled with the content that 
follows happiness. They have been the parents 
of nine children, there being four sons and five 
daughters, whose names are Rovella, Nancy D., 
Lillie B., May. William I).. Charles, Fletcher, Frank, 
and Pearl. 

In his political views Mr. Cox gives the weight 
of his vote and influence to the Democratic 
party, and his fidelity- has been demonstrated by 
the fact that he has been content to wait for years 
for their moment of triumph. In their religious 
preference, both our subject and his wife are de- 
voted members of the Christian Church, and kindly 
in disposition and generous with their means, they 
have been found to be most helpful factors in the 
social part of this community. 




ENRY C. SCHWARTZ, the accommodating 
} and ellieient Postmaster at IIigi>insville, 
was born in Warren County, Mo., near 
Hopewell, October 10, 1855. His father, 
Frederick, was born in Prussia, near Minden, and 
the grandfather was a wealthy farmer of Prussia, 
where he died. The father was a farmer in his 
native land, and in 1835 came to America, pro- 
ceeding via New Orleans and St. Louis to Warren 
County, Mo., where lie became one of the early 
settlers of Smith's Creek, and improved a farm of 
several hundred acres. At this place he died in 
1862, in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, of which denomination lie was a faithful 
member. In politics lie adhered to the principles 



of the Republican party. His wife, Fredrecka 
Ilasenjaeer, was born in Prussia, and died in 1863 
in Warren County, Mo. Four children yet living 
were born of this union, of whom our subject is 
the second. The others are: Charles, a farmer of 
Davis Township, this county; Caroline, now Mrs. 
Schlechte, residing near Worden, 111.; and William, 
a resident of Lowell, St. Louis. 

Our subject was reared to farm life, and at the 
age of seven or eight was apprenticed to Adolphus 
Wehrmann, with whom he remained until the age 
of sixteen years. He was among the first Ger- 
man settlers of Dover Township, this county. 
In 1869 he came to this place and engaged on a 
farm. His educational advantages had not satis- 
fied him, and he continued working in this local- 
ity until he earned enough to pay his expenses at 
school. In 1875 he entered the Central Wesleyan 
College, at Warrenton, Mo., where he remained 
for two years, taking the academic course. Dur- 
ing the summer he taught school, and in 1877 he 
entered the University of Missouri at Columbia 
and continued there in the classical course until 
the spring of 1880, which brought him to the sen- 
ior year, and then he left the university to com- 
mence the study of law. This study he pursued 
two years, but did not continue it, as he found it 
was not to his taste. 

At this time Mr. Schwartz was made Principal 
of the Higginsville public schools. In 1882 he 
entered the Bank of Higginsville as Assistant 
Cashier and continued there until August, 1881. 
At that time he purchased the 3fissouri Thalbole at 
Concordia, which he published for three years. In 
L888 he returned to Higginsville and resumed the 
study of law, but in -Inly, 1889, he was appointed 
Postmaster of the city by President Harrison and 
immediately took charge of the office. He owns 
| a one-half interest in the Higginsville Advance, a 
weekly Republican paper. His residence is in 
North Higginsville. 

At Concordia m 1888, Mr. Schwartz married 
Miss Charlotte Mueller, who was born in La l'ay- 
i ette County, and is a daughter of Adam Mueller, 
a prominent farmer. One child, Herbert, is the re- 
sult of this union. In political matters our subject 
is a true-blue Republican and has been very active 



586 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPinCAL RECORD. 



i i i i 



Y i ' i i i i i 




in political affairs in the county. For the past 
seven or eight years he has been Secretary of the 
Republican County Committee, both in county and j 
State Conventions. In 1888 he was Republican 
nominee for Representative from La Fayette 
County, and although he was not elected he ran 
considerabl}' ahead of his ticket. Me has also been 
nominated for other county ollices. Since he be- 
came Postmaster the business of the office has in- 
creased to a large extent. He is one of the most 
accommodating officials in the county and is well 
liked by all who know him. 



ENRY IIADKR is an old settler and a 
prominent agriculturist, living in town- 
ship 49, range 26, La Fayette County. 

j©) He is a native of Prussia, and was born 
April 2, 1841, his parents being John G. and Wil- 
helmena Hader, both natives of the Fatherland. 
The Hader family emigrated to the United States 
in 1855, taking passage at Bremen on a sailing- 
vessel, and after a tedious voyage, such as one 
usually had to endure on a sailing-vessel, landed 
in New York City and thence proceeded to La 
Fayette, Ind., later coming to this county. The3* 
first located smith of Concordia and there lived 
for a number of years, and then moved to the 
farm which our subject now occupies, coming here 
in 1866. Both parents died in 1885. Of their 
children the following survive: John, Frederick, 
Henry, Ernest, August; Wilhelmena, wife of Will- 
iam Ertmann; and Emma, wife of Henry Kulh- 
mann. 

Our subject's father was a member of the Baptist 
Church, and he and his wife were both devoted 
workers in the same. Their decease was greatly 
mourned among the best people here, for both were 
esteemed for their sterling traits of character. They 
were very successful in their business affairs and 
brought up their children in comfort. 

Our subject received a fair education while still 
a resident of his native land. Since coming to 



America he has picked up a fair knowledge of 
English and a good practical knowledge of busi- 
ness methods. He has been a lifelong farmer, 
whose methods in his work are dominated by in- 
telligence and a broad study of the best systems 
employed by others. 

Henry Hader was married October 20, 1866, to 
Miss Caroline Breipohl, and by her he has become 
the father of the following children: Minnie, who 
is the wife of Lewis Johnson; Lewis, Martha, 
August, Bertha, Otto, Paulina, Theodore and Wal- 
ter. Mr. Hader is the owner of two hundred and 
fifty-seven acres of good land. He has placed 
upon it excellent improvements and has made of 
it a valuable tract. During the war he served 
about ten months in the Union army, being a 
member of the State Militia. In politics, he is a 
Republican, and is a member of the Baptist Church, 
in which he has served as Clerk. As a citizen our 
subject is highly esteemed, and his opinions are 
held in respect by his friends and neighbors. 




^> 



, J. SLUSHER, a large land-owner and a 
prosperous agriculturist, located upon sec- 
tion 22, township 51, range 26, Lexington 
Township, La Fayette County, Mo., is num- 
bered among the prominent and influential citizens 
of the State. Born March 5, 1829, in the same 
township and county where he now resides, he is 
thoroughly familiar with the history and detail of 
the growth and upward progress of his portion of 
the State, and always public-spirited and energetic, 
has materially aided in the advancement of local 
improvements and valuable enterprise. Our sub- 
ject is the son of Christopher and Anne (Miles) 
Slusher, both of his parents being of German de- 
scent. 

Christopher Slusher was a native of Pennsyl- 
vania, and when eleven years of age removed to 
Virginia, where he received his education and early 
training, settling in La Fayette County, Mo., Oc- 
tober 8, 1828, and, afterward dying in his new 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



587 



home, was deeply regretted by all who knew him. 
An upright and useful citizen, lie always com- 
manded the respect and esteem of old friends and 
new, and was ever a kind husband and father. His 
wife was a faithful companion and devoted mother, 
and was also a native of the Quaker State. Our 
subject passed his youthful years upon his father's 
farm, and busily worked in the fields during the 
spring and summer months, in winter attending 
the subscription schools of the neighborhood. The 
old homestead was blessed with the presence of 
eleven children, of whom A. J. was the youngest. 
Five of the brothers and sisters yet survive, and all 
are filling positions of respect and honor. 

Mr. Slusher, at the age of twenty-three years, 
began to work for himself, and has made a life- 
long business of farming. He now owns twelve 
hundred and ten acres of valuable land, eight hun- 
dred and fifty of which are under a high state of 
cultivation, yielding an abundant harvest year by 
year. Our subject has profitably devoted much of 
his attention to handling" and raising stock, and 
has been successful in his various ventures, adding 
to his real estate from time to time. Mr. Slusher 
was married to Miss Susan J. Woods in the month 
of December, 1851. Mrs. Slusher is the daughter 
of Archibald Woods, an old-time resident and na- 
tive of La Fayette County, Mo. Mr. and Mrs. 
Slusher have been the parents of ten children, of 
whom seven are yet living, two sons and live 
daughters. Anna E. is the wife of John Jones, of 
Davis County, Mo. Lily Jane, the second daugh- 
ter, is the -widow of "Robert Mason; Martha mar- 
ried James Styvers, and resides in Saline County; 
Lee J. is a citizen of La Fayette County; John D. 
is still a member of the home circle; Nancy C. and 
Bertie are both residing in the home of their par- 
ents in La Fayette County. 

Widely known and highly respected, Mr. and 
Mrs. Slusher and their family are prominently 
connected with local improvements, and actively 
engage in social, benevolent and religious enter- 
prises of their various homes and localities. In 
political affiliations our subject was with the Dem- 
ocratic party for many years, but now from prin- 
ciple and conviction votes with the People's party. 
and believes that the day will come when the party 



he now advocates will be the coming power in both 
State and national government. Nevera politician 
in the common acceptation of the term, and never 
desirous to hold public positions of trust, our sub- 
ject, in common with all good citizens, realizes 
the importance of entrusting great responsibilities 
only in the hands of worthy and upright men. who 
shall so conduct affairs of state that we may ever 
be assured of peaceful, prosperous and constantly 
advancing national existence. 



*=pS>RAYIS IUFORD, of the firm of Buford & 
m^\ Dysarf, proprietors of the Mammoth Liv- 
v^sZ? ery Stable of Lexington, is a native of La 
Fayette County, and was born October 1. 1847. 
He is a son of Manvil T. and Elizabeth (Shelby) 
Buford. The ancestry on both sides of the house 
were Englishmen, who first settled in Virginia. Our 
subject's grandfather. Simeon Buford, was the first 
native Kentuckian in the family. His son, who is 
also our subject's father, came from Woodford 
County, Ivy., and located in La Fayette County 
among the first settlers in this locality. 

The original of this sketch spent his boyhood 
days on the farm in La Fayette County, and there 
attended the district school up to the age of ei°h- 
teen. He contributed his quota to the develop- 
ment of the farm and remained with his father until 
twenty years of age, when he began farming on his 
own account, also raising slock quite extensively. 

Our subject was employed as above stated until 
L880, when he came to Lexington and engaged in 
the grocery business for three years. He then sold 
out his business and returned to the farm, upon 
which he lived until March, l<s;n, when he again 
returned to Lexington and launched into the busi- 
ness which he now conducts. The firm doe> a 
general livery business, also furnishes teams, hacks 
and hearses for funerals. Their barn is a roomy 
building, 50x140 feet in dimensions, and in it 
they keep forty head of horses. 



:,kk 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRATHICAL RECORD. 



In polities, our subject is a standi Democrat. 
He is a member of Dover Lodge No. 122. A. F. & 
A. M. He is also a member of the Royal Arch 
Chapter, and a member of Orion Lodge No. 15. 
I. 0. 0. F. In the winter of 1867, Mr. Buford 
was married to Miss Alice Shelby, daughter of 
Thomas Shelby, of this county. They had one 
son. William B., now a resident of Richmond, Ray 
County, this State. In 1871 Mrs. Alice Buford 
died, and two years later Mr. Buford married his 
present wife, who was a Miss Mattie E. Cordon, of 
this city. They are the parents of two sons, Linn 
B., who is a student of Wentworth Academy in 
this city, and Manvil T., an interesting and mis- 
chievous school boy as yet. The family residence 
is a pleasant place, located on Franklin Avenue. 



-*— - 



!>*<! 



<Gy~ 



D. RAGLAND, M.D., has been engaged in 
active practice for forty-four years and, as 
I 1 he says, "expects to die in the harness." 
S-^< He was born in Hanover County. Ya., No- 
vember 3, 1826, and is a son of Evan ( ). Ragland, 
who was also born in that county, August 17, 
1799. Our subject's grandfather, Evan Ragland, 
was a native of South Wales, and the latter 's wife, 
who was before her marriage Judith Turner, was 
born in Scotland. The mother of our subject, who 
bore the maiden name of Calvary Hope, was a 
daughter of Benjamin B. Hope, a native of Wales, 
while her mother was born in England. 

Evan O. Ragland participated in the War of 
I « I :', and was with Gen. Jackson at New Orleans. 
He was married in Virginia and emigrated to 
Tennessee in 1835, settling on a farm in AVilson 
County, where lie resided until his death in 1850. 
His wife survived him several years, departing this 
life in 1865. To this worthy couple was born 
a family of twelve children, seven sons and live 
daughters. Three sons and a daughter are now 
living, and during the Civil War four sons were 
in the service. Luther was killed at the battle of 
Franklin, and Evan 0., Jr., met his death in the 



battle of Lookout Mountain. The parents were 
faithful members of the Christian Church, in which 
the father held the office of Elder. He was act- 
ively interested in politics, being a Jefferson ian 
and Jackson Democrat of the deepest dye. 

Dr. Ragland, whose name heads this sketch, is 
the eldest child of his father's family, and removed 
from his native State to Tennessee at the age of 
eleven years. He received superior educational 
advantages, his primary schooling being that of the 
district. He afterward attended Irving College 
near McMinnville, Warren County, Tenn. In the 
winter of 1846 and 1847 he took a course of lec- 
tures at the Louisville Medical College, from which 
institution he graduated in the spring of 1848, and 
at once began practice at Gallatin, Sumner County, 
Tenn. In 1852 he landed in Missouri, coming at 
once to La Fayette Countj T , where he located six 
miles southwest of Wellington, and from there, in 
November, 1860, removed to this place, having 
made this city his home up to the present time. 
He is the oldest doctor and has a more extensive 
practice than any member of his profession in this 
portion of the county. 

In 1847 the Doctor was married to Miss Laura 
Ann Buler, who was born in Jefferson County, 
Ky., November 9, 1829, and was the daughter of 
Charles I). Buler. To the Doctor and his wife 
nine children were born, only two of whom are 
now living, Charles Drydcn and John Edwin. 
The mother of these children was called to her 
final abode in April, 1869. In 1872 Dr. Ragland 
married Miss White Embree, a native of Cooper 
County, Mo., and daughter of George W. Embree. 
Mrs. Ragland was born in May, 1853, and is the 
mother of one daughter. Georgie Hope. Our 
subject has given his children good educations, 
his son, Charles D., being at present County School 
Commissioner, and said to be the most efficient 
one this county has ever had, and John Edwin 
was educated at the Warrensburgh State Normal 
School. 

On the breaking out of the Civil War our subject 
was Assistant Surgeon in Joe Shelby's regiment 
and after the battle of Carthage remained with the 
wounded till the battle of Wilson Creek. He then 
proceeded with the army to Lexington and was 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



.-,*'.! 



Assistant Hospital Surgeon at that point. He con- 
tinued with his regiment until after the battle of 
Jackson and bore the rank of Major. He has al- 
ways been much interested in politics, having been 
a Democrat since attaining his majority and hav- 
ing served as delegate to many conventions, 
county, State and congressional, lie has made 
many public speeches and is an orator of no small 
ability. He is President of the Cleveland Stone 
Democratic Club of Wellington, and also Vice- 
president of the Ratification Club at Lexington. 



m 



H< 



,B)\ 




LVTN KENSLER, a representative and ex- 
tensive agriculturist and energetic and 
successful business man, now residing upon 
a highly improved farm of five hundred 
and thirty-five acres located on section 27, town- 
ship 51, range 26, Lexington Township, La Fayette 
County. Mo., is numbered among the progressive 
and enterpiising citizens of the State. Our sub- 
ject was born in Knox County, Ind., November 30, 
1840, and is the son of David and Anna (King) 
Kensler, both natives of Virginia and bom in 
Wythe County. Alvin passed the first eleven years 
of his life in his birthplace and then removed with 
the family to Lawrence County. 1 11., making his 
home in the latter State, where he remained until 
twenty-five years of age. 

The boyhood days of our subject were spent 
upon his father's farm and in attending the 
district school of the neighborhood. In the year 
1870, Mr. Kensler went to Montana for change 
of climate, and having materially improved in 
health, at the expiration of one year located in 
La Fayette County, Mo., which had immediately 
previous to his departure been his home. July 
22, 1871, he began work in a sawmill conducted 
by W. II. Robnett and remained in this employ- 
ment four years. Our subject next devoted his 
time to buying grain for L. W.Womwag, of Berlin, 
La Fayette Count}*, one of the largest shippers in 
that portion of the State. At the expiration of 



four years as a grain buyer, Mr. Kensler, in the fall 
of 1878, took a contract for all the timber within 
ten miles of the Chicago & Alton Railroad. Our 
subject also engaged in the grocery business, and 
for a time kept a saloon at Higginsville, La Fay- 
ette County. In the fall of 1881, he removed I" 
Odessa, where he then had an interest in a saloon. 
In June, 1883, he engaged in a partnership with 
Grove Young in the dry-goods business in Odessa 
for one year. 

In 1884, Mr. Kensler entered into business rela- 
tions with James Petticord, which continued for 
some time, and in 1886 engaged in the milling busi- 
ness, which he profitably conducted the succeeding 
four years. Among the interesting events in the life 
of our subject occurring prior to this period was 
his purchase of a lottery ticket January 9, 1882. 
which subsequently drew from the Louisiana Lot- 
tery the magnificent sum of 875,000. In 1891, 
Mr. Kensler removed to his present home and has 
been devoting himself since to the improvement 
and culture of his valuable and extensive farm, 
one of the best located and most productive in the 
vicinity. The pleasant and commodious home was 
shared by his estimable wife and one son. The 
wife died July 12, 1885. Our subject was married 
January 22, 1884, to Miss Belle Jane, a daughter 
of Thomas Slusher, one of the early residents 
and most highly respected citizens of La Fayette 
County. Mrs. Kensler was reared and educated 
near her present home and has a wide acquaint- 
ance and many earnest friends. The young son, 
Thomas Earl, was born October 6, 1884, and is now 
a bright and promising lad of eight years. 

Although Mr. Kensler is mostly engaged in the 
pursuit of general agriculture, some very fine stocls 
can be found upon his large and finely conducted 
farm, which in every part shows excellent and 
thrifty management. Our subject affiliates with 
the Masons and is a member of Odessa Lodge. 
A. F. & A. M., and is widely known among the 
order. In political association he is a Democrat, 
having always been connected with the party, and 
although never aspiring to political distinction is 
interested in the national and local issues of the 
day. Always ■■> law-abiding, industrious and able 
citizen, Mr. Kensler is ever ready to assisl in enter- 



590 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



prises benevolent, social or business of his imme- 
diate neighborhood and vicinity, and is an im- 
portant factor in local progress and improvement. 



V____*=4 



/ 



yl\ MILNOR, a prominent business man 
and dealer in lumber, building materials, 
lime, cement, blinds, and various minor 
articles used for constructive purposes, has been a 
resident of Waverly for nearly twenty years and 
is now one of the most popular -'City Fathers" of 
this enterprising town. Since the location of our 
subject in La Fayette County he has been prosper- 
ously connected with many of the leading inter- 
ests of Missouri, and is widely known as an ener- 
getic and progressive citizen. The place of his 
nativity was Washington County. Va., where he 
was born in lM-s. His father, W. P. Milnor, was 
born in Pennsylvania and received his earl}' edu- 
cation in the staid old (Quaker State. His wife was 
Miss Laura A. White, a daughter of Joseph White, 
of Virginia. The paternal grandfather, John P. 
Milnor, was a native of New York, an excellent 
man and worthy citizen. 

The Milnors were of Scotch-Irish descent, and 
combining the characteristics of both nationalities 
have ever been among the law-abiding and highly 
esteemed citizens of this great Republic. Mr. Mil- 
nor spent the days of his boyhood in the Old 
Dominion and received his primary education in 
the subscription schools of Washington County. 
After leaving school he fitted himself for business, 
and in 1867 accepted a position as foreman of a 
corps of hands engaged in the construction of 
bridges in Virginia. Possessing indomitable en- 
orgy, ability and determination to succeed in all 
work in which he might engage, our subject re- 
tained this position four years. 

In 1874, Mr. Milnor came to Missouri and 
finally settling in Waverly, operated a sawmill, 
continuing in this business for eight years. Our 
subject then entered into the business of con- 



tracting, and prospering in this line of work added 
to his other interests in the year 1890 by open- 
ing an extensive lumber-yard. His trade, large 
from the first, is rapidly increasing, and as he car- 
ries an immense stock he is able to fill all orders 
without loss of time, a fact highly appreciated by 
his many customers. Mr. Milnor lias a commodi- 
ous and attractive home in the city, and has been 
twice married. The first wife of our subject was 
Miss Susan M. Fulcher. to whom he was united in 
marriage in 1874. Mrs. Susan M. (Fulcher) Mil- 
nor was the daughter of William Fulcher, a native 
of Kentucky . 

Mr. Milnor was united to his present wife in 
1883. This estimable lady was Miss Virginia, a 
daughter of William R. White, a well-known resi- 
dent of Virginia, Mr. and Mrs. Milnor are valued 
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
South and are among the active aids in the vari- 
ous benevolent and social enterprises of that re- 
ligious denomination. Mr. Milnor is a member of 
Waverly Lodge No. 61, A. F. & A. M., and is also 
connected with Middleton Lodge, A. O. V. W. 
Our subject has been prominently associated with 
the Democratic party, and, possessing the esteem 
and confidence of his fellow-citizens, was elected 
Alderman from the Second Ward, and discharges 
the various duties of his official position with effi- 
ciency, distinguishing himself in behalf of local 
improvement and reform. Progressive in his 
ideas and business methods, our subject is prompt 
in action, public-spirited and reliable and justly 
deserves the sincere regard awarded him by a host 
of friends and accpiaintances. 






I.I.I AI 1 TRUE, an honored and prominent 
|U| citizen, familiarly known throughout the 
JL_v state of Missouri as Maj. True, has been a 
resident of Marshall, Saline County, for many 
years, and numbers his true and earnest friends by 
the score. In early days our subject was a success- 
ful agriculturist, and through excellent manage- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



591 



ment acquired a competence, and now retired from 
active business duties enjoys the pleasing con- 
sciousnessof a well-spent life. Maj. True was born 
in Fayette County, Ky., near ( bilesburgh, January 
17, 1K27. His paternal grandfather was a native 
of Virginia, and a prosperous farmer in the Old 
Dominion. He was of English descent, and early 
removed to La Fayette County, Mo., and died 
there. 

Grandfather James True was the father of a 
large family, one of whom, the father of our subject, 
William, was born in Albemarle Countj', Va. He 
was reared in Kentucky, and served in the War of 
L812, and was wounded in the arm while defend- 
ing himself from the attack of an Indian, lie was 
a strong Whig in politics, and followed the pur- 
suit of farming up to the time of his death, in 
1835. His wife, Ellen White, was born in Fayette 
County, Ky., and was a daughter of John White, 
a farmer of Kentucky, but a native of Virginia. 
He passed away in Kentucky, and his wife died in 
1856. The parents of Maj. True were the father 
and mother of five children, of whom but two sur- 
vive. 

Our subject is the third child of the family, and 
was reared on the homestead, and attended private 
and boarding schools for several years. In 1845 
Maj. True first came to Missouri to invest, and 
traveled throughout the State, and this time made 
the trip from Kentucky by water. lie then re- 
turned home and remained there until 1851, when 
he again journeyed to Missouri and spent one 
year in this State, trading in large bodies of land. 
Among the property he then owned was some in 
the vicinity of Slater, but there was no evidence 
of the future town then. In 1N.32. in company 
with a partner from Marshall, he took a drove of 
cattle and mules to California. Twenty or thirty 
men were in the party, and they journeyed slowly 
to Laramie, Salt Lake City and South Pass to 
Marysville, and were three months on the way. 

Maj. True did not at once dispose of his cattle 
and mules, but kept them about seven months, and 
then sold out, and returned by the way of Santa 
Fe and Panama and New Orleans to Missouri, 
and thence back to Kentucky. Our subject 
now remained some time in Kentucky with his 

30 



mother, and farmed there in the Blue Grass !>'<- 
gion. In 1862 he entered the Confederate service 
under the command of John Morgan, Eighth Ken- 
tucky Cavalry, acting as Serjeant-Major for a 
time, and was in a number of raids. He was 
taken sick and on the advance at Owensville 
was made prisoner and paroled and sent to John- 
son Island. He remained there several months, 
being on the sick list, then went to Virginia. 
and soon rejoined the men, who were reorgan- 
ized under Gen. Morgan. There were some 
of the Eighth Cavalry in the command, and our 
subject was soon in the thick of the battle again, 
and was on the field at Greenfield when Morgan, 
mortally wounded, breathed his last. In one 
day alone Maj. True was engaged three times in 
battle and was wounded at Bull's (Jap. lie was 
shot in the head, badly hurt in the right arm. and 
lacerated in the muscles, and was now obliged to 
remain in the hospital for some time. 

Soon after this the Confederate army surren- 
dered and our subject was paroled and sent home, 
arriving in 1865. His mother had died in the 
meantime, and Maj. True now had nothing to 
keep him in Kentucky, and soon found his way to 
Missouri and located near Slater, on a farm lie 
owned there.' At the close of three years, hi' 
rented his farm and came to Marshall, and since 
then has bought several different places. His 
farm contains about five hundred acres, and is 
situated close to the river, near Old Cambridge. 
It is highly improved and has excellent and com- 
modious buildings upon it. The Major rents the 
farm on shares and stocks it himself. His resi- 
dence on Odell Avenue is one of the most attrac- 
tive in Marshall. Our subject was married in 
Saline County, near Slater, on December 20, 1867, 
to Miss Fannie I). Richardson, born in Saline 
County, and a daughter of li. I). Richardson, a 
native of Virginia, and an early settler and 
farmer in Missouri. Maj. True and his accom- 
plished and highly esteemed wile have one child, 
a daughter. Mary J. 

The family attends the Baptisl Church, and our 
subject is among the valued members and workers 
of that religious body. Maj. True is interested 
always in the advancement of public improve- 



592 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ment, and was mainly instrumental in inducing 
the Chicago & Alton to locate and bring a con- | 
tinuation of their line to Marshall. In political 
affiliations our subject is invariably a Democrat, 
and faithful to the principles of the old leader, 
the immortal Jackson, believes that right and 
justice will prevail. 






55 



JAMES F. SMITH. La Fayette County has 
a reputation throughout the State of Mis- 
souri for its well-cultivated farms and fine 
class of citizens. Among the independent 
farmers who have achieved considerable success, 
we take pleasure in mentioning the subject of this 
sketch, who is located on section 18, township 49, 
range 26. A native of Linn County, he was born 
February 9, 1854, and is therefore at the present 
time in the full vigor and prime of his useful 
life. 

Jeremiah and Jane (Clark) Smith, the parents 
of our subject, were both natives of the South, the 
father having been born in Kentucky, and the 
mother in South Carolina. The family removed 
to Schuyler County, Mo., during the '40s, and re- 
sided there for several years; thence they removed 
to Sheridan County, Mo., where they remained for 
some time, afterward locating in Linn County, 
where they made their home for a number of 
years. In 1868 Mr. Smith removed with his fam- 
ily to La Fayette County, and in the fall of 1869 
he settled upon the farm of Rev. J. II. Jennings, 
where he died in 1882. He had been married four 
times. Of his first union one son, Madison L., sur- 
vives; Thomas J. is the onty living child born of 
the second marriage; the children of the third 
union are: William I)., James F., George W. 
and Alonzo L. In his political opinions, Mr. 
Smith advocated Democratic principles, and was 
one of the most public-spirited men of his sec- 
tion. 

Since 1868 our subject has been a resident of 
La Fayette County, and continuously so with the 



exception of several months spent jn Colorado 
prospecting and mining, and about eleven months 
when he was traveling through the States of Texas, 
Illinois and Iowa. Although he was afforded the 
best advantages of the common-school system in 
his locality, he is practically self-educated, and is 
a well-informed and intelligent man. 

The first marriage of our subject Vas with Miss 
Martha, a daughter of the late Rev. J. H. Jen- 
nings, of this county. By that marriage there 
was but one child added to the family, Ida 
M. His second union was with Miss Lillie, the 
daughter of Monroe Pool, formerly of this county, 
luit now deceased. Six children have blessed this 
marriage, as follows: Albert O., Nellie M., Ruby, 
Arthur, Ernst and Walter; of these four are now 
living. The fine farm of Mr. Smith contains one 
hundred and eighty and three-fourth acres, which 
is in an excellent state of cultivation. 

Our subject is a Democrat in his political faith, 
believing in the principles enunciated by the lead- 
ers of that great party so many years ago. In his 
church relationship he is highly valued, and is a 
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. 
The considerable degree of success which has 
crowned his earnest labors may well be the source 
of deep gratification. Among the agriculturists 
and stock-raisers of the county, Mr. Smith occu- 
pies a foremost rank. 



=K+«~ 



*OHN D. ROBINSON, a successful farmer, 
began agricultural duties upon his own ac- 
count in his present location, section 1, 
township 50, range 27, in Lexington Town- 
ship, La Fayette County, Mo. His father, William 
Robinson, was of Irish descent, but was a native of 
Virginia. A man of courage, endurance and reso- 
lution, he became, in 1818, one of the very early 
pioneers of the Territory of Missouri, which was 
not admitted into the Union until three years later, 
assuming the dignity of Statehood in 1821. At 
this time the State claimed a white population 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



593 



of about .sixty thousand souls, mainly located in 
the larger cities, the farming districts and small 
towns being very sparsely settled. 

The mother of our subject was in her girlhood 
Mis* Rebecca Nelson, a native of Tennessee and 
an excellent wife and mother, who, unmurmuringlj 
sharing the privations and laborious toil entailed 
upon the pioneer women, aided her family upward, 
caring for her children tenderly and encouraging 
them in all possible educational improvement. 
John Robinson was horn February 5, 1826, and 
enjoyed the limited schooling attainable in the 
little log house, where a few months of instruction 
in the winter was all the teaching the farmer boys 
received in those days. Their time was mostly 
occupied in sowing, planting, and reaping the 
harvest of their year's toil. The industrious habits 
of Mr. Robinson's early life gave him the self- 
reliance which well fitted him to battle man fully 
with the cares of existence at a very youthful age. 

In the year 1849, our subject, in company with 
thousands, journeyed across the Great American 
Desert, attracted to California by the fabulous 
stories of the gold there attainable. Every inci- 
dent of the interesting trip, each novel experience, 
and the many peculiar people he encountered, are 
all a store of interesting reminiscence, never to be 
forgotten by Mr. Robinson. After several years 
of labor in the Golden State, in which his time 
was principally devoted to mining, our subject re- 
turned to his home, reaching his native State in 
L855. One year later, in 1856, he began the im- 
provement of his home farm of two hundred acres, 
and in the thirty-three years of continued resi- 
dence has brought the land into a high state of 
cultivation, and in a comfortable competence has 
reaped the rich reward of energetic industry The 
line stock raised upon the farm is a paying invest- 
ment. 

During the year 1857, Mr. Robinson was united 
in marriage with Miss Caltha Cole, a native of La 
Fayette County and a daughter of Jesse Cole, who 
made his home in I he Territory of .Missouri when 
it was in its early infancy. He arrived in the al- 
most unbroken wilderness in l <s 1 7 , the date when 
tlie Assembly applied for permission to frame a 
stale Constitution preliminary to the admission 






into the Union of Missouri. The population of 
the farming country was scattering, and few 
and far between were the towns and cities, but 
about this time began the steadily increasing in- 
flux of immigration from the surrounding Stale*. 
and all were welcome. 

Mr. and .Mr. Robinson, as natives of the county 
which has been their lifetime home, enjoy the ac- 
quaintance of an unusually large circle of friends, 
and possess the esteem and confidence of all 
who know them. Eye-witness of the growth ami 
progress of Missouri, our subject has been ident- 
ified with its best interests, aiding with intelligent 
ability in local enterprise and improvement. Mr. 
Robinson is a Democrat, and always a firm sup- 
porter of the party, and is especially desirous to 
secure for the management of local affairs the best 
man for the place. An excellent and honored cit- 
izen and worthy representative of the pioneers 
who, braving all dangers, established their homes 
upon the frontiers of the country, and by their 
efforts made our nation what it is to-day, our 
subject takes a foremost place m the early history 
of Missouri. 



"S^OBERT \V. KEENE, a prosperous agrieul- 
lU^T turist and stock-raiser, handling :i higb 
dv\V grade of cattle, is located upon section 23, 
township 50, range 27. Lexington Township. 
La Fayette County, Mo., and is well known as a 
progressive citizen interested in all matters of local 
improvement, but especially devoted to the cause 

of educational advancement. Horn in G ge- 

town, Scott County, Ky., November 21. 1821, our 
subject is a descendant of the Revolutionary vet- 
erans. The Keenes came from England in the Co- 
lonial days, and soon established a reputation for 
courage and patriotism, by bravely defending the 
cause sacred to the American heart. 

Thomas Keene was a man of sterling integrity 
of character, and. fearless i, v nature, passed through 



594 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



the privations of that wondrous campaign, the 
Revolutionary War. He married, and became the 
paternal grandfather of Robert W. Our subject 
is the son of Richard T., a native of Maryland, 
and a very early settler of Kentucky. The mother 
of Mr. Keene was originally Miss Priscilla, daugh- 
ter of Robert A. Wilmot, a native of Virginia. 
Mr. Keene spent his youth in his birthplace, and 
there received the advantages of a common-school 
education, and was likewise emplo3 r ed in various 
duties which occupied much of his time until, at 
twenty years of age, he went to Louisiana, and 
there engaged in the mercantile business for four 
years. 

In 1844 our subject returned to Georgetown, 
Sec itt County, Ivy., and resumed the mercantile 
business, which he successfully conducted until 
seven years had elapsed, when, in 1851, he retired 
from the active duties of that calling. In the 
fall of 1852 Mr. Keene moved to La Fayette 
County, Mc, and bought a farm of two hundred 
and eighty acres, which has proved an exceedingly 
profitable investment, the fertility of the soil 
quickly responding to culture. Large numbers of 
famous horses and cattle are raised annually upon 
the productive farm, and have ever proven, when 
intelligently handled by such men as our subject, 
a source of increased revenue and future pros- 
perity. 

In 1845 Mr. Keene married Miss Catherine Will- 
iams, a daughter of .John Williams, a native of 
Kentucky, and granddaughter of Virgil Mc- 
Crackan, who was killed at the battle of River 
Raisin. Mr. and Mrs. Keene are the parents of 
five children, four daughters and one son. The 
son and daughters in the order of their birth are: 
Virgil W., a prosperous business man, connected 
with the house of D. G. Bernard & Co., of St. 
Louis, Mo.; Bodie, the wife of Joseph S. Laurie, a 
practicing attorney-at-iaw in St. Louis; Mattie A., 
still in the pleasant home of her parents; Katie 
W. and Fannie, who are also with their parents. 
All of the family in their several homes are 
well known and highly respected, and are among 
the active factors in benevolent enterprise and 
social re-unions. 

Mr. and Mrs. Keene have been members of the 



Christian Church for the past forty years, and dur- 
ing this length of time have devoted themselves 
to the advancement of all good work of that re- 
ligious organization. Our subject and his excel- 
lent wife are unostentatious Christians, doing with 
zealous fidelity all that their hands find to do in 
behalf of their less fortunate fellow-men. Politi- 
cally, our subject is a strong Democrat, and cast 
his first vote for James K. Polk. For many long 
years an adherent of the Jacksonian party, he now 
sees no reason for changing his views or changing 
his vote, which has always been conscientiously 
cast in accordance with the principles of right, 
justice and honor. 



to ii p>» i > ■ i m 



AMES R. DANIEL, a prominent farmer of 
Saline County, residing on section 2, town- 
ship 51, range 19, is numbered among the 
representative and public-spirited citizens 
of his community, and by his upright life has won 
the confidence of his fellow-men. Mr. Daniel was 
born in Rockbridge County, Va., February 12, 
1857, and is the son of E. J. and Susie R. (Tur- 
pen) Daniel, natives of Virginia. Four brothers 
and sisters with our subject comprise the parental 
family. 

Upon the home place our subject was reared to 
manhood. At the age of nineteen years he left 
school, where he had acquired a practical educa- 
tion. California still presented charms to the 
seeker after wealth, although this was not by any 
means all that Mr. Daniel sought, for he wished 
also to get out into the world and see things for 
himself. During the three years in which he re- 
sided in the far West he followed the occupation 
of a cattle herder. Upon returning to this State he 
purchased fifty acres of land in Carroll County 
and embarked in the cattle business. Six months 
later he sold out and returned to Saline County. 
Here he and his brother bought two hundred acres 
for $19 per acre, and after a residence of eight 
years upon that place, they sold out at $30 per 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



595 



acre. In 18"J1 our subject purchased from W. C. 
Kelly two hundred acres of land at $30 per acre. 
This place he has improved and brought to a fine 
state of cultivation, and here he raises principally 
grain and hay. 

The marriage of Mr. Daniel was celebrated in 
Missouri, in 1871), with Miss Nettie Lucas, a daugh- 
ter of Bazil Lucas. Mrs. Daniel was born in this 
State in 1862. Three children have blessed the 
union, as follows: Marvin, born in Saline County 
in 1882, died in 1885; Sasie was bom in 1884, and 
died when only two years of age; Julia was born 
in Saline County in August, 1885. Mr. and Mrs. 
Daniel are very prominent in their neighborhood, 
and are active workers in the interests of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church South. From train- 
ing and deep conviction, our subject is a supporter 
of the principles of Democracy. He has not de- 
sired office, but has unselfishly worked for the ad- 
vancement of his party in every way. 



*€£■ 



|fe=«»» i'S^I- 



^ 



ff/ OUIS F. THIEMAN is the junior member 
I (@ °f lne fi rrn °f Thieman Bros., dealers in 
JIL^ hardware in the town of Concordia, Mo. 
He is a representative of an old family in the 
county, a very successful and pleasant gentleman. 
The father of our subject was John Henry Thie- 
man, a native of Hanover, Germany, whose father, 
also named John Henry, was a native of the same 
place, where he was engaged in farming, and died 
full of years. The father was reared upon a farm 
and lived there until he married, and was the 
father of two children when he decided to come 
to this country. After a voyage of eleven weeks, 
he reached the United Stales and landed at New 
Orleans. The winter was spent in St. Louis, and 
in the following spring Mr. Thieman, Sr., entered 
one hundred and twenty acres of land, southwest 
of here, from the Government. 

At that time all of this country was wild and un- 
cultivated, the prairie blossomed with wild Sowers 
of every hue, and the deer roamed in droves OV< i 



tin very farm of Mr. Thieman. There were no 
roads, no bridges pver the streams, no houses and 
no markets. He came here with limited means, 
and after his land was entered there was little left. 
However. Mr. Thieman was made of the true kind of 
pioneer material, and with his pluck and energy he 
combined great hopefulness. His log cabin soon 
sheltered his wife and little ones, and, despising 
no honest work, he went to work at first for but 
twenty-five cents a day and submitted to being 
paid in trade, but fought his way out through the 
difficulties. 

All of the trading and milling had to bedoneat 
Lexington with teams, but he worked on and de- 
veloped that farm, and in time added land to it, 
and at the time of his death he owned one hun- 
dred and sixty-five acres of land, and he was per- 
mitted to live to pass his eighty-first birthday. 
The mother of our subject was Sophia Wilhelniina 
Baar, born in Boehme, Hanover, which is now a 
part of Prussian Germany. She reared five boys 
out of nine children, and they were named as fol- 
lows: Henry W., Fritz D., William J., Louis F. and 
August D. The children who died were August, 
Sophia, Dora, and an infant. The mother died 
at the age of sixty-eight years. Both parents 
were Lutherans in Germany, but became Method- 
ists in this country, while in polities the father 
was a radical Republican, and was a man of great 
memory and strong natural ability. 

The birth of our subject took place near Con- 
cordia, June 15, 1850, and he was reared on the 
farm until he was twenty-one years of age, and 
received his education in the district schools, not 
only in English but in German also. When only 
nineteen years of age he helped to run a sawmill 
and also a threshing-machine, and at these employ- 
ments he kept himself busy until the fall of 1877. 
In 1871 he purchased a half-interest in the saw- 
mill three miles south of here, and in 1871 he and 
two of his brothers bought and ran the threshing- 
machine until the fall of 1877. At this date our 
subject bought out the partner of his brother in 
the hardware store at this place. 

The marriage of our subject took place January 
2'J, 1882, when he took for his wife Miss Emilie 
K. Meyer, who was born in St. Louis, July 30, 



596 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



1857, and of their seven children six are living to 
fill the home with life and glee. .They were named 
as follow-: .lohn II.. Kmina S.,- Milton W. (de- 
ceased), Alvin W., Lillian C, and Walter and 
William, twins. 

Mr. Thieman carries a general line of hardware 
and agricultural implements, and the store is 24x 
60 feet, two stories, with a buggy warehouse 20x 
60 feet ; another warehouse, which is 34 x 100 
feet, two stories in height, is used for imple- 
ments, and there is a brick warehouse which is 
24x60 feet. This is one of the largest firms in the 
county, its trade extending over four counties, 
and it handles a good many threshing-machines. 
Our subject has considerable mechanical ability, 
and is a good practical engineer. He and his good 
wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, and are highly regarded in that connec- 
tion. In commercial circles Mr. Thieman is re- 
garded as a good business man. lie owns twenty 
shares in the Fanners" Bank, which was organized 
Septembers, 1891, and of which he is Secretary 
and one of the Directors. 

Our subject has real estate in Kansas City, which 
is very valuable. In his political opinions he is a 
Republican, and for six years has served as Alder- 
man of the city. For two months he served as 
Constable and then resigned. When he started 
out in life he had but little except his land, but 
honesty and energy always open a way to suc- 
cess. 



KA A.I. GEORGE I'. GORDON. This prom- 
///l\\ inent citizen of '- 1 Fayette County resides 
/ lli on section 18, range 24, township 49, 
* where he owns almost two hundred acres 

of line land. The birth of our subject took place 
in Henry County, Tenn., August 8, 1828, and he 
is the son of Thomas and Elizabeth W. (Brooks) 
Gordon, the former a native of Kentucky and the 
latter of -South Carolina. As early as 1830, the 
parents left their Tennessee home and with teams 



and wagons conveyed their household goods to 
the State of Missouri, locating in the county of 
La Fayette. 

In this county, Mr. Gordon bought from the 
Government a tract of land about four miles east 
of Lexington, paying $1.25 per acre for the prop- 
erty, and here he developed a fine farm. He was 
one of the earliest settlers of this community and 
his death in Lexington January 22, 1852, was 
widely mourned. Of his children, four survive, 
as follows: Emily II., who is the widow of W. II. 
Spratt, of Kansas City, Mo:; Nancy II.. the widow 
of Christop her Catr on, of Saline County, Mo.; 
Thomas B., who resides in St. Joe, Mo.; and George 
P., our subject. 

For several years, Mr. Gordon, Sr., had served 
as Presiding Justice of the County Court, and was 
filling that position at the time of his death. He 
was well known throughout the county as a ster- 
ling citizen, worthy of esteem and confidence, and 
was a member of the Whig party, with which he 
took an active part. His religious feelings made 
of him a Methodist, and in eveiy relation in life 
he was a man above reproach. 

Our subject was reared on his father's farm and 
resided there until after his marriage. He was 
educated in the subscription schools and had the 
advantage of two years at Lexington. Since that 
time he has maintained such interest in public af- 
fairs that he is one of the most intelligent men in 
the county. The first marriage of our subject 
took place February 12, 1857, with Miss Susan A. 
Corder, who was a daughter of Nathan Corder 
(deceased), an early settler of the county. Of the 
eight children resulting from this union, but three 
survive: Nathan J., residing near Alma, Mo.; John 
P., living in Lexington, Mo.; and Bird, the wife 
of D. G. Jackson, of Corder, Mo. For his second 
wife, Maj. Gordon chose Mrs. Nancy Corder, the 
widow of the late Addison Corder, of this county. 
Her maiden name was Thompson, and she was 
formerly of Lewis County, Mo. This marriage 
was solemnized March 31, 1874, and from the 
union one daughter, Lulu, was born. 

Maj. Gordon located upon bis present farm in 
1858 and has resided here ever since. His land 
consists of one hundred and ninety-two acres, and 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



597 



each one of his children lias received a fine start 
in life through the thoughtfulness of the father. 
A prominent Democrat in the county, lie has 
served his fellow-citizens as Clerk and as School 
Direct »r f< »r many terms. The Presbyterian Church 
is his religious home, and to this denomination he 
liberally contributes of his means. Although the 
whole State of Missouri is dear to the heart of 
Maj. Gordon, this county is especially so, as he has 
seen its growth and development from the begin- 
ning He is identified with the Masonic order at 
Corder, and is one of the popular and prominent 
men in this vicinity. 



!>*<-§^=- 




ENRY FICKEN, one of the leading men of 
Concordia, Mo., is the subject of this sketch. 
He is the Cashier of the Concordia Savings 

7)) Bank, stands high in the esteem of every 
one, and is a wealthy, influential man. 

Our subject was born in Oldendorf, Hanover, 
Germany, August 8, 1843. The father of Mr. 
Ficken was a native of the same place, and the 
grandfather, Henry, was also born in the well- 
known town and province. By trade he was a 
farmer and this occupation he followed all his life, 
and died of old age about the time our subject 
was born. The father learned the trade of carpenter, 
which he followed all his life, and died at the age 
of eighty-one years. The mother of our subject 
was named Charlotte Peters, and was reared in the 
place of her birth, the same as that of her husband. 
She became the mother of four children: Annie, 
Henry, Catherine and Margaret. The mother died 
at the age of seventy-eight years, having been an 
i tunable woman, and with her husband a mem- 
ber of the Lutheran Church. 

Our subject was reared in his native place and 
educated in the village school. His father desired 
to make a school teacher of him, as he displayed 
quickness at learning and was of a studious mind. 
and at the age of fourteen Henry was sent to the 
academy :it Stade, Germany, and spent one year 



there and then taught school in the villages of 
Lohe and Welle for two consecutive years. After 
this he assisted his father in the carpenter trade 
until he was twenty years old and was then drafted 
into the army to serve in the war against Den- 
mark. This was not at all to his taste, and soon 
his wits were put to work, which resulted in the 
desertion of himself and cousin, Dick Khlen, from 
the service of the Emperor, and together they came 
to America, the home of the free. 

The youths set sail in 1864 from Liverpool, 
England, and spent thirty days in a sailing-vessel 
on the ocean. Afterlanding our subject obtained 
employment in a cracker factory in New York City 
and then clerked in a grocery store until the fall 
of 1 8 (J G . lie then came to the home of his uncle, 
Henry Peters, in Benton County, Mo., and re- 
mained there until February, 1867, when he came 
here and took a job at breaking hemp in the winter 
and worked on a farm in the summer by the month 
until 1861). For one year our subject clerked m 
a general store for Henry Detert, of this place, but 
this seemed too slow a way to become rich and in- 
fluential. Hence, he rented land and went into 
farming, and two years later felt justified in ask- 
ing Miss Louisa Klingenberg to become his wife, 
and April 1, 1872, the marriage took place. Three 
little lads died in infancy, but Mr. and Mrs. 
Fickeu have three bright children left: Herman II., 
Mary and Bertha. 

Our subject became Assistant Cashier of the 
bank in the spring of 1875, and in 1876 he was 
elected Cashier and has held that responsible posi- 
tion ever since to the satisfaction of all. The 
bank is capitalized at $50,000, and is incorporated 
under State laws, and has done a line business 
with the exception of an unfortunate occurrence 
which took place August -Jit, 1878. We copy 
from a local paper, as giving an account more suc- 
cinctly than can lie obtained elsewhere: "Mr. 
Ficken .stands high in the public esteem and is 
Mayor of the city. He can recount a most inter- 
esting and thrilling experience, dating back some 
eleven years. On the 29th daj of August, 1878, 
soon after he had returned to the bank from din- 
ner, it being then 1.30 P. M., three men entered 
the bank, one of them remaining near the door. 



598 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



The other two advanced to the center of the room, 
and one of them laid a live-dollar bill upon the 
counter, asking for change. Mr. Ficken turned to 
comply with the request, but was instantly grabbed 
from behind by one of the men, who had jumped 
over the counter, and was commanded to open the 
money drawer. This he did under the persuasion 
of drawn revolvers, and in turn the safe. The 
two men proceeded to stow away what they found 
in a Hour sack' and hacked out of the bank, cover- 
ing Mr. F. with their revolvers, while their accom- 
plice, who had been watching from the entrance. 
hurried around the coiner to get their horses in 
readiness. As soon as possible Mr. Ficken raised 
an alarm, but they got away with about 14,169, 
which was the amount of surplus at this time. It 
was supposed at the lime that these were members 
of the James gang, but later Mr. Ficken learned 
from the confession of one of them that it was 
.McCoy, Cummings and Miller, well known by rep- 
utation at least as members of this band of desper- 
adoes." The money was never recovered. 

Our subject and his wife are members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Chinch and take an active 
interest in its work. He is a good Republican 
and is the efficient Mayor of the city and has held 
the office for several terms, also that of Clerk of 
the Public School Hoard. In L888 he was the 
candidate on the Republican ticket for County 
Collector, but as the Democrats have twelve hun- 
dred majority he was not elected. He is Notary 
Public and agent for the North German Lloyd 
Hamburg-American 1'acket Co., and also the White 
Star line of steamers. 







E. DOWNS, the well-known and enterpris- 
. ing manager of the Waverly Coal and 
/1\ Mining Company. Waverly, Mo., has for 

many years been one of the prominent and lead- 
ing agriculturists of the state. An energetic and 
progressive citizen, and a representative business 
man, our subject is one of the important factors in 



the advancement and promotion of many import- 
ant interests of La Fayette County, and fully pos- 
sesses the confidence and regard of his fellow- 
townsmen. Mr. Downs was born in Ross County. 
Ohio, on June 15, 1850. His father, John W. 
Downs, is a native of Ohio, and after having 
passed his youth and early married life in the 
Buckeye State, removed to Missouri, and now re- 
sides at Malta Bend. 

The mother of our subject was Hannah Burke, 
daughter of Abram Burke, and a native of Ohio. 
The paternal grandfather, William Downs, was a 
native of Virginia, and well known in the Old Do- 
minion as a man of sterling integrity of character. 
Our subject passed his early youth in his native 
State, ami attended the common schools of Ross 
County, and assisted his father in the agricultural 
duties incidental to the work of a large farm. 
Trained in the daily' and annual round of tilling 
the soil, and also obtaining much practical informa- 
tion regarding the raising and care of live stock, 
Mr. Downs served an apprenticeship upon the 
old homestead which well fitted him to obtain 
the prosperity to which he has since attained. 

December 'J, 1869, our subject arrived in Saline 
County, Mo., and settled upon a farm near Malta 
Bend, where he profitably engaged in the cultiva- 
tion of the soil, and remained for seven years. At 
the expiration of this length of time, Mr. Downs 
made a change of location, removing to La Fayette 
County, and making his home near Waverly, but 
still continuing the pursuit of agriculture, which 
vocation he followed until the spring of 1890, 
when he removed to Waverly, and although re- 
taining his interests in the farming of his home- 
stead, devotes most of his attention to the milling 
and mining business. Mr. Downs is not only 
Manager of the Waverly Coal and Mining Com- 
pany, but he is also President of the Waverly Mill- 
ing Company. 

The tine farm of four hundred and eighty acres 
owned by Mr. Downs has been largely devoted to 
the cultivation of wheat, which has, season after 
season, yielded an abundant harvest of the golden 
grain. Our subject resides in one of the pleasant- 
est and most attractive homes in Waverly. lie 
was married February 1, 1879, to Miss Annie B 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



599 



Younger, a daughter of James Younger, a native 
of Kentucky, but a resident of Missouri since 
1859. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Downs Las 
been blessed by the birth of four children: James 
\Y.. Friend E., Jr., Anna Hell and Russell. These 
young sons and daughter, bright and intelligent 
children, have an apparently happy future before 
them, and will each receive the best of educational 
advantages. Mrs. Downs is among the valued 
members of the Southern Methodist Episcopal 
Church, and is an active worker in the same, and 
ever ready to aid in social and benevolent enter- 
prises. She enjoys the society and esteem of a 
large circle of friends and acquaintances. 

In political affiliation, Mr. Downs is a stanch 
Republican, and for the past eight years has been 
a member of the Republican Central Committee, 
and also of the Congressional Committee, and 
is held in such high esteem by his party, that 
four years ago he was honored with the nomina- 
tion for Representative to the Legislature from La 
Fayette County. He always takes an active part 
in politics, being deeply interested in the local and 
national management of affairs. Fraternally, he 
is a member of Waverly Lodge, A. < ). 1". W., and 
is one of the most popular and thoroughly public- 
spirited citizens of La Fayette County. 



_V 



A 



ylLLIAM S. THOMAS, the first Mayor of 
Waverly, and an early shipper and suc- 
cessful merchant of La Fayette County, 
has long been identified with the growing inter- 
ests and rapid advancement of the State of Mis- 
souri. For a full score Of years our subject was 
financially interested in the building and running 
of four ferry-boats, a most profitable venture. He 
is also the owner of some of the best store build- 
ings in Waverly, and, a public-spirited and liberal 
citizen, commands the regard of his large circle of 
acquaintance and towns-people. Mr. Thomas was 
born in Scott Count} - , Ivy., and was the son of 



Benedict Thomas, a native of Maryland, and an 
early settler of Kentucky. The Thomas family 
was originally from Wales, and inherited the 
sturdy virtues and honest self-reliance character- 
istic of that substantial nationality. 

The mother of our subject, Mi's. Nancy (Smith) 
Thomas, was a native Kentuckian, and was born 
in Bryan's Station. The early days of boyhood 
were spent by Mr. Thomas in his birthplace in 
Scott County, and later he enjoyed the educa- 
tional advantage of an extended course of instruc- 
tion in the seminary at Georgetown. While vet a 
mere lad, he removed with his parents to Missouri, 
and in the year 1831 the family settled perma- 
nently in Lexington. At a very 3 T outhful age 
our subject ambitiously engaged in business for 
himself, and in 1844, locating in Waverly, en- 
tered into merchandising and shipping on the 
river. He continued prosperously in this line of 
work for six years, when, with the great exodus of 
1850, he joined the immense army of travelers, 
who, slowly journeying toward the Pacific Coast, 
trailed their way for many weeks across the plains 
of the almost hitherto unknown American Desert. 
Arriving safely in the land of gold, after many 
new and peculiar experiences, Mr. Thomas at once 
devoted himself to prospecting and mining, and 
remained in California until 1853, when he re- 
turned to Waverly, for which city he had an espe- 
cial attachment, having been accorded the honor 
in 1847 of the Mayoralty, and was the first incum- 
bent of an office whose duties he discharged with 
ability and faithful efficiency. Once again located 
in Waverly, he busied himself in the erection of 
a fire-proof warehouse, where hestored hemp, which 
at this time he handled profitably. Immediately 
succeeding the Civil War, he built the four ferry- 
boats previously mentioned, and for twenty yearg 
was widely known as the owner and manager of 
this excellent investment and successful business 
venture. In 1866 he was elected Count\ Judge 
of La Fayette County, and served four years, 
from 1866 to 1*7o, retiring with a highly credit- 
able record. 

Our subject owns a valuable farm of four hun- 
dred acres, situated in Carroll County, Mo., and 
has considerable real estate in Waverly. owning 



(Win 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



several unimproved lots ami a number of build- 
ings. In the year 1 84 n Mr. Thomas was united in 
marriage with Mis* E. J. Hall, a daughter of Brax- 
ton P. Hall, a native of Kentucky, and in early 
years a prominent citizen of the State. The cheery 
home of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas was blessed by 
the birth of ten children, and of this large familj- 
of sons and daughters, eight yet survive, and all 
aic occupying positions of respect and influence 
in their several homes. Mary, the eldest child, is 
the wife of Dr. William M. Webb; William H. is 
the second-born ; then follow Catherine L.; Brax- 
ton II.; Nellie, the wife of Dr. Samuels, of Carroll 
County; Joseph D.; Minnie, the wife of Charles 
Palmer; and Jelfle L., wife of Lewis Heston. The 
pleasant and commodious family residence in 
Waverly is well known to a large circle of friends 
and acquaintances, who have long enjoyed its 
generous hospitality. Mrs. Thomas is a devoted 
member of the Christian Church, and with her 
husband and family has always been active in 
works of social and benevolent enterprises. Pol- 
itically Mr. Thomas is a firm Democrat, and re- 
joices in the success of the old-time party. He is 
and has ever been an energetic and progressive 
citizen, and through his excellent management 
: i i i < 1 valuable assistance has materially aided in 
the advancement of various local improvements 
within Waverly and the adjoining neigborhood, 
and is widely known and highly esteemed for his 
business attainments and sterling integrity of 
character. 



I.H.4 



}■[{ 



llM^ 




AJ. JOHN E. RYLAND, Judge of the 
Criminal Court of the Fifteenth Judicial 
Is Circuit and the county of Johnson, of the 
State of Missouri, Lexington, Mo., the 
fifth child of Judge Ryland by his first wife, was 
born near Fayette, Howard County, Mo., July 8, 
1830. A full account of his parentage will be 
found in the sketch of his father, Judge John F. 
Ryland, published in this volume. 



John E. received his education in the old Ma- 
sonic College, Lexington, an institution of deserv- 
edly high reputation, from which he graduated 
July 2, 1852, taking the usual classical and math- 
ematical course, of which latter study he was par- 
ticularly fond. In 1852, he commenced teaching 
school in Kansas City, continuing his work there 
during 1853, after which he returned to Lexing- 
ton and taught as first assistant in the primary 
department of Masonic College until October, 
1855, when he became Principal of that depart- 
ment, a position which he held for two and a-half 
years. 

In the meantime our subject had been studying 
law and was admitted to the Par in 1858, when he 
immediately entered upon the practice of his profes- 
sion in Lexington, being a partner with his father 
until the death of the Judge, in 1873, when he asso- 
ciated his brother Xenophon with himself, under 
the firm name of Ryland & Ryland. In 18(!2 he 
was enrolled with the Missouri militia and served 
a little over a year in the Seventy-second Regiment, 
with the rank of Major. The same year he was 
appointed Circuit Attorney for the district, to fill 
a vacancy, and in 1864 was elected to that office 
for four years. In May, 1865, all officers of the 
State were required to vacate their offices in ac- 
cordance with the Constitutional Amendment 
adopted at that time, and for political reasons 
Maj. Ryland was not appointed to fill his old office. 
In 1876 he was a Democratic Elector for the Elev- 
enth District of the State, casting the ballot of his 
district for Samuel J. Tiiden. 

In 1852, he was made a Mason in Heroine Lodge 
No. 104, Kansas City, and has been Junior Grand 
Warden and Deputy Grand Master of the State. 
He has always been deeply interested in educational 
matters and intimately associated with the scholastic 
institutions of Missouri. In 1874, he was appointed 
by the Southwestern Missouri Conference of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church South Curator of the 
Central College at Fayette, and of Central Female 
College, Lexington. In 1863 he was elected 
.a member of the Board of Education for his own 
city, and served as such ten years. In 1868 he 
was elected Mayor of the city and declined a 
re-election. He served as a member of the City 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



G01 



Council in L866. In State and national polities 
he acts with the Democratic party, but in all 
liii al matters he is independent, supporting the 
best men, irrespective of party. lie was brought 
up a Presbyterian, but since 1850 has been a com- 
municant of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. 
Maj. Ryland was married, December 10, 1860, to 
N. P., daughter of Isaac Palmer, of Lexington, 
and lias a family of six children, four sons and 
two daughters, healthy and active. He enjoys a 
high professional reputation and has a large and 
increasing practice in the courts. He has inherited 
not only the legal talents, but the courteous man- 
ners, of his late father, who for more than fifty 
years held an honored place among the first law- 
yers and judges of the State, and was esteemed 
by all who knew him for the kindness and benev- 
olence of his character. Maj. Ryland is following 
in the footsteps of the deceased Judge and prom- 
ises fair to leave behind him a record worthy of 
his name. 



L. WAYMAS. Among the prominent far- 
l— fa mers of La Fayette County is the gentle- 
1 man whose name heads this sketch, and 

whose farm is located on section 9, township 50, 
range 27. During the late war he saw much act- 
ive service, the date of his enlistment being in the 
early part of 1861, when he became a member of 
the State Guards of Missouri, in Gen. Rainger's 
Division, where lie served for a short time, and 
then enlisted in Gen. Shelby's Brigade of Volunteer 
Cavalry, remaining with them until the close of 
the war. He participated in a number of impor- 
tant battles, and various minor engagements. lie 
was actively engaged in the battles Of Prairie Grove, 
Lexington, Helena (Ark.), Westport, Springfield 
and Ilartwell, and in the first-mentioned engage- 
ment was wounded three times. 

Mr. Wayman was born in (lark County, Ky., 
in August, 1838, and is a son of Joseph and Sarah 
( ( liin) Wayman. The father was a native of Ken- 



tucky, while his wife was born in Virginia. The 
paternal grandfather of our subject, Joseph Waj - 
man, was a native of the Old Dominion, and one 
of the early honored settlers of Kentucky. The 
first twelve years of our subject's life were passed 
in the county of his birth, where he attended the 
subscription schools, and helped his father in car- 
rying on the homestead. The latter was an ex- 
tensive stock-raiser, and an influential man in that 
region. In 1853 Mr. Wayman removed to La 
Fayette County, and settled on a farm near Odessa, 
where he resided until 1881, when he located on 
his present farm, to the cultivation of which he 
has since devoted himself. 

In 1875 Mr. Wayman wedded Miss Letitia Mc 
Causland. Her father, William McCausland, of 
Lexington, Mo., was a native of the Emerald Isle. 
Mr. and Mrs. Wayman are the parents of two sons 
and two daughters: Eugene T., Anna S., Julia M. 
and William S., who are being given excellent ed- 
ucational advantages. 

Since becoming a voter Mr. Wayman has cast 
his ballot in favor of the nominees and principles 
of the Democratic party. In a business way he 
has been more than ordinarily successful, which is 
owing entirely to his industrious and well-directed 
efforts. As a man he is upright and honorable to 
to one and all, making friends of those who have 
the good fortune to make his acquaintance. 



-#£+£#* 



U SCOTT THOMAS since April, 1890, at 
which time he was elected to the position 
^"^ of City Marshal, has made a most efficient 
officer. For the last thirteen years he has been 
engaged in buying, selling and shipping grain 
quite extensively, and is an enterprising and pro- 
gressive business man of Waverly, La Fayette 
County. His paternal grandfather. Nbtley Thomas, 
was an early settler of Saline County, Mo. Our 
subject, who was born in 1849, is a native of that 
county, and is a son of Oscar and Zerelda (North) 
Thomas, both of whom were natives of Kentucky. 



602 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



When only six years of age, with his parents, Mr. 
Thomas removed to Franklin County, where he 
acquired his common-school education. 

Though only fourteen, years of age, in 1863 
Mr. Thomas enlisted in the Confederate army and 
served until the close of the war, when he then 
engaged in farming, following agricultural pur- 
suits for about eleven years. Since becoming a 
voter he has affiliated with the Democratic party, 
and socially, is a member (if Middleton Lodge No. 
186, A. (). 1". W., and of Waverly Lodge No. 
60, W. W. 

In 1870, Mr. Thomas was married to Miss Alice, 
daughter of Albert Cheathem, of this State. Of 
their union five children have been born, three 
sons and two daughters, who are as follows: Oscar, 
Mabel, Frederick, Ester, and an infant, who is yet 
unnamed. The family of our subject holds an en- 
viable position in social circles, and has the re- 
spect and high regard of all. 



ibdi\ ARK WH1TAKER. There arc some men 
ide themselves upon the special 
ievements of their forefathers as states- 
™ men, warriors or financiers, but our sub- 

ject points with pride to his ancestors, who for 
generations past have been preachers of the Gospel, 
and, strange to say, both paternal and maternal 
grandfathers were Old-school Baptist preachers, as 
also were five of his uncles. Our subject was born 
January 18, 1832, in Boone County, Ky., the son 
of John and Frances (Connors) Whitaker. The 
father was born in Boone County, Ky., in 1781, 
and the mother in the same State in 1800. The 
paternal grandfather, Thomas Whitaker, was born 
in North Carolina, and the maternal grandfather 
was John Conners, a native of Virginia. Both 
men were good and holy supporters of Christianity. 
The father of our subject, together with his 
brother, fought through the entire period of the 
War of 1812, and they were discharged together. 



Of his three children the eldest, John, was born in 
Boone County, Ivy., in 1830, married Miss Mary 
Nixon, and resides upon the old home place, which 

was entered by his grandfather from the Govern- 
ment; Elizabeth, who was born in Boone County, 
married Reuben Eubank, and resided in Saline 
County, Mo., until her demise. 

Our subject was reared on the old homestead 
and received his education in the common schools 
of Boone County, Ky. At the age of twenty he left 
the old home farm, engaging in farming upon land 
owned by his uncle, where he remained until 1854. 
In that year, induced by the superior advantages 
which Missouri offered to the tiller of the soil, he 
removed to Saline County, bringing with him some 
of his slaves. In 1855, he located upon one hun- 
dred and sixtv acres of laud, which was partially 
improved and which cost him $25 per acre. Not- 
withstanding the heavy losses which resulted from 
the war he has been a successful man. 

In 1871, our subject erected a modern frame 
house, containing eight rooms and two stories in 
height, the residence costing $2,500. Among the 
productions of this fertile soil are corn and wheat, 
the former of which deserves especial mention. 
Mr. Whitaker has studied the soil adapted to that 
cereal, understands perfectly the secret of success 
in raising it, and in that department of farming 
stands second to none in Saline County. 

Mr. Whitaker is a member of the Old-school 
Baptist Church of Miami, with which he has been 
identified since 1876, and has served as Clerk ever 
since its organization. His wife and children be- 
long to the Missionary Baptist Church. In poli- 
tics, our subject is a stanch Democrat, and while 
a Southern sympathizer and a firm believer in 
slavery, he was not an advocate of the secession of 
the States. In other words, he believed in fighting 
to the death for the protection of his property, but 
not for the destruction of the Union, lie started 
for the defense of the cause, but was taken prisoner 
on the Blackwatei with many others and con- 
veyed to McDowell College, in St. Louis, Mo.; 
while there he dug the first chunk out of the wall 
to make himself a tobacco pipe. Thence he was 
removed to Alton, 111., where he remained for 
some time and was afterward liberated. He was 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



i;ii:s 



one of tlie founders and is one of the present 
stockholders in the Miami Savings Rank. In 
1859, he was elected Road Supervisor, in which 
position he served until 1862. For fifteen years, 
he filled the responsible office of School Director, 
and (lining twelve years of that time was Clerk. 
Our subject was married April 5, 1855, to Miss 
Melvina W. Hogan, who was bora in Boone 
County. Ky.. and they have had a family of nine 
children: William II. was born April 13, 1856, and 
died in infancy; Thomas A. was born August 22, 
1858, and died in 1865; Virginia Frances was born 
September 4, 1862. and married James E. Baker, 
a farmer residing near her father's home; Mark, 
Jr., was born in 1865, and resides at home; Lillie, 
born September 28, 1868, died in September, 186',); 
John H., born April 20. 1871. passed awa} r Novem- 
ber 22, 1873; Mary E , born Match 9, 1874, died 
in infancy; Lester was born June 23, 1876, and re- 
sides at home; and Nellie P. was born November 
17, 1880, and died in infancy. 



^^^lEORGE HALL, the popular and obliging 
jj (=, depot agent at Page City, who has most 

\^Sl acceptably tilled his present position in the 
employ of the Missouri Pacific Railroad for the 
twelve past years, is also a successful general agri- 
culturist and stock-raiser, and is widely known as 
a genial, energetic and progressive citizen. A con- 
stant resident in La Fayette County. Mo., for the 
last sixteen years, our subject has identified him- 
self with all the leading interests of his home, and 
serving with ability as School Director from 1882 
to 1891, materially aided in the educational ad- 
vancement of the neighborhood and county. His 
parents. William II. and Eliza (McFarland) Hall. 
were early settlers of Platte County, Mo., and in 
that portion of the State their son. George Hall, 
was born January 28. is 17. The father of our 
subject, a prosperous brick manufacturer, was a na- 
tive of South Carolina, in which Southern State 
the paternal grandfather of our subject, David 
Hall, was also born. 



The Hall family was very intimately associated 
with the early history of our nation, and none of 
the name were mote illustrious in the annals of 
the struggles and triumphs than the Halls of South 
Carolina. Dominick Augustine Hall, the eminent 
American jurist, born in South Carolina in 1765, 
was appointed by President Jefferson District 
Judge, and afterward resigned to accept a seat on 
the Bench of the Supreme Court of Louisiana. He 
was a man of decision and unusual strength of 
character, attributes of success shared by the 
branch of the family to which our subject belongs. 
When George Hall was but nine years of age, his 
father died, passing away in August, 1856. His 
wife, who was a native of Kentucky, kept her lit- 
tle family together, and our subject enjoyed the 
advantages of the public school instruction until 
he was fourteen years old. 

In 1876. Mr. Hall located upon his present home 
in La Fayette County, and owns a finely improved 
farm of one hundred acres, which yields annually 
an excellent income, its harvests well repaying the 
tiller of the soil for the care expended in seedtime. 
Our subject has enjoyed an extended experience 
as a stock-raiser, handling Shorthorn cattle with 
great success, and now owns several head of valu- 
able thoroughbred Jersey rows. At present he is 
also largely interested in raising a number of line 
trotting horses, of which one especially promising 
two-year-old is of Mambrino stock. The duties of 
depot agent are discharged with fidelity and ef- 
ficient care, and naturally absorb much of Mr. 
Hall's time, but his energetic habits enable him to 
accomplish a large amount of business. Upon 
May 8, 1880, he accepted his presenl position, 
tendered to him by the Missouri Pacific Railroad, 
and has since had but little opportunity for an ex- 
tended vacation. 

In 1880, Mr. Hall was united in marriage with 
Mrs. George A. Page, a daughter of William John- 
son, and then the mother of four children, oik 
son and three daughters. These brothers and sis- 
ters art' Willie. Ollie, Stella, and Walter, and each 
and all have had ample opportunities to enjoy the 
training and instruction of the excellent schools, 
in whose upward progress Mr. Hall was, as a School 
Director, interested for fully nine years. As Ion-. 



604 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 




time residents of Page City, our subject and his 
wife are widely known, and occupy a high posi- 
tion in the social element of their town and neigh- 
borhood. Their marriage has been blessed by the 
birth of one son, Birch, a manly boy, bright and in- 
telligent. Mr. Hall is in political sentiment a pro- 
nounced Democrat, and an earnest adherent of the 
party favored by his immediate ancestors. Our 
subject has, however, no aspirations for political 
Office, and only desires that our nation, wisely gov- 
erned, may continue prosperously to hold her 
power among the mighty nations of the earth. 



■ t cfr ■- - »•§* 



AVID GROVES, Si;. Among the honored 
pioneers who have done so much to open 
up the broad prairies of the West, and 
have made the formerly uninhabited wil- 
derness a place where the thrifty homes of farmers, 
schoolhouses, churches and prosperous villages — 
the centers of industry and commerce — have sprung 
up on every hand, no one has taken a more inter- 
ested and zealous part in forwarding the work 
than has our subject. For fifty-five years he has 
made his home on section 7, in township .50, range 
25, in a substantial residence, which was the third 
brick house elected in La Fayette County. 

The birth of Mr. Groves occurred in Sumner 
County, Tenn., in the year 1806, his parents being 
Thomas and Anna (Denning) Groves, both na- 
tives of the same State. Until reaching mature 
years, our subject assisted his father in caring for 
the farm, and in 1835 concluded to seek his for- 
tunes further West, in accordance with which ele- 
ction he removed to Missouri, locating upon the 
farm, to the cultivation of which he has for over 
half a century devoted his time and best energies. 
During the long years of the past his property has 
yielded to him an abundant income in return for 
the care and labor he has bestowed upon it. 

In 1832 a marriage ceremony united the destin- 
ies of David Groves and Miss Eliza Ilutchins. 
To this worthy couple were born eleven children. 



of whom the six following now survive: Thomas 
A., James F., Jane, Eliza A., David, Jr., (whose 
sketch is to be found elsewhere in this volume.) 
and William K. In 1859 Mr. Groves was again 
married, his union being then celebrated with 
Miss Elizabeth Handy, to whom was born a son, 
Franklin S. Mrs. Groves was called to the home 
beyond in 18G2, and two years later our subject 
married Miss Docia Garner, a native of Virginia, 
who by her marriage became the mother of four 
children, namely: John G., I. L., Hiram J. and 
Elizabeth D. Mr. and Mrs. Groves are devoted 
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South 
and are active in all branches of church work. 
Our subject bears an enviable reputation as a man 
of honor, strict integrity and sterling worth. He 
has a host of friends in this vicinity, whom he has 
made during his long years of residence, and who 
hold him in the highest regard. In all circles, 
whether social, religious or financial, the family 
has been ever found on the side of right and 
justice, which undoubtedly accounts for the high 
respect in which they are held. 



s-~* EOROE R. KKILL, a prominent farmer and 
[|| (— , fruit-grower of Ea Fayette County, resides 
^\^]J(( on section 18, township 51, range 24. Mr. 
Keill was born in Cooper County, in April, 183(1, 
and is a son of Christian Keill. who was born in 
Copenhagen, Denmark. The mother of our sub- 
ject was named, in her maiden days, Mary Bran- 
non, and was a native of Virginia, a daughter of 
Richard Brannon, of that State, who settled in 
Missouri in 1817. The boyhood of our subject 
was passed in Cooper County, Mo., and he had the 
educational advantages afforded by the Kemper 
School, at Boonville, Mo. 

In 1858, our subject removed to his present 
place, where he began the business of farming, lie 
still follows this occupation and with it has engaged 
extensively in the raising of fruit, having large 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



605 



orchards of apples, peaches, grapes and berries. 
This place comprises one hundred and twenty acres 
of good land, all of which is under good cultiva- 
tion and is well improved. In his political opin- 
ions, Mr. Keill is a stanch Democrat, having cast 
his vote with that party ever since he has exercised 
his right of suffrage. 

The marriage of our subject took place in 1856, 
to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Joseph Chrisman, 
a native of Virginia, who settled in Missouri in 
1837. One daughter blessed this union, Jane. 
The family of Mr. Keill is connected with the 
Presbyterian Church, where they are most highly- 
regarded. Mrs. Keill died May 30, 1892, and her 
death was widely mourned. Among the agricul- 
turists of the country Mr. Keill has a good record 
as a farmer, and there is great hope that in the 
future he will develop many new and important 
facts concerning the raisins; of fruit in this State. 



— ! * 



!>^^<! 



©5= ■"" 



:-— fm. 




R. F. J. C. WALKER, one of the influ- 
ential citizens as well as clever physicians 
of Liberty Township, Saline County, is 
familiar with pioneer life in Missouri, 
having come here with his parents when the coun- 
try was new, and deer and other game abounded. 
He learned that all was not as romantic in real 
life as in stories of early settlements, his own ex- 
perience not being at all times either easy or agree- 
able. He has experienced all the trials of a physi- 
cian residing in a new country, as well as the diffi- 
culties of a student anxious to fit himself for the 
profession of medicine and to win a thorough ed- 
ucation. 

Dr. Walker was born in Casey County, Kv., De- 
cember j, 1826. His father, Hon. James T. Walker, 
was a native of South Carolina, where he was born 
in 1795. His grandfather. Willis Walker, was also 
a native of South Carolina, and came of an old 
Southern family. Hon. .lames Walker was a sad- 
dler by trade and emigrated to Kentucky when a 
young man, working at his trade there and also 



engaging in fanning. He came to Missouii in 
1843, locating in Pettis County, where In- pur- 
chased land and became quite an extensive farmer. 
He died in June, 1858. While in Kentucky he 
served in the Legislature of the State for two 
terms, and after coming here was Judge of the 
Pettis County Court. He was a prominent and 
influential man, and a member of the Christian 
Church. 

The Doctor's mother was a Miss Carter, of Vir- 
ginia, and was born in 1800. It is a noticeable 
and pathetic fact that she died the same year and 
month in which her husband's death occurred. 
She. also, was a member of the Christian Church. 
Our subject is the sixth of fifteen children, but 
three of whom are living. He was only sixteen 
when he came with his parents to this State. 
Previous to that time he attended the common 
schools, in the old log schoolhouscs with slab seats 
and a log cut out of one side of the building to 
serve for windows. 

Our subject began to read medicine with Dr. 
William N. Lowrey, of Georgetown, Pettis County, 
continuing with him for two years, after which he 
spent a year as clerk in a store in Georgetown. 
lie studied medicine under Dr. Wilkins Watson in 
1854, and continued under his instruction for 
about six years, during which time he practiced 
some. In 1860, he entered McDowell Medical 
College at St. Louis, and was graduated in 1861. 
In 1862 he located at Longwood, Pettis County, 
but removed during the fall of the following year 
to Liberty Township, Saline County, where he has 
practiced for thirty years. During a part of this 
time he had a large circuit, being called to attend 
patients at a distance of fifteen miles. This, as 
well may be imagined, made no easj life; but the 
Dodor was faithful to his trust, knowing well that 
his profession is one thai calls for self-sacrifice 
and the constant jeopardy of the life whose own 
comfort is sacrificed to aid a little the suffering 
ones of earth. At that early time there were no 
fences to interfere with travel in any direction. 

Dr. Walker was married November 8. 1866, to 
Miss Sallie M. Davis, of Saline County, whose par- 
ents came to Missouri from Virginia at an early 
day. Six children were born of this marriage: 



606 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



.lames A. married Gab ri 11a Grayson, both of them 
being teachers; Charles. Maggie, Mary, Nellie and 
Kate. The Doctor is a member of the Saline 
County Medical Society, and was one of i Ls 
founders. Politically, he is a Democrat. He is a 
member of the Christian Church, while his wife is 
a communicant of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
The farm which belongs to Dr. Walker consists 
of two hundred and thirty acres on section 26, 
township 49, range 22, this county. He has made 
extensive improvements since purchasing, and 
now has a fine piece of property. He formerly 
gave considerable attention to raising a fine grade 
of stock, but of late years has given that up, not 
having sufficient time to devote to the work. In 
his successful life he proves what a man may do, 
although with only limited means, when he works 
with a fixed determination to succeed, and to 
make for himself a name aird position in some 
special line of work, as well as to win a compe- 
tence. He has struggled against difficulties all 
along the way, but has risen superior to them, and 
has accomplished that for which he worked. He 
has been successful as a physician, and continues 
to hold the confidence of a large circle, who look 
to him for advice and attention in illness; while 
at the same time, he owns an excellent farm, and 
occupies a high place in the respect of the com- 
munity. 






ffiOHN W. TOMPKINS, the popular and effl- 
I cient Postmaster, also the leading merchant 
I and proprietor of a large general store in 
'JJJ Page City, La Fayette County, is widely 
known as an energetic and able business man and 
a citizen of undoubted integrity of character. 
pressing the confidence and esteem of the gen- 
eral public, our subject was elected in 1882 to the 
office of Justice of the Peace, and aside from 
other interests has discharged the duties of this 
position with honor and judgment. In 1890 he 
represented his political friends as Delegate to the 
Democratic State Convention held at St. Joseph, 



and successfully sustained the interests of his 
constituents. He is an extensive buyer and ship- 
per of grain and hogs, and is one of the busiest 
men in the county, having but little time for 
amusement or relaxation from daily cares. 

Our subject was born in Lexington, Fayette 
County, Ky., October 1, 1843. He is the son of 
Whitefield Tompkins, a native of Jessamine County, 
Ky., and his wife, Elizabeth (Ingles) Tompkins, a 
daughter of James Ingles, an extensive Kentucky 
fanner. Whitefield Tompkins was an industrious 
and intelligent citizen, and one of the substantial 
business men of Lexington, where he was a well- 
known builder and contractor. The remote ances- 
tors of John W. came from England in Colonial 
times, hut the paternal grandfather was born and 
bred in Culpeper County, Va. Mr. Tompkins passed 
the days of his boyhood in his birthplace, where 
until twelve years old he attended the public 
schools; then, entering the university at Transyl- 
vania, there continued his studies two years. He 
finally completed a two-years course of classical 
instruction in Bethany College, West Virginia, 
from which institution of learning he was gradu- 
ated at sixteen years of age, carrying away the 
first honors in a class of forty-three students. 

Having won an enviable position as a graduate, 
our subject began the battle of life by teaching in 
the public schools of Kentucky. After twelve 
months' experience in the city, be accepted a re- 
sponsible position as instructor in the country 
and taught there the succeeding three years. In 
1863 he became one of the faculty of Sayre Insti- 
tute, of Lexington, Ky., and remained in thai 
work for three years. In 1866 he removed with 
his mother and sister to Scott County, Ky., and, 
locating upon a farm, entered energetically into 
the pursuit of agriculture. For five years he suc- 
cessfully tilled the soil of Kentucky, but in the 
spring of 1*71 he journeyed to Saline County, 
Mo., and resumed his farming duties there. In 
1871 he came to La Fayette County, and taught 
school in Lexington Township. In 1873 he began 
a double business, farming in spring, summer anil 
autumn, and teaching school in the winter, and 
continued these employments the succeeding seven 
years. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



607 



In 1882 Mr. Tompkins settled in Page City and 
opened the general store which he lias so prosper- 
ously conducted, and whose business, rapidly ex- 
lending, now covers a large territory, and yields 
to its enterprising manager and owner a handsome 
return for money and time invested. In 1882 
our subject received his appointment as Postmas- 
ter at Page City, and although there have since 
been changes in the administration, he still retains 
his position as dispenser of the mail, discharging 
the duties of this position with great satisfaction 
to the citizens of the town. His legal decisions as 
Justice of the Peace are seldom questioned, and 
in eases carried to the higher courts his rulings 
are almost invariably sustained. As a buyer and 
shipper of grain and live stock, our subject en- 
joys the reputation of understanding the condi- 
tion of the markets and when to buj' and when to 
sell, thus making the business a profitable venture. 
As a finely educated man and an experienced edu- 
cator, lie takes an especial interest in all matters 
pertaining to the instruction of the young, and 
was a most efficient member and Director of the 
School Board from 1882 to 1891. 

Our subject was first united in marriage with 
.Miss Nannie Shelby, a daughter of Thomas Shelby, 
of La Fayette County, entering into the marriage 
relation with this estimable lady on February 13, 
1872. Mrs. Nannie (Shelby) Tompkins survived 
her union with our subject eight years, passing 
away January 19, 1880. In the month of May, 
1882, Mr. Tompkins married his present wife, 
Mrs. Virginia Scott, a daughter of Henry Crox- 
ton, of Bourbon County, Ky. Mrs. Tompkins is 
a sister of Gen. Croxton, who received an official 
appointment as Minister to Bolivia. .Mr. and 
Mrs. Tompkins have a pleasant home in Page City 
and have a large circle of friends and a wide ac- 
quaintance throughout the county. They are 
members of the Christian Church, and are among 
tin.' most liberal supporters of that religious denom- 
ination. They are invaluable aids in all good 
work, are foremost in social, religious and benevo- 
lent enterprises, and arc both highly esteemed and 
respected. Our subject is an earnest Democrat, 
and rejoices in the success of that [ arty, but is in- 
telligently anxious that cinly men adapted to the 

31 



honorable and able discharge of official duty shall 
ive positions of trust. A thorough, conscien- 
tious and upright citizen, he is an important fac- 
tor in local progress and national prosperity, and 
is the leader of his fellow-citizens in weighty mat- 
ters of advancement and reform. 



^p<)L. BENJAMIN ELLIOTT. The verdict 

(li ffl ° f P opular a PP roval afte r one has lived 
^^^ years of faithful adherence to duty is eal- 
culated to fortify a man against adverse condi- 
tions. When the approval of conscience and the 
confidence of the community are supplemented i>\ 
the favor of fortune, then adverse circumstances 
can scarcely force themselves in. Col. Elliott is 
peculiarly fortunate, in that all these blessings are 
his. The following review of his life cannot fail 
to be instructive as well as entertaining. 

The father of our subject was John M. Elliott, a 
native of Frederick County, Va., and born in the 
latter part of the eighteenth century. Grandfather 
Benjamin Elliott was a native of Virginia and a 
Captain of the War of 1812. He was descended 
from good old English stock. Our subject's 
mother was Lucy (Bryarly) Elliott, a native of 
the same county as her husband and the daughter 
of Samuel Bryarly, of an old Virginia family. In 
thai State she married John M. Elliott, and there 
she passed her entire life. They were the parents 
of three children, two of them living, our subject 
and John S., of Oregon, Recorder of Deeds of 
Union County. The mother was an Episcopalian, 
and was identified with tin' church at Orange 
Courl House. The father, a farmer, died in Sep- 
tember, 1847, and the mother followed him three 
\ ears later. 

Our subjecl is the elder of the living children, 
and was bom Augusl 8, 1830, in Frederick, now 
Warren County, Va. He was reared on the home 
farm, attended neighboring schools, and at ( -i -h- 
teen entered tin' Military Academy at Lexington, 



608 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



where he took the full course and was graduated 
in 1851. lie then traveled from Winchester, Va., 
to the Pacific Ocean <>n horseback, at a time when 
the cholera was in America. Reaching his destin- 
ation, he engaged in mining, also for a time was 
proprietor of an hotel and had a stage line. His 
return was by steamer, and after a brief stay in 
Virginia he took his slaves across country to Mis- 
souri and settled on the John Kelly farm of four 
hundred acres near Bates City, which was in a 
wild state, but with his slaves he soon put it in 
excellent condition. 

At the breaking out of the Kansas Border War, 
he was First Lieutenant in Capt. Boyce's company 
and went from Lexington to Westport and Bull 
Creek. Returning home, he gave his full time to 
his farm duties until the spring of 1861, at the 
outbreak of the war, when he raised a company, 
drilled it at Chapel Hill, took it to Camp Holla- 
way, near Independence, on to Lexington, Mo., and 
attached it to Graves' regiment, Missouri State 
Guards, part of which went with Price and the re- 
mainder disbanded. What remained of our sub- 
ject's company joined Capt. James M. Withers' 
company, and the Colonel was made Drill-mas- 
ter of the whole. He took part in the battle 
of Carthage, Mo., journeyed to Cowskin Prairie, 
camped there and then marched to Springfield, 
taking part in the battle, in which he was Adjutant 
of the regiment which supported Woodruff's bat- 
tery. His company marched to Lexington, Mo., 
joined Rout's command at the fair-grounds and 
opposed Col. Mulligan, (braves' regiment then 
went to Index and reorganized into a new regi- 
ment, of which our subject was made Colonel in 
September, 181! 1 The regiment was attached to 
Price's army at Index, then proceeded to Warrens- 
burgh, and followed Mulligan to Lexington, his 
regiment being in the advance. It took part in 
the siege of Lexington and helped in the capture 
of Mulligan's command, then marched to Neosho, 
then to Osceola and went into winter quarters. At 
the expiration of its time, the regiment was dis- 
banded. 

Gathering up a number of recruits from La 
Layette County, Col. Elliott joined Capt. Sam 
Taylor at Stockton and inarched to Cove Creek, 



Ark. They formed a company, electing Taylor as 
Captain, the Colonel being a private through 
choice, and joined Price's army, the company be- 
ing attached to the Sixth Missouri Infantry under 
Col. Eugene Irving. The Colonel was severely 
wounded in the right side of his head by a minie- 
ball while on the skirmish line at the battle of Pea 
Ridge, Ark. Dr. William Gordon assisted him 
upon his own horse and took him twelve miles to 
a private house, where he found Gen. Slack, for 
whom some one had performed the same kind office. 
It was deemed necessary in order to deceive the Fed- 
erals that a substitute for Gen. Slack should lie pro- 
vided. This our subject volunteered to be, and he 
was taken to a point twelve miles distant, where he 
was tenderly cared for, being hidden part of the 
time in the woods and cliffs of White River. 
When about recovered, he started to join Price, 
supposed to be at Frog Bayou, near Van Buren, 
Ark., but on reaching Little Clifty learned that the 
army was moving toward Des Arc on its way to 
Memphis; so the Colonel and his party changed 
their course, making for Buffalo, on White River, 
others joining them on the way. They bought a 
ferry boat with a Confederate ¥20 note and floated 
down the river to Des Arc, then followed Price to 
Memphis, but finding himself unable to do active 
duty the Colonel stopped at the house of the Rev. 
Mr. Davis to regain his health. 

Just as soon as he was sufficiently strong, the 
Colonel joined Price at Tupelo, when, at the sug- 
gestion of Capt. Taylor, Price ordered our subject 
west of the Mississippi to raise another regiment. 
The Colonel traveled across country on the back of 
a mule to Helena, Thomas llinkel and Thomas 
Johnson being his companions, and there he found 
a number of men under Joe Shelby who formed 
the nucleus of a regiment. Journeying to Van 
Buren, they met an expedition under Col. Vard 
Cockerill, also Cols. Jackman, Tracey and Coffey, 
each having a command. At Newtonia they en- 
countered a body of ITnion troops under Mai. 
Hubbard. Reaching Lone Jack, they learned that 
Maj. Emory Foster was coming from Lexington 
and our subject was sent out as a spy to learn the 
number and movements of his troops. Between 
Lexington and Lone Jack he counted the men three 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



GOO 



times, first from the brush, next from a treetop, and 
then from a hill, discovering that there were eight 
hundred and twenty-five soldiers and two pieces of 
artillery, which fact he induced William Safterfield, 
a citizen, to report to Cockerill. Our subject re- 
joining the command after the battle of Lone 
.lack, then joined the command of Shelby in Ar- 
kansas, and formed a regiment of which Shelby was 
made Colonel and he the Captain of Company I. 
Sent with his company by Shelby to fight the Pin 
Indians near Carthage, Mo., he charged them, kill- 
ing nearly two hundred and putting the others to 
flight. After this he was given command of two 
companies and made Major, being in charge of 
Shelby's permanent advance guard. 

Col. Elliott was in several battles with the In- 
dians, always whipping them and sometimes kill- 
ing large numbers. In the battle of Prairie Orove 
he had a battalion known as "Elliott's," with which 
he charged upon Maj. Hubbard in command of the 
advance of the Federal army, capturing him and 
four hundred men, and also thirty-six wagons of 
the train, but, meeting the Federal infantry, they 
fell back. During a charge his horse slipped and 
fell upon him, disabling him for several days. At 
the battle of Springfield, Mo., he assisted Col. Mc- 
Donald and others to capture the stockade and 
drove the enemy into its last breastworks. In this 
battle, where Marmaduke commanded, the Colonel's 
regiment was under heavy fire, six bullets being 
shot through his horse, three of which went 
through his saddle-skirts and one through his hat. 
Col. Elliot was ordered to hold a certain street at 
all hazards, which meant death for some one. Part 
of his men were under cover of the houses and 
part were to be kept across a street where the bul- 
lets were raining like hail. In trying to form his 
line amid this hail his horse was shot, and while 
in this predicament a soldier cried, "We are out of 
ammunition." From Elliott came back the response, 
'■Catch it in your hats," and, suiting the action to 
the word, he waved his hat above his head and got 
a bullet through it. When asked afterward why 
he acted so foolhardily he replied, "I knew that 
the cry of want of ammunition was demoralizing 
and feared a stampede." 

A council of war was held, composed of Gen. 



McDonald. Col. Porter, John M. Winner, Col. Gor- 
don, Col. Shanks, Col. Thompson, and other brave 
and experienced officers, in which all advised go- 
ing to Missouri except Col. Elliott, who voted in 
favor of Arkansas, giving as a reason the fact that 
the Federals rode shod horses and those of the 
Confederate army were mostly unshod. Gen. 
Marmaduke followed the advice of our subject 
and proceeded to Haitsville, where was fought a 
drawn battle. The Colonel and his little command 
were left to meet the enemy, while the main army 
was taken away, Marmaduke telling him that some- 
body must be sacrificed and he knew of no one 
who could stand it better than he. 

While expectantly awaiting the attack, it was 
learned a retreat had been made by the enemy 
and our subject seized a lot of camp equipage, 
ammunition, medical stores, etc.. to the value 
of about •'SKI. (KM). With characteristic humanity, 
he caused the dead to be laid away in the bosom 
of mother earth. Our subject was encamped near 
Arkadelphia during the battle of Mark's Mill, 
which took place while (Jen. Steele was marching 
from Little Rock to Camden. Col. Elliott pro- 
ceeded to Mark's Mill, where he intercepted a de- 
tachment on its return journey to Little Rock. 
Sent to guard a ferry on the Saline River at St. 

Elmo, he found the enemy in possession of the 

• 

ferry. A battle was fought across the river and 

his command killed a goodly number of the enemy, 
beside from fifty to sixty horses, and put the 
others to rout. In an expedition formed to pro- 
ceed against Gen. Clayton at Line Bluff our sub- 
ject had Company A, of Gordon's regiment, two 
companies from Col. Rob Wood's regiment and two 
companies from Col. Lawther's regiment, with or- 
ders to draw Steele from Little Rock. 

Having often tested the Kansas steel, our sub- 
ject knew that his little command of less than four 
hundred men could never successfully cope with 
one thousand well-disciplined cavalry, especially 
with Powell Clayton at their head, and he at once 
resolved to try the 'jFabian" method of tactics, 
viz: light in detail, fall back. and form in ambush; 
(ire and fall back again. In this way he led them 
on ten or twelve miles with very few casualties, 
but on approaching Monticello, where they had 



610 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



considerable stores and some Federal prisoners, 
Col. Elliott was ordered by a superior officer to 
make a precipitate retreat and fall in with the 
forces at Monticello. This he knew was an im- 
possibility and so reported to the commanding 
officer, adding that he was not Losing any men and 
believed the enemy was losing heavily. The aid-de- 
camp returned witli this message, but the answer 
came that the order was imperative. 

When the messenger caine the second time, Col. 
Elliott said to him, "I know if the commanding 
Colonel knew how well we are getting along here 
he would let us stay. I cannot be disobedient to 
a superior officer, but will you please go with me 
and look at my line of battle?" Half protesting, the 
messenger consented. They went to the top of an 
eminence overlooking the field, and just as they 
had taken their position, their left, which was com- 
manded by Capt. Tuck Thorp, had charged and 
were beating back the right of the enemy. Thorp 
was noted for his dressy appearance and wore 
a long, black plume. "Do you see that black 
plume yonder waving majestically in the charger" 
"Yes," replied the aid, "whose is it?" In great 
triumph, Col. Elliott answered, "Sir, that is Tuck 
Thorp, my 'Marshal Key.' Sir, go back and tell 
your superior officer that as long as that black 
plume waves on the battle-field and I have such 
men as Bob Tucker on my right, and Snavle 
and Walton and Holt and Dorse}', I never retreat 
precipitately." No one ever heard anything said 
about a court-martial after that, and the Federals 
retired to Pine Bluff. After helping in capturing 
a gunboat on the White River the Colonel, worn 
out by arduous work, retired from active duty for 
one month, when he joined his command and took 
an active part in Price's raid, capturing the posts 
at Doniphan and Irondale, Mo., and burning the 
stockade. He aided in taking Potosi and Boonville, 
after which his battalion was augmented to a full 
regiment anil he was made its Colonel. 

Col. Elliott's regiment was in the advance on the 
march to Sedalia and was ordered to drive in the 
Union pickets; he formed fours, and gave his orders 
through his bugler, .Joseph B. Major, whom Elliott 
always called his right arm. The charge was 
sounded and the Colonel with his brave soldiers 



went into the fort with flying Federal pickets. Four 
of his companies got into the fort with him, but 
six remained outside, and he captured all the cav- 
alry, at least two thousand of them. The Federal 
infantry surrounded the fort and although the 
Colonel had the arms of the Federal cavalry, the 
Federal infantry had him. A Federal soldier 
seized the bridle of his horse and ordered him to 
surrender. In hot indignation the Colonel struck 
him down with the barrel of his pistol and got 
away, and later found the man dead. Escaping 
by himself, he charged through the Federal lines 
unscathed and joined his men. one bullet passing 
through his valise, spoiling his "good clothes," and 
another bullet striking his mare. In the battle of 
Lexington, fighting against Blunt, Lane and other 
Kansas troops, a victory was won. Col. Elliott 
saw Col. Merritt Young killed duriug the battleof 
Independence. He fought the battle of Westport, 
being in charge of the brigade; drove the enemy 
across Brush Creek, and then retreated to New- 
touia, keeping his men in line of battle nearly the 
entire distance, although they had a hard time, 
some of them being obliged to eat horse and mule 
flesh. 

The wife of the Colonel's Quartermaster, Capt. 
William Boone Majors, accompanied him, and after 
the enemy had driven them into retreat it attacked 
his wagon train, which was blocked in a narrow lane 
by a dead mule. Mrs. Majors sprang out from her 
ambulance, cut the hame string, freed the dead 
mule, and the wagon drove on with but three mules, 
her courageous deed thus saving to the Confeder- 
ates over $100,000 worth of property. When the 
Colonel reached Newtonia they formed a line of 
battle and drove back the enemy, lie then 
marched through the Indian Territory to Texas by 
Boggy Depot, crossed the river at Colvin's Ferry, 
and went into winter quarters. Col. Elliott's 
record throughout the war is one of which he may 
well be proud, his regiment having been a veritable 
lighting one, which seemed never so much at 
home as whin m the midst of a battle. Skirmishes 
were of almost daily occurrence and it fought over 
a large territory. With becoming modesty and char- 
acteristic big-heartedness, Col. Elliott with his voice 
and pen testified to the heroism and daring of orti- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



fill 



cers and men associated with him, ascribing full 
credit to their deeds. While declaring all of his men 
to be heroes and worthy to have their names re- 
corded on plates of imperishable brass, he has men- 
tioned by name a number of them, among whom are 
Henry Day, who in the retreat over Boston Mountain 
remained lighting after beng twice wounded; Capt. 
Tuck Thorp, heroic in a charge; the boy soldier, 
Bob Tucker, a Captain at seventeen, once daring 
death in his effort to secure a furlough, and never 
wounded; Snavle, now a civil engineer in Arkan- 
sas, but then the best of soldiers and a practical 
joker; Capt. .Toe Holt and his brave Lieutenants, 
lies and McCue, whose daring exploits would All 
a volume; Pleasant Hicklin, ready to do all the 
tamp duty and brave as a lion in battle, and many 
others. The Colonel is always a good conversa- 
tionalist, but surpasses himself when on the war 
theme, and when Joe Shelby's command and 
Price's army are subjects under consideration. 

In mentioning brave deeds on the part of sol- 
diers, Col. Elliott stated that by far the greatest 
act of heroism he ever saw was at the battle of 
Prairie de Ann. On that occasion Capt. Dick Col- 
lins, with four pieces of artillery, stood a cannon- 
ading from (Jen. Steele's three batteries of six 
pieces each. The position chosen by Capt. Collins 
was the only advantage he had. His battery was 
on an elevation, with the cavalry supports in 
front of the pieces, and so great was the elevation 
that they flred over the heads of the cavalry. El- 
liott's battalion was directly in front of the battery. 
Steele was with his batteries, superintending the 
movements in person. The distance was not great 
and occasionally a command could be distinctly 
heard by the opposing force. Steele fust ordered 
canister, and they came whirling and sizzling in the 
face of the Confederates. Finding this did not move 
the men he tried the grape shot, with as little effect. 
Then he called, "Try solid shot!" The former exper- 
ience had been terrible, but when solid shot came it 
was simply murderous. ( >wing to want of space, the 
Confederate line was wedged in, every man boot 
to boot, and when a solid shot came but few missed 
its mark. Whenever a man lost his life and the 
horse remained untouched, one of tin- dismounted 
men in the rear readily took his place and occu- 
pied the dead rider's horse. 



Col. Elliott had a famous old soldier, aged forty- 
five or more, and named Sam Wilson, who came 
from Polk County, Mo. The Colonel offered to 
give him an easy place where he could be shielded 
from the hardships of the march, and if he chose 
could also excuse him from the fight. This offer 
he always refused disdainfully, but pleasantly, 
saying that he wished to share with the boys 
equally. It was the misfortune of this good old 
man to be struck by one of these terrible missiles 
of death. His horse was killed, and one leg was 
shot off and in some way his other leg was also 
shot and hung by a shred. Col. Elliott, being on 
the spot, had him extricated from among the dead 
and dying and ordered two strong men to carry 
him from the field. The wounded man protested 
against being taken away, and the only argument 
he would listen to was that he would be in the way 
if he remained. As he was borne away, with one 
leg entirely gone and the other dangling around 
the limbs of the men who supported him, he re- 
quested his bearers to stop, and appealing to the 
Colonel, said, "Sir, can I say just one?" "Say any- 
thingyou choose, Uncle Sam." At that he raised 
his old white wool hat in the air, and looking to- 
ward the enemy, he cried out. ••Hurrah for Col. Ben 
Elliott and his brave little battalion!" Every man 
within hearing of his voice was overcome by the 
spectacle and though formed in line of battle and 
looking more as though they were made of steel 
than flesh and blood, they cried like little children. 
At 12 o'clock the same night the brave man 
passed away. 

After the war was over. Col. Elliott went to 
Mexico, where he remained eleven years before he 
returned to his old Missouri home. He was mar- 
ried in January, 18(11, to Miss Susan, daughter of 
Pascal A. Gibbs. She was bom September 26, 
1840, on the farm upon which she and her husband 
now reside. This union resulted in the birth of 
one child, Benjamin, Cashier of the Farmers' Rank 
of Odessa. Col. Elliott turned his sword into a 
plowshare and became a farmer, having four hun- 
dred and twenty-nine acres of land, which he 
manages with ability and profitably. Mr. and Mrs. 
Elliott are consistent members of the Baptist 
Church. ( tin- subject is a member of the Farmers' 



612 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Alliance, and although he had previously affiliated 
with the Democratic party, voted for Gen.Weaver 

in the election of 1H!»2. The confidence and es- 
teem of his fellow-citizens was shown in his nom- 
ination and election to the office of Sheriff of La 
Fayette County, a position he filled most credita- 
bly through a term of four years. He resides in a 
comfortable house on his farm near Odessa, where 
he passes in serenity the evening of a life whose 
morning and noon were crowded with turbulent 
and heroic events. 



^1 



LB 



:m 



11*^- 




JEORGE W. HALL, a retired and wealthy 
farmer, whose place of abode is in Waverly 
V_A La Fayette County, was born in George- 
town, Scott County, Ky., in the year 1816. His 
paternal grandfather, John Hall, was a native of 
Virginia and of "Welsh descent, while his father, 
Braxton P. Hall, was born in Kentucky. In that 
State the latter was united in marriage witli Miss 
Catherine Fultou, who became the mother of our 
subject. 

"When twelve years of age, George "W. Hall came 
with his parents to Missouri, where the father pur- 
chased a farm in Saline County. The country 
was very wild, civilization had yet erected few 
monuments to its progress, and game was very 
abundant. In his youth our subject was very 
fond of hunting deer, and relates that he has 
killed as many as thirteen in one day. His educa- 
tion was necessarily of a very limited order, as 
school privileges on the frontier were not of the 
best. However, he has always been a great reader 
and has endeavored to keep himself well posted 
on all of the important and leading questions of 
the day. Like a dutiful son he assisted his father 
in clearing and improving his new farm until he 
reached an age when he found it best for him to 
branch out for himself. Having been reared on a 
farm, it is therefore not strange that he concluded 
to become a farmer on his own account. Coming 
to La Fayette County he purchased a farm, and 



year by year, as his finances permitted, kept add- 
ing land to his original purchase until he owned 
six hundred acres. For a number of years he was 
engaged in raising stock quite extensively and 
brought his land under good cultivation, making 
many improvements upon it. This valuable farm 
is still in his possession, though he has not been 
actively engaged in conducting it for a number of 
years. 

In 1844 Mr. Hall was united in marriage with 
Miss Eliza M., daughter of Charles W. Hall, who 
was a Colonel in the War of 1812. Eight chil- 
dren blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Hall, 
three of whom are deceased. Those surviving are 
as follows: Charles W.; George W., Jr.; Gavin D.; 
Susan, wife of M. C. Shewalter; and Jennie, wife of 
William Glenn. Mr. Hall, who has always been 
devoted to furthering all measures for the ad- 
vancement of this community, is a stanch Demo- 
crat, and is truly esteemed by all as a man of 
honor and upright walk in life. He is one of the 
worthy pioneers who have done so much to make 
this county and State what it is to-day, accounted 
one of the most prosperous and progressive por- 
tions of the Union. 






•HE 



/^\ C. COOPER. The name at the head of 
(l this sketch is that of a practical farmer re- 

^^/ siding on section 26, township 51, range 24, 
in La Fayette County, Mo., he having commenced 
farming in this county in 1877. Our subject was 
born in La Fayette County, Mo., in 1854, a son of 
Benjamin Cooper, a native of Alabama, who was 
among the early settlers of Missouri, and of Susan 
(Thomas) Cooper, a daughter of Notley Thomas, 
Sr., a native of Kentucky. 

At the age of eight years, C. C. Cooper removed 
to his guardian in Saline County, where he at- 
tended the subscription schools, and so well did 
he employ his time that by the time he had 
reached the age of sixteen years, he was prepared 



POETRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



613 



to enter college in St. Louis, where he remained 
for eighteen months, spending nine months more 
at Kemper's School. At the age of twenty-one 
years be engaged in farming in Saline County, re- 
maining there for a period of two years, but in 
1877 he removed to La Fayette Count}-, where he 
has conducted a business of farming and stock- 
raising until the present time. 

In connection with his business of agriculture 
C. C. Cooper has engaged in the breeding of fine 
trotting horses. At this place he has a farm of 
three hundred and twenty acres of good land, two 
hundred and forty of which are under a line state 
of cultivation. This is saying a great deal, for the 
farmers of Missouri require considerable excellence 
before they acknowledge that their land has reached 
a complete state. In his politics, Mr. Cooper is 
an adherent of the Democratic party, believing 
that the principles of this party are those most 
suited to a Government where freedom and per- 
sonal liberty are supposed to be sovereign. 

Upon the 5th of May, 1875, C. C. Cooper mar- 
ried Miss Luetta, daughter of Charles Van Anglen, 
a native of Ken tuck}-. This marriage has been 
blessed with four children, as follows: Charlotta, 
Ella, Homer and Etlie P. Mr. and Mrs. Cooper 
are highly esteemed in the neighborhood, where 
they have many friends. 



^ 



EI*^« 



JH^EY. WILLIAM M. BELL, a resident of 
Saline County, located on section 5, town- 
t ship 52, range 21, and one of the oldest 
ministers in the count}-, is a man of schol- 
arly mind and great versatility of genius, lie 
was born in Richmond County, Ya., on the 23d 
of June, 1823, and is the son of Thomas V. 
and Elizabeth (Mitchell) Bell, the former a na- 
tive of Richmond County, Ya., born on the 26th 
of April, 1704, and the latter born in Northum- 
berland County, Ya., September 23, 1801. The 
grandfather, Charles Bell, also a native of Rich- 
mond County, Ya., married Miss Winnefrcd Rust, 



who was born in Westmoreland County, Ya. At 
the age of two years our subject was left an or- 
phan, and the biographer has failed to learn much 
more of the family genealogy. Facts and dates 
are really of little value in a sketch of this kind, 
because the authenticated life of the subject tells 
its own story. Our subject needs no long line of 
ancestors to speak for him; his own busy and use- 
ful existence lias proved the stability of his charac- 
ter and the measure of his capacity. 

That two of the great uncles of our subject 
were veterans of the Revolutionary War, and 
that Grandfather Hell was for many years a 
preacher in the Methodist Episcopal Church, are 
honorable facts to record, but they do not cast 
any addional lustre upon the name of a man who 
has borne so well his part before his fellow-citi- 
zens. At the age of two years, our subject was 
taken by his grandmother to Richmond County 
and remained with her for four years. From that 
time the life of the lad was not as pleasant as that of 
one whose parents are ready to surround him with 
protecting care. He found a home with different 
relatives and spent his first school days at North- 
umberland Academy, in Virginia, completing the 
course there in 1836. One year was spent with 
other relatives, and then he came with his guar- 
dian to Cooper County, Mo. 

The name of this guardian was Robert E. Down- 
ing, and by him our subject was placed in school 
at Boonville, Mo., where he remained for two 
years. This brought him to the age of seventeen, 
and then he began life for himself. At Clinton, 
Mo., he engaged as a clerk in a dry-goods store for 
B. F. and T. B. Wallace, and from there he went 
into the store of his uncle, where he remained for 
another twelvemonth. At this time he was en- 
gaged by Reuben McDaniel in his store, and in 
1843 was sent by his employer to Saline County 
from Boonville to start a country store. In the 
spring. of the following year he opened a store 
for his employer at Marshall. 

While conducting this store for his employer, 
Mr. Bell became of age, at which time he returned 
to Virginia and spent the summer in his native 
State. In the fall of 1814 he returned to Saline 
County and was united in marriage with Miss 



614 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Polly N. McDaniel, tlie daughter of his former 
employer. Their union was blessed with thirteen 
children, six sons and seven daughters, as follows: 
Thomas K.. William M., Robert E., Samuel D., 
Alfred N., Charles I... Delilah E., Delia M., Mary 
F., Flora A., Lily, Rose ami Priddy .M., all of 
whom are living excepl one 

Two of tliese intelligent children were educated 
in part at Huntsville College, State of Missouri. 
William was sent to the University of Virginia, 
and is a graduate of medicine from the St. Louis 
Medical College. Two were students at William 
Jewell College in Liberty, and three others at the 
Female College at Lexington, Mo. Our subject 
united with the Baptist Church called Bethel in 
1846, and was licensed to preach in November, 
1848. He was ordained by Elders W. C. Ligon 
and Robert Y. Thompson, and in 1850 he became 
the pastor of the first church of Miami. In De- 
cember, 1850, he succeeded Elder W. C. Ligon as 
pastor of the Bethel Church. 

In 1852 our subject saw an encouraging open- 
ing at Arrow Rock, Saline County, and there he 
organized a church ami was made its pastor. For 
some five years he officiated in this connection, 
and then, on account of sonic small differences of 
opinion, of no moment to the general reader, this 
church wa- dissolved, and he became pastor of the 
Good Hope Church, in Saline County, in April, 
1852. With this body he has continued in pleas- 
ant and profitable relations (with the exception of 
six years) for a period of thirty-four years. An- 
other church organized by this good and energetic 
man was the Union Church, in August, 1860, 
and for twenty-eight years he served as its pastor, 
carrying the griefs and rejoicing in the pleasures 
of his congregation in the near relationship of a 
beloved pastor. 

For four years Mr. Bell preached for the Fish 
lieek Church, and for several years served as pas- 
tor of the First Baptist Church at .Marshall. In 
1858 be resigned bis pastoral duties in the Bethel 
and Miami Churches, t" become the agent of the 
Ministerial Board of Education in connection 
with William Jewell < ollege, in winch capacity 
he raised in notes and cash, by subscriptions, 
more than $10,000. He also became financial 



traveling agent for that college in 1860 and 
conducted the work with success until the unset- 
tled condition of the country rendered it impos- 
sible, on account of the war, to proceed further 
with the work. After finding his efforts unprofit- 
able, lie resigned. lie has been Trustee of Wil- 
liam Jewell College for the last twenty years. 
Mr. Bell has filled many other offices of honor 
and trust in his church and has been Moderator of 
the Saline Association for twenty-three years. 

While lie has passed his sixty-ninth year, lie 
is hale and sound physically, as well as mentally. 
His great heart is in the work of the Gospel, and 
his services have been accepted, as has been testi- 
fied by the many conversions under his preaching 
and prayer. Such are the men who give to Saline 
County its good name before the Commonwealth. 



-sue— ■+ 



/p^EORGE W. STEALY, a succei 
[|| g— , mine owner, located in Higginss 
NiJJi is the manager of the Stealv & Fc 



^p^EOROK W. STEALY, a successful coal 

sville, Mo., 
\iwler Coal 

Company, which operates three mines. Mr. Stealy 
was born four miles west of Ashland, Ohio. Janu- 
ary 16, 1847. His father, John Stealy, was born 
in Lancaster County, Pa., and his grandfather, 
Israel Stealy. was born in West Virginia, and was 
descended from English parentage. He was a 
blacksmith in Lancaster Count} - , Pa., and later re- 
moved his family to Ohio, where lie engaged in 
blacksmithing and later in farming. The grand- 
father was a soldier in the War of 1812, and lived 
to the ripe old age of ninety-one, not dying until 
1889. In religion, he was a Lutheran and was a 
firm supporter of the tenets of his church. He was 
an old-line Whig until the dissolution of that politi- 
cal organization, when he embraced the principles 
of the Republican party, to which he adhered until 
his death. 

The father of our subject was a farmer near 
Ashland, Ohio, where lie remained until 1853, 
when he removed to Elkhart County, Ind., and 
there In mght a farm. Here he died in 1866, aged 



PORTRAIT AM) BI< (GRAPHICAL RECORD. 



615 



forty-five } r ears. 1 1 i — wife, the mother of our sub- 
ject, was before her marriage Miss Elizabeth Knot, 
she was born iii Lancaster County, Pa. Her fa- 
ther was a blacksmith and farmer in Wayne 
County, Ohio, where lie became very wealthy and 
also engaged in stock-raising. Mrs. Stealy was 
reared in t thio and after the death of her first hus- 
band she married a Mr. Zehner, who is now also 
dead. She bore her first husband the following 
children, all of whom are living, namely: Amos, 
who served his country during the late war in the 
Thirtieth Indiana Infantry, and continued in ac- 
tive service for four years, now resides in Pea- 
body, Kan.; Emeline, now Mrs. Landis. is a resi- 
dent of Gratiot County, Mich.; Albert is a resident 
of Ohio, where he is a railway engineer; Alice, now 
Mrs. Gangway, is a resident of Ashland, Ohio; and 
our subject. 

George W. Steal}' was reared in Ohio until he 
was six years of age and then removed to Indiana 
with his parents, making the trip by team and 
wagon. He was brought up on the farm and re- 
ceived his education in the district school of that 
section. When he reached the age of eighteen he 
removed to Goshen, End., where he remained for 
two years, attending school, after which, so tine 
had been his record as a pupil, he was engaged to 
teach the schools of Elkhart and Goshen, and was 
finally made Principal of the different schools. 
Here he remained for six years, giving satisfaction 
to everyone, but in 1 s77. to the great sorrow of 
his pupils, he resolved to remove to Peabody, 
Kan. Here he built and operated a fine hotel, 
called the Stealy House, for four years, when he 
sold out, in 1881, and located in Higginsville; Mo.. 
where he bought a building, to which he added 
and called it the Arcade. This building he ran 
for two years, when he was so unfortunate as to be 
visited by fire and to have his fine structure 
burned to the ground. 

This misfortune did not discourage our subject, 
however, for he immediately built a large brick 
hotel ami operated it for one j'ear, when, receiving 
a good offer for it. he parted with if and leased the 
building now known as the Arcade Hotel, which 
he operated until 1888, when he disposed of it 
also, so as to he able to engage in the coal busi- 



ness. The firm of Stealy & Eowler was then 
formed. They sunk two shafts, one of which is 
located one mile from the city on the Belt Line or 
Rocky Branch Railroad. It is fourteen feet to the 
coal vein, which is eighteen inches in thickness 
and is easily mined, and is among the best coal in 
the State. The mine is run by horse power. The 
firm have a lease of two hundred and sixty acres 
for twenty j-ears, and employ in their three mines 
the large force of one hundred men, and mine six 
car-loads of coal per day. Steam power is used to 
pump out the water from the mine. The second 
shaft is located one and one-fourth miles from 
Higginsville, and it is twenty feet to the eighteen- 
inch vein. Here they have eighty acres leased, 
and all the mines are doing a large and flourishing 
business. The mine is run nearly the whole year, 
and the product is sold at wholesale. 

Mr. Stealy was married at Goshen, Ind., Janu- 
ary 14, X866, to Miss Rose Ehret, who was born in 
Stark County, Ohio, but reared in Indiana. She 
is a daughter of Elias and Sophia (Ilenning) Ehret. 
Mr. Stealy and his wife are members of the Baptist 
Church. He has been a prominent Republican, 
and has served as a member of the Republican 
County Committee and as a Delegate to the county 
and State conventions several times. Mr. Stealy 
and his wife reside in a pleasant home on Fair 
Ground Avenue, where they dispense a generous 
hospitality to many friends. Mr. Stealy is re- 
garded as one of the pleasantest men in the city, 
while his many admirable qualities have won for 
him not only success in business, but the esteem 
and friendship of all with whom he comes in con- 
tact. 



[RAM F. CAMPBELL. Cashier of the Aroer- 
| ican Bank, City Treasurer of Higgins- 
ville and Secretary of the Higginsville 
Building and Loan Association, is one of 
the most prominent young business men in this 
section of Missouri. A brief review of his life and 
some account of his ancestry will therefore be of 




616 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



general interest. His father, Granville Kelley 
Campbell, was born in Huntsville, Ala., June 22, 
1 *'_'•"., and was the son of .Tames Campbell, who 
came of Scotch parentage, although lie was born 
in the Slate of Kentucky. The latter carried on 
cabinet-making and later removed to Huntsville, 
Ala., where he engaged in farming. His record 
in the War of I 8 1 "-' was a good one, and he also 
took part in the Indian troubles. At an early day 
he moved to .Missouri and settled in La Fayette 
County, where in 1820 he was married near Dover. 
After the ceremony, he and his bride traveled on 
horseback to Huntsville, a distance of eight hun- 
dred miles, and in that city he engaged in cab- 
inet-making and farming until 1836. 

June 1, 1836, James Campbell brought his family 
by team and wagon over the old route to Dover, 
arriving there after a month's journey. Here he 
bought some six hundred acres of laud, where he 
engaged in farming and stock-raising, and was also 
a large slave-holder. He resided in Dover, where 
he died in August, 1872, at the age of eighty-one 
years. For many years he was a consistent mem- 
ber of the Christian Church. The noble woman 
who became the grandmother of our subject was 
Anna Jennings, and was a native of Kentucky, a 
daughter of David Jennings, who was one of the 
first settlers near Dover, and engaged there in farm- 
ing as early as 1818. Mrs. Campbell died in Sep- 
tember, 181)2, in Dover at the residence of her 
daughter, Mrs. Mary Taylor, at the advanced age of 
mnet3'-five years. 

Of the six children born to Mr. and Mrs. James 
Campbell, live are still living, and the father of our 
subject was the eldest. He was reared near Hunts- 
ville, Ala., until he was thirteen years of age, when 
he came to Missouri and grew to manhood on the 
farm. At that time the country was still full of 
game, and young Campbell became an expert with 
his ride. The meats which are now considered 
dainties in his neighborhood were then, staples. 
Venison in every form, pigeons, wild turkeys, 
and even bear meat, were not rare. Until he 
had reached, his majority, Granville Campbell re- 
mained with his parents. His education was re- 
ceived in the logschoolhouse, where the slab benches 
and earthen lloors may have been picturesque, but 



were not always comfortable. When he started out 
in life for himself, he became possessed of two hun- 
dred acres of land, and built a pioneer log house. 
He began a life of toil on his farm, where lie raised 
hemp until the close of the war, and in connection 
with his other farming interests he was engaged in 
raising mules. Later he traded for a large farm of 
four hundred and fifty acres in the same vicin- 
ity, and upon this he engaged in raising cattle, 
stock and wheat. The land has a line location, 
four miles southeast of Dover. In 1884 he rented 
the property to one of his sons and moved to Hig- 
ginsville. 

After moving into the city, Granville K. Camp- 
bell built a home on Fair Ground Avenue, anil 
became a stockholder in the American Lank, also 
a stockholder and Director in the Higginsville 
Milling Company. His first marriage occurred in 
Dover Township in 1849 to Miss Louise Walker, 
who was born in La Fayette County, and was a 
daughter of Samuel Walker, an early settler and 
farmer of the county. Of their children we note 
the following: Samuel W., a resident of Saline 
County, where he carries on farming and stock- 
raising; James II., a coal operator in Higginsville; 
Robert L., a resident of Henry County, Mo., where 
he engages in farming aud stock-raising; Hiram F., 
Cashier of the American Bank; and Iron K., who 
died in infancy. The mother of our subject died 
in June, 1865, and Granville K. Campbell subse- 
quently married Mrs. Maria Johnson, of which 
union one son, named Alexander Proctor, was born. 

Hiram F. Campbell was born near Dover, Mo., 
December 14, 1860, and received the rudiments of 
his education in the district schools. Then he en- 
tered the University of Missouri at Columbus, 
where he prosecuted his studies for two years, leav- 
ing at the close of the Sophomore year. In 1882 
lie became connected with the Asbury-Catron 
Banking Company as Teller, the circumstances of 
which were that Capt. Asbury, knowing his sterling 
qualities of 'character, sent for him, and from the 
wheat field lie was installed in the bank. The 
splendid business ability which he displays illus- 
trates the sound judgment of Capt. Asbury and 
his knowledge of men. In 1886, Mr. Campbell 
became Assistant Cashier, and in the spring of the 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



617 



following year he waselected Cashier of the Amer- 
ican Bank, the name having been changed from 
the Asbury-Catron Banking Company. If is proba- 
ble that at the time of his election he was the 
youngest Cashier in the State of Missouri. lie has 
been a stockholder in the hank since the organiza- 
tion, and is also one of the Directors. 

Our subject was one of the original stockholders 
of the Higginsville Milling Company, which he 
serves as Treasurer and also as Director. In 1886, 
he engaged in an insurance business and carries 
ten of the leading American and foreign lire insur- 
ance companies, doing the largest business in that 
line in the city. In April, 1887, he became one of 
the organizers of the Higginsville Building and 
Loan Association, and was later made its Secretary. 
Jn this, $60,000 of capital is represented. For sev- 
eral years he has been City Treasurer. 

The present home of our subject is upon Maine 
Street. His marriage took place October 20, 1886, 
in Higginsville, to Miss Jennie ( ;. Wyatt, who was 
born in the city of Lynchburgh, Va. Her father is 
George Wyatt, a contractor and builder of this 
place. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell have two children, 
whose names are Karris and Lyman L. Socially he 
is a member of the Masonic fraternity and Knights 
of Pythias. In politics he is a stanch Democrat, 
and is actively identified with the party of his 
choice. He is a member of the Christian Church. 



/—>; PANY1LLK K. PAGE, an early and hon- 
(l[ (=, ored pioneer and extensive agriculturist 
V_^l of Dover Township, La Fayette County. 
Mo., owns a finely cultivated farm of three hun- 
dred and twenty-one and a-half acres, located 
upon section 13, township 50, range 26. Uprighl 
in character, temperate in habits, and public-spir- 
ited in action, our subject has always been identi- 
fied with the march of improvement, and ever 
taken a leading part in the local enterprises of 
his neighborhood. Widely known and highly 
respected, he is thoroughly at home in the his- 



tory of the early days, and the progressive ad- 
vancement of each prominent interest i-- as fa- 
miliar to him as the daily recurring events of the 
pasl year. 

The Page family were among the early immi- 
grants to America, and are of Scotch and English 
descent. The first representative of the branch of 
the Pages to which belongs Granville R. settled 
in Virginia in the latter part of the sixteenth 
century. John Page, the American statesman, 
bom in Virginia in L743, was an intimate friend 
of Thomas Jefferson and a member of the Colo- 
nial Council. During the Revolutionary struggle 
he rendered important service to the Government 
and freely contributed from his private purse to 
the public cause. In 1802 he was elected Gov- 
ernor of Virginia, and during his lifetime occu- 
pied many positions of trust, and passed away in 
1808, his death being mourned as a national loss. 

The parents of our subject. Axel H. and Sarah 
(Ennis) Page, were both native Virginians, as 
were the paternal and maternal grandparents. The 
maternai grandfather was John Ennis, well known 
as a man of influence and position in the Old Do- 
minion, while Grandfather Joseph Page had also 
a large circle of friends, whose respect and esteem 
he fully possessed. Axel II. Page made his home 
in Kentucky, and in this latter State Granville R. 
was born in the mouth of January, 1817, his 
birthplace being Warren County, where he re 
mained until ten years of age, when, with his par 
ents, he removed to La Fayette County, Mo. The 
family settled in Dover Township, and here, nearly 
sixty-six years ago, our subject went to school in 
the little log house where the scholars received 
their early instruction. 

At nineteen years of age Mr. Page, who had 
been trained to agricultural duties at home, be- 
gan farming on his own account, and in 1836 lo- 
cated in Platte County. Mo., where he remained 
eighteen months. In 1838 our subject returned 
t.. La Fayette County, and in the fall of 1841 set- 
tled upon his present farm, and for the first two 
years lived in a log cabin, but then built a more 
modern and commodious abode. During the first 
years of his agricultural experience in his present 
location Mr. Page raised hemp extensively, but 



618 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



after the war devoted himself more to general 
fanning anil stock-raising, handling chiefly graded 
Shorthorns. For some time he bought and shipped 
large numbers of stock, and, year after year, has 
increased his possessions by industry and capable 
management. Our subject, while a kind friend 
and true neighbor, is opposed to secret organiza- 
tions, and has never affiliated with any order. 
( >nce a Whig, later a pronounced Democrat, he 
voted for Henry Clay, and is a firm advocate of 
the time-honored Jefferson ian Democracy. 

July 23, 1835, occurred the first marriage of 
Mr. Page, who was then united with Miss Mary 
A. Kidge, a native of Kentucky, and a daughter 
of William Kidge, who was born in Kentucky, 
but who removed to Missouri with his family in 
the fall of 1834. Mrs. Page became the mother 
of quite a family of children, five of whom are 
now living: William A., John (deceased). Sara 
F., Nancy, Mary E., Eliza J. (deceased), and Alice 
L., the youngest daughter, who still survives. 
January 1, 1856, our subject contracted his sec- 
ond marriage, his present wife having been the 
sharer of his joys and sorrows for thirty-seven 
years. Mrs. Lucinda (Johnson) Page is the daugh- 
ter of William Johnson, a native of Tennessee, 
who came to Missouri in 1819, and who experi- 
enced the struggles and triumphs of the early set- 
tlers in the Territory. The ancestors of Mrs. l'age 
were of English descent, but her paternal grand- 
father was one of the Revolutionary heroes who 
fought for God and liberty. 

Mr. and .Mrs. Page have been the parents of 
nine children, eight of whom are living: Lou Ella, 
Jennie B., George A., Ida L, Benjamin L., Heber, 
Joseph J. and Temple R. Mr. and Mrs. Page and 
their family, now variously located, are all num- 
bered among the useful and energetic citizens who 
are important factors in tlie upbuilding and perma- 
nent advancement of national interests, and are 
all esteemed for their upright and honorable 
methods in the daily business of life. Many of 
the early settlers of Missouri have passed away, 
and the remaining pioneers now and then gather 
togethei to once more recount the experiences 
of yore, and among the organizations of La Fay- 
ette County is the Old Men's Club, of which asso- 



ciation Mr. Page is an active and honored member. 
Mr. and Mrs. Page are both valued members of the 
Christian Church, with which religious denomina- 
tion our subject has been actively connected for 
fifty-six years. 



0^)EORGE B. CHAMBERLIN, a successful 
III (—-, agriculturist and influential citizen of La 
\^JJ Fayette County, Mo., has for a number of 
years been identified with the development and 
growing interests of his township and immediate 
locality, and is highly esteemed as a public-spirited 
and useful citizen. He was born in Hampshire 
County, W. Va., July 14, 1840, and is a son of 
George E. and Martha (Brundell) Chamberlin. The 
paternal grandfather of our subject, Elijah Cham- 
berlin, married Miss Mary McPherson, and unto 
them was born a family of sturdy sons and (laugh- 
ters: James, John, Franklin, Jonas, George E., 
Jane and Mary. The family were members of the 
Presbyterian Church and lived consistent Christian 
lives. The grandfather died in Cabletown, Jeffer- 
son County, W. Va., in which place his son, George 
E., the father of our subject, was born. The grand- 
mother May died near Hedgesville, Berkeley 
County, W. Va., about 1861. George E. Chamber- 
lin was a successful merchant in Cabletown, and 
devoted his entire life to mercantile pursuits. 
In after days he removed to Capon Bridge, Hamp- 
shire County, where he died. 

The mother of our subject survived her husband, 
and died in 1875, in Cooper County, Mo. She was 
a daughter of Philip Brundell, and was born in 
London, England. Her father came to the United 
States in 1825, and was a maker of mathematical 
instruments, and located in Norfolk, Va. He was 
married twice, but only reared one child to matur- 
ity. Mrs.Martha (Brundell) Chamberlin, whose mo- 
ther's maiden name was Sarah Toolej-s, was a mem- 
ber of John N. Duncan's Church (Presbyterian), 
of the city of Baltimore. She was an earnest, con- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



619 



scientious wife, and the mother of eight children, 
six of whom lived to adult years. These sons and 
daughters were, Sarah, John A. R., George B., Ida 
V., William McPherson and Cora S. The twin chil- 
dren died in infancy. John A. R. served bravely in 
the Confederate army. Our subject was reared 
upon a farm, and after his brother went into the 
army took charge of the homestead, being then but 
fourteen years of age, consequently he enjoyed but 
limited educational advantages. 

In 1873 Mr. Chaniberlin came to Missouri, and 
worked in a mill for two years, locating at 
first in Cooper County, where his mother and bro- 
ther settled nearly two years before. In 1880 our 
subject made his home upon the eighty acres where 
he now resides, and has for the past thirteen years 
devoted himself with energetic industry to the 
duties of general agriculture and stock-raising. 
The farm is under a high state of cultivation, 
and annually yields an abundant harvest. Mr. 
Chamberlin was united in marriage with Miss 
Massie A. Gammon, a daughter of William T. and 
Elizabeth A. (Slaven) Gammon, March 18, 1884. 
Mr. and Mrs. Chamberlin are members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church South, with which 
our subject has been connected since 1865, and his 
wife for the past seven years, having formerly 
been a member of the Presbyterian Church. The 
pleasant home has been blessed with one child, a 
bright little daughter, Bessie. Mr. and Mrs. Cham- 
berlin are widely known and highly respected, and 
are prominent factors in the good work and social 
and benevolent enterprises of their home neighbor- 
hood and locality. 



mh 



^ — I - — » ~ • ' v 



■ji/ ESLIE KEITH, a successful farmer, widely 
I («) known and highly respected, and a leading 
J — A resident of La Fayette County, was born 
Decern tier 20, 1853, upon the farm which he now 
owns, section 20, township 18, range 27. Having 
spent nearly two-score years in the county, he has 
been intimately associated with the progress of 



his neighborhood, and, an industrious and ener- 
getic citizen, has materially aided in the advance- 
ment of the Slate. 

Our subject is the son of James M. and Lizzie 
(Perry) Keith. < Grandfather James W. Keith, who 
was born in Virginia, located in Kentucky during 
the early pioneer days and settled near Winches- 
ter. He engaged in the pursuit of agriculture 
nearly all his life, and was also a successful mer- 
chant. The father of our subject, James M. Keith. 
was born in Winchester. Ky., December 7, 181.0. 

He received an excellent education and < ipleted 

a course of study in Center College, at Danville, 
Ky., graduating from this celebrated institution 
when he was but eighteen years of age. 

In a comparatively brief time this energetic and 
talented man began the practice of medicine in 
Missouri, and in 181.") came to La Fayette County 
and located upon section 2(1, township 48, range 
27. Beginning with two hundred and eighty 
acres, the gift of his father, he rapidly increased 
his holdings, until he owned eight hundred and 
foity acres of valuable land, all in one body, 
which he energetically cleared and improved. At 
a cost of $8,0(10 he erected an elegant residence, 
which was burned to the ground in 1880. Dr. 
Keith died on the 9th of March. 187;». He was an 
active member of the Presbyterian Church, and 
one of the organizers and Elders of Mount Hope. 
Dr. Keith was a lifelong Democrat, and was quite 
prominent in political affairs. He entered the Con- 
federate service, raised a company, and was made 
Captain. He participated in the battle of Lex- 
ington and various skirmishes, but on account of 
his health resigned. Later he went to Saline 
County, where he engaged profitably in trading. 
and also had a large practice, and remained until 
the close of the war. 

Dr. Keith was an extensive slave-holder, and 
was thus a heav\ Loser by the Civil War. He also 
made an unprofitable venture about the close of 
the war, when he sent a large tram of stock and 
provisions across the plains, much of which outlay 
was an entire loss. The soul of generosity and a 
liberal-minded man. he too frequently assisted his 
friends even at a greal personal sacrifice, lie was 
sixty-three years of age at the time of his death, 



620 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



and was beloved by his friends and highly re- 
spected by all who knew him. He was twice mar- 
ried, and by his first wife became the father of 
nine children, eight of whom lived to reach years 
Of maturity. Thesonsand daughters who brought 
joy and sunshine into the beautiful home were: 
Belle Taylor, Perry, Mollie Perry, James, Felix, 
Bettie; Woolf, deceased: Pauline, who died in in- 
fancy; Leslie, our subject; and Frank, who is in 
business in Kansas City. The mother of our sub- 
ject was born in Pulaski, Giles County, Tenn., and 
now resides in May view. Mo.; she is a daughter of 
James Perry, an enterprising merchant and a well- 
known citizen of ability and worth. She is a 
member of the old-school Presbyterian Church, 
and a sincere and devoted Christian. At the age 
of sixty-eight years she now resides in Kansas 
City. 

Leslie Keith was reared upon a farm, and edu- 
cated in the district schools of his immediate 
neighborhood. At twenty-three years of age, in 
1876, he located upon one hundred and ninety 

acres of the original I lestead, and, devoting 

himself to the duties of general agriculture, has 
brought the land up to a high state of cultivation. 
April 27. 1876, he married Miss Ruth Rice, who 
was born near Columbus. Johnson County, the 
daughter of Pleasant and Linnie (Hay) Rice. Mr. 
Rice was a native Tennesseean and was born in 
1803. At fifteen years of age he came with his 
parents to Saline County, then after a short time 
went to Greenton Valley, and from there jour- 
neyed to Johnson County, where he lived for over 
sixty years, dying May 10, 18!>2. He was a 
wealthy farmer, and the father of thirteen chil- 
dren, five sons and six daughters living to mature 
age. His wife, who was a native of Jefferson 
County, Ky.. passed away two years prior to the 
death of her husband. They were both members 
of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Grand- 
father Dangerfield Rice, who came from Tennessee 
and remained a short time in Missouri, was of di- 
rect Scotch-Irish descent. 

The pleasant home of our subject and his estim- 
able wife has been blessed by the birth of six chil- 
dren, of whom five are yet surviving. The sons 
and daughters are : Pleasant, Turner, Lizzie. 



Courtney and Rodger. Mrs. Keith is a valued 
member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 
and actively aids in the support of its good work 
and benevolent enterprises. Politically our sub- 
ject is a Democrat, and an earnest advocate of the 
party. lie has been an important factor in the 
promotion of the best interests of the community, 
and is highly esteemed as an upright and progress- 
ive American citizen. 



*IE 



EN 



^pv OL. JOHN Di IXALDSON, a prominent and 
i'l ~\ well-known farmer and stock-raiser of La 
\^y Fayette County, Mo., was born in County 
Down, Ireland, October 27, 1822, a son of Joseph 
and Mary (Nicholson) Donaldson, who were en- 
gaged in farming in their native country. Our 
subject was the third son in a family of six chil- 
dren and grew up to man's estate in his native 
land, where he attended the common schools. 
In 1846, he came to America, landing in New 
York City. From that great metropolis he made 
his way to Eastern Tennessee, where he began 
merchandising, which he continued for two years. 

In 1849, our subject decided to make a change, 
hence removed to Missouri and located his business 
in l'lcasant Hill, Cass County, where he remained 
but one year, then settled in Lexington, Mo., 
where he continued the same line of trade until 
L859, when he came to his present place to begin 
the life of a farmer and stock-raiser. In June, 
1861, Mr. Donaldson left the peaceful pursuits to 
which he had so lately settled and entered the 
Confederate army, in which he served until the 
close of the war. The rise of this officer was rapid, 
he being successively commissioned Captain, Major, 
and Lieutenant-Colonel. 

Our subject was one of the brave soldiers of the 
siege of Vicksburg, besides making a record at 
other points, and is well remembered among his 
comrades for his gallantry. After the war, he re- 
turned to his agricultural pursuits and has con- 
ducted an extensive business in slock, dealing 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



621 



principally in mules. His land comprises seven- 
teen hundred acres, arid the most of it is under 
g< »i(l cultivation and all of it is well fenced. He 
is one of the landed gentry of the State. In pol- 
itic-. Col. Donaldson is a prominent and pro- 
nounced Democrat, outspoken in his preference for 
the party of his belief. 

In the year 1857, the brave Colonel was united 
in marriage with Miss E-ettie M., the only daugh- 
ter of John B. Webb, a native of Kentucky, who 
removed from there into La Fayette County at an 
early day. Mrs. Donaldson was born in this State 
December 23, 1839. The only living issue of this 
marriage is Pinkie, now the wife of George S. Ma- 
grew, of St. Louis. Col. Donaldson was bereaved 
of his wife March 8, 187IK lie is a member of 
Waverly Lodge No. 61, A. F. & A. M.. and one of 
the most prominent men in this part of the county. 
His great farm is located on township 51, range 
24. Had every resident in the State of Missouri 
as large a farm as our subject, the number of voters 
would very considerably decrease. 



r*- 



\fj OHN W. FN DLY, ex-Postmaster and member 
of the School Board in Higginsville, Saline 
County, is one of the most successful busi- 
ng/ ness men in the city, and is engaged in 
carrying on a general grocery trade in his large 
store building, which is located on the corner of 
Hustler and Hoggs Streets. He was born in Guern- 
sey County, Ohio, near Senecaville, April 30, 1847, 
his father being John Endly, a native of Wash- 
ington County, Pa., who emigrated with his par- 
ents to Ohio, setling in Guernsey County at an 
early day. He was engaged in merchandising,and 
also ran an hotel for sonic lime, lie was of Eng- 
lish descent and was quite a successful business 
man at one time, packing and shipping tobacco 
quite extensively. He was summoned from this 
life in 1817, having been taken sick in Philadelphia, 
and dying after but a brief illness. The mother 
of our subject bore the maiden name of Isabella 



Morrison. Her father was a Colonel in the War 
of 1812, a native of Virginia and Sheriff of Lou- 
doun County for two terms. 

Mr. Endly of whom we write was reared by his 
grandfather, Col. Morrison, a1 Senecaville, receiv- 
ing a common-school education. At the beginning 
of May, L862, he volunteered in the Union service, 
becoming a member of Company E, Eighty-eighth 
Ohio Infantry, and was mustered in at Camp 
( !hase, where he remained until May. 1864, when he 
re-enlisted in the One Hundred and Seventy-sec- 
ond Ohio, in Company E. With his regiment, he 
was sent into Virginia, going to Petersburgh and 
Mouocacy. and then to the Shenandoah Valley mi 
Hunter's raid. He received an honorable discharge 
from the army in September, 18G4, being mus- 
tered out at Galliopolis, Ohio. Returning home, 
he served an apprenticeship at saddlery and harness- 
making with an uncle for two years and then, cm- 
barking in business for himself, opened a shop in 
Norwich, Ohio. 

In 1868, Mr. Endly was united in marriage 
with Miss Frances Whittaker, a native of Norwich, 
where their marriage was celebrated. Her father. 
Daniel I. Whittaker, was a leading merchant and 
fur dealer. She was called to her final rest during 
her residence in this city. The four children who 
were born of their union are Benjamin, a graduate 

of the High Scl lot' this city; Thomas; Mary. 

who is attending the Alcdo Academy; and Nola. 
In 1886, Mr. Endly was married in Senecaville to 
Miss Sarah H. P. Urdum, who was born in Fred- 
erick County. Md.. and educated in Ohio. A 
daughter, Isabel, a charming little girl, has come 
to bless her parents' home. 

In 18G'.» Mr. Endly came to Missouri, settling in 
Warrensburgh, where he built a house and worked 
at his trade for about a year. In 1870, lie went 
to Orrville, there opening a harness and saddlery 
shop. For several terms he was a member of the 

City Council and of the Scl I Hoard of that city. 

In 1875, he was appointed Postmaster under lien. 
Grant, which position lie resigned four years later, 
selling out his genera] store, where he kept in 
stock groceries, boots and shoes, dry goods and 
saddlery. In L879 he made a location in Higgins 
ville, starting a butcher shop on Hustler Street in 



622 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



company with B. I'. Tudor,and continued in busi- 
ness one year only, on account of being appointed 
Postmaster in 1880, by President Hayes, without 
his solicitation. In order to properly fill the du- 
ties of this position, he sold out his store, and un- 
der the administration of Gen. Garfield was re- 
appointed Postmaster, serving until July of 1885. 
He has taken a prominent part in local affairs, and 
in 1890 was elected Alderman of the First Ward. 
During the time of his service the First Ward 
Building was erected at a cost of t7,000 and vari- 
ous other improvements were made in other por- 
tions of the city. He served as a member of the 
street Committee and saw to it that many of the 
streets were graded and put in much better condi- 
tion. He was one of the first Trustees of the city, 
serving for one term. In 1886, he became a mem- 
ber "f the Sehool Board, and three years later was 
made President of the Hoard, which position he 
still occupies. 

Mr. Fndly is a member of the Independent Or- 
der of Odd Fellows, in which he has passed all the 
(hairs, and a member of McCIurg Post No. 'ill. 
G. A. R., of which he was the second Commander. 
He owns real estate in this city and lias purchased 
the old homestead where he was reared in Ohio. 
His residence is a pleasant one situated on Main 
Street. In politics, he is independent, and, relig- 
iously, holds membership with the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church, at Orrville. In his possession is a 
parole of honor signed by Gov. Bruff, Secretary- 
of-War Stanton and President Lincoln. 



==£HM=§~^ 



eOL. WILLIAM BROWN" was for many 
years an honored settler of Saline County, 
Mo., living on his farm, situated on section 
30, township 52, range 26. His career m life was 
marked by honorable conduct, and his genial 
warm-hearted way made him friends of one and 
all. His birth occurred February 5, 1828, at Elk 
Hill, Fayette ( ounty, Kv., his father, Samuel S. 
Brown, being a prominent lawyer and honored 



citizen of that State. His mother before her mar- 
riage was Miss Anna Harrison, daughter of Robert 
C. Harrison, who was one of the Revolutionary 

heroes. 

The education of our subject was obtained in the 
public schools near the place of his birth, and at the 
age of sixteen years he commenced studying sur- 
veying with Capt. Liotz. The article which was 
written by Col. Fremont at that time tired his en- 
thusiasm, and in 18 1G he joined the company 
of (dl. W. Russell at Independence, Mo. In this 
company were Capt. A. .1. Cobbs, of Louisville, 
Bryant, the author of "What I saw in California." 
Messrs. Nothalland Brookley, of Kentucky. Currey 
and Ilohlin. of St. Louis, McClary, of New Oilcan-. 
and Capt. Wells, formerly of the army. They 
traveled by way of the Southern end of the great 
Salt Lake, arriving at their destination on the 1st 
of September. The exposure and hardship inci- 
dent to such a triii overland brought on a severe 
fit of sickness and our subject was advised to re- 
cuperate his health in the Sandwich Islands. He 
went on the steamship '-James" with Capt. Givens, 
who was very kind to him and took him to his 
home in Honolulu, where he remained until fully 
restored to his usual robust health. For two 
months after his recovery he visited the different 
points of interest on the islands, which contain 
many picturesque and rare sights. 

In February, 1817. Mr. Brown returned to the 
United States, only to find the country in a turbu- 
lent condition, and immediately on his arrival he 
was appointed Second Lieutenant of Company A, 
California Battalion, Of which Capt. Owens was in 
command. Mr. Brown was detailed with six men 
as escort to Col. W. II. Russell, who was sent 
with a dispatch to Washington, and for thirty-live 
days this little band of men lived upon the meat 
of the broken-down mules. They arrived safely in 
Washington m October, 1847, where Mr. Brown was 
promoted to the rank of Colonel. While in Wash- 
ington he improved every opportunity of storing 
hi- mind with useful knowledge, and returned to 
his native State in February. 1848, being again 
ready to start to the Golden State in the following 
month. Nine young men were his companions on 
this triii, which was made on pack mules. This 



PORTRAIT AN']) BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



623 



marie his third trip across the plains before he was 
twenty-one years of age. Dpon arriving in Cali- 
fornia he took up a claim and was associated in 
mining and fanning with two young men from 
Lexington, Ky. Mr. Brown was afterward elected 
Surveyor, in which capacity he served for two years. 

In February, 18.52, the Colonel came to Missouri, 
as his mother and brother had settled upon a farm 
here. In the spring of the following year, in com- 
pany with his mother, he returned to Kentucky on a 
visit, where they spent the summer. In February, 
18,53, our subject was married to Miss Leora V., 
daughter of Robert J. Thompson, of Saline County, 
this State. The latter was a large farmer and took 
great interest in the development of his extensive 
farm and the raising of fine stock. In the fall of 
185(1 Mr. Brown purchased three hundred and 
twenty acres of land near Leavenworth, Kan., which 
he highly improved and cultivated until 1860. He 
then sold his farm, and returned to make his home 
with his mother, to whom he was a devoted son; 
to his amiable wife he was a loving husband, and 
to his three children was a truly affectionate and 
considerate father. 

In 1861, when the Government called for troops, 
Col. Brown responded and was at once elected as 
Captain of the Missouri State Guards. He partici- 
pated in the first battle of Boonville, and the en- 
gagements at Carthage and Wilson Creek. In the 
latter part of April. 1861, he returned home and 
remained for about one week on a flying visit. 
One and a-half miles south of his farm was an en- 
campment of three hundred men under Col. Bucher, 
who implored him to join them on the expedition 
to Boonville. He complied with their request most 
unfortunately, for there, September 13, 1861, he 
met his death. He was a devoted Christ ian, his 
last words being, "Rear my children for Christ. 
Teach them that religion is a pearl above price." 
Many were the expressions of heartfelt sympathy 
which his family received in this hour of their 
deep affliction. 

The brother of our subject. Mason, was born in 
1824, and in the Mexican War was a valiant and 
faithful soldier, taking part in many of the most 
prominent battles. While at Buena Vista, during 
the progress of the battles, his Captain was taken 

32 



prisoner and the command fell on him as he was 
Second Lieutenant of the company and the First- 
Lieutenant was absent. lie was highly compli- 
mented for his daring and gallantry. He returned 
to Kentucky, where he engaged in farming and 
where he was married to Miss Sallie A. Alexander. 
In 1850 he located in Saline County, Mo., where 
he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits 
and raising fine stock. 



^fl'OIIN WELBORN, a prominent attorney-at- 
law and enterprising business man of Lex- 
ington, is a loyal Republican, and has been 
called upon to fill various important posi- 
tions in this city during the past ten years. In 
1882 he was elected City Recorder for a term of 
two years, was re-elected in 1884 and again in 
1886 without opposition. In 1888 he was elected 
Mayor of the city, which important place he held 
for two years, discharging its duties with prompt- 
ness, fidelity and zeal. He has ever had the besl 
interests of the city at heart, and for that reason 
and his many worthj' qualities is held in the 
highest esteem and respect by all who have the 
good fortune to know him. 

Mr. Welborn was born in La Fayette County, 
Mo., November 20, 1856. and is the son of David 
N". and Catherine (Bodenhammer) Welborn. being 
the youngest son in a family of twelve children. 
His paternal grandfather, whose Christian name 
was David, was a native of North Carolina. David 
N. Welborn was a prominent and leading farmer 
of Freedom Township, l.a Fayette County, and 
there were spent the boyhood days of Our Subject. 
He assisted his father in cultivating the home farm 
during a portion of the year, and attended the 
district schools of the neighborhood up to the age 
of seventeen years. In 1 875 he entered the Nor- 
mal School at Warrensburgh, in this state, grad- 
uating from the Normal course two year.- later. 

In 1877 our subject c< lenced the study of 

law. reading under the tutorage of John .1. ( ock- 



624 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



rell, of Warrensburgb, and was admitted to the 
Bar under William T. Wood, August !), 1879. He 
at once began the practice of his profession in Lex- 
ington, before all the courts. Though much of 
the time since he commenced practice has been 
spent in public offices, he has nevertheless ac- 
quired a large and lucrative practice and an en- 
viable reputation as a lawyer. He possesses to an 
eminent degree the necessary qualities for success 
in a gentleman of the legal profession, as he is an 
able advocate and possesses an excellent memory, 
being able to cite examples and precedents iu 
every given case. lie is intelligent and widely 
read, keeping thoroughly posted on all decisions 
rendered by courts in various parts of the coun- 
try, and in various ways keeping himself thor- 
oughly abreast of the times. 

In 187'. I, soon after being admitted to the Bar, 
Mr. Wei born was united in marriage with Miss 
Georgia A. Little John, who is a daughter of Robert 
T. Littlejohn, a prosperous farmer of Freedom 
Township. Our subject and his accomplished and 
charming wife have a pleasant residence on Main 
Street, where it is their special pleasure to welcome 
and entertain their many friends. During the 
time Mr. Welborn was .Mayor many important im- 
provements and wise measures were enacted for 
the benefit of the city, which was duly prospered 
under his regime. 



4^ <► St. 



1 (II IN II. PEACOCK,a prosperous agricul- 
turist, large land-owner and enterprising 
citizen of Iligginsville, La Fayette County. 
Mo., is one of the most public-spirited and 
liberal residents of the State. His efforts in behalf 
of local improvements have been notable, and he 
has also been an important factor in the prosperity 
of various religious and benevolent enterprises. A 
constant dweller within the borders of Missouri 
since 1847, her upward progress and rapid advance- 
ment are intimately associated with the history of 



his life. Few there are of the immediate neighbor- 
hood or surrounding country who do not know 
our subject well, and all who know him give him 
their full respect and utmost confidence. 

Mr. Peacock is a Virginian, and was born No- 
vember 16, 1816, in Loudoun County, about nine 
miles from Leesburgh. His paternal grandfather, 
John, was also a native of Virginia, and in early 
days a settler of Springfield, Ohio, where he indus- 
triously tilled the soil, but finally returned to the 
Old Dominion, and died there. He was of English 
ancestry, a man of courage, resolution and will, 
and was highly esteemed. Elijah Peacock, the 
father of our subject, was also a native of Loudon 
County. Ya.,and with other patriotic sons of the 
Old Dominion served in theWarof 1812. He was 
at Baltimore under Gen. Douglas, and was one of 
the defenders of Washington, when that city was at- 
tacked by the enemy. He was an extensive agri- 
culturist and noted stock-raiser of Virginia, and 
owned a gristmill located on the Potomac, beside 
which he also successfully handled merchandise, 
doing a large business in a general store. When 
the bankrupt law was passed many people repudi- 
ated their debts, and he was almost financially 
ruined. 

A courageous and self-reliant man, Elijah Pea- 
cock began again to build up his business interests, 
and prospered, erecting both a saw and grist mill, 
and, engaged in other enterprises, was ever actively 
employed up to his last illness. Energetic, industri- 
ous and upright in character, he passed to his rest, 
lamented by all who knew him. Nancy, bis wife, 
born in Virginia, was a daughter of John Huff, an 
Englishman, who built the first house in Waterford. 
Va., and who afterward became very wealthy. He 
dealt in merchandise, engaged in milling, and 
bought and sold real estate. He owned large bodies 
of land in Ohio, beside valuable property in Alex- 
andria, and was greatly prospered, lie was a Quaker, 
and died in Waterford at a good old age. This 
maternal grandfather was a man widely known 
and greatly respected, and devoted much of his 
time to the pursuit of agriculture. 

.Mrs. Peacock, the mother of our subject, died in 
her native State. Bight sons and three daughters 
survived her. and ten of these children arc now 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



625 



living. John was the eldest-born, and was reared 
upon the farm, where he was early trained into 
habits of industry. He assisted in running the 
store, and was soon able to manage the sawmill 
upon the Potomac River. He also enjoyed the 
educational advantages of must excellent public 
schools, but overworked himself by severe mental 
labor and bard study, so tried clerking, but his 
health was so impaired, he was obliged to recuper- 
ate upon the farm. Active and energetic, our sub- 
ject sought work in a blacksmith shop, and soon 
regained his former vigor and strength. For the 
next two years he sold goods in East Loudon, but 
such work was too confining, and he once again 
engaged in the pursuit of agriculture, this time 
buying a farm of four hundred acres, which he im- 
proved successfully, until, in 1847, he came to Mis- 
souri, traveling by train toParkersburgh,and from 
there by boat to Lexington. 

Mr. Peacock spent one year in Odessa, and then 
settled here, buying one hundred and sixty acres 
of land, about half a mile from Iligginsville, and 
located upon sect inn 29, range 25, township 50. 
The land was in Dover Township, and was entirely 
unimproved, but with characteristic energy, our 
subject began its cultivation. He engaged in raising 
hemp, and was among the first residents of that 
vicinity who ploughed with horses. As he pros- 
pered be added to his landed interests until he had 
about one thousand acres. After the war he raised, 
fed, bought and sold an excellent grade of cattle, 
and became an extensive shipper of stock. In 
1884 he removed to Iligginsville, settled here 
permanently, and erected a handsome home. Our 
subject has of late sold quite a numberof valuable 
properties, but still retains ten hundred and forty 
acres of land, all in Dover Township. 

Eight hundred and forty acres are all in one 
huge farm, which is well arranged for three tenants, 
having besides one commodious residence, three 
houses and three good barns. The large acreage 
is all under fine cultivation, the soil watered fcn 
springs, the ground thoroughly drained bj tiling, 
and much of the land well shaded by Cottonwood 
trees. Everywhere one may look, thrift, and wise 
management are plainly indicated upon this valu- 
able property. Mr. Peacock has seldom failed to 



succeed in any enterprise, and has won a compe- 
tence, but during the war was plundered bj both 
parties. He was a Director in the I lank of Higgins- 
ville, and also occupied the same position in the 
Milling Company, but retired from active partici- 
pation in those business enterprises. 

Our subject gave the right of way through his 
farm to the Chicago <fc Alton Railroad. The right of 
\\:i\ covered three-quarters of a mile and was worth 
two thousand dollars. Mr. Peacock also gave a 
quarter of a mile right of way to the Missouri Pa- 
cific Railroad. The firs! coal shaft sunk in the 
county on the Chicago & Alton Railroad was on 
the farm of our subject, which contain- valuable 
deposits, and has been mined, but not to any great 
extent. Mr. Peacock owns twelve acres of land 
anil four lots in and adjoining Iligginsville, this 
property being finely located and increasing in 
value. Mr. Peacock was married in Virginia to 
Miss Sarah Purr, born in that State, where she died, 
leaving a family of three sons and four daughters. 
Mary E., Mrs. Hagood resides here upon a farm; 
Rose, Mrs. Mitchell, died here; Frank lives on one 
of his father's farms; Virginia is at home; John is 
em the home farm; Sally. Mrs. Burr,resides in Vir- 
ginia; Robert is a citizen of Iligginsville. 

Our subject married for his second wife Miss 
Rachael Furr, who was born in North Carolina and 
who died in Marshall. Again marrying, Mr. Pea- 
cock was united in the bonds of matrimony with 
Miss Margarel J., a daughter of John Wolford, 
born in Virginia, also the birthplace of Mrs. Pea- 
cock and the scene of her marriage, which was 
solemnized in May. 1886. Her paternal grandfather. 
William, was born in Pennsylvania, and fought 
bravely in the Warofl812. He settled in Virginia, 
and was a prominent farmer of the State, as was also 
Mrs. Peacock's father, who died in the Old Domin- 
ion. His wife, .lane Huff, was a native of Virginia, 
and a daughter of John Huff, previously mentioned 
in this sketch. Mrs. Peacock was next to the eldest 
of four children. Our subject has always been in- 
terested in educational advancement, and was for 

many years a Scl 1 Director, and built the first 

scl lhouse in the neighborhood on his land, and 

afterward erected other buildings for the same 
purpose, lie gave the land upon which theschool 



626 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



building was erected, and this first temple of learn- 
ing is Still employed as a place of instruction. Mr. 
Peacock has served on both petit and grand juries, 
and is ever ready t<> d«> his duty as a good Amer- 
ican citizen, but lias never aspired to political of- 
fice. He is, however, a strong- Democrat, as was his 
father before him. Our subject is a valued member 
of the Baptist Church, and is one of its most ear- 
nest and efficient aids and supporters. Having en- 
gaged ardently in a long life of usefulness, Mr. 
Peacock, now retired from active dut3 r , may con- 
template the result of his life-work with satisfac- 
tion. Honored and regarded by all as a faithful 
friend and true Christian citizen, his days are blest 
in the consciousness of a well-spent life. 



S. WEBB, the well-known editor and pro- 
prietor of the Waverly Times, one of the 
leading newspapers of La Fayette County, 
was born June 5, 1832, and in the follow- 
ing year removed with his parents to this Stale. 
They settled near the eastern boundary line of this 
count} 1 , within two and one-half miles of Webb's 
Landing, then a shipping point on the Missouri 
River. Our subject's father was John V.Webb, form- 
erly of Georgetown, Scott County, Ky., while his 
mother, who bore the maiden name of Almira M. 
(I. Buford, was the daughter of Maj. Simeon Bu- 
ford, and was from Woodford County, near the 
town of Versailles in the same State. 

The education of J. S. Webb was acquired in the 
county schools of the vicinity and in the Masonic 
College, of Lexington, Mo., where he continued 
his studies for three and one-half years. His mar- 
riage was celebrated February (i, 1861, in the last- 
mentioned city, at which time Miss Lucy J. Webb 
became his wife. She was formerly of Lexington, 
Ky., and by her marriage became the mother of 
seven children, three sons and four daughters. 
John W., Maurice L. and Frank V. are all practical 
printers, Maurice L. being at present engaged 
with the Gazette, a paper published at Corder, this 



State, while his two brothers are able assistants to 
our subject in editing and carrying on the Times. 
The second daughter,. Margaret, died in infancy. 
Jennie II. married II. L. Tucker, a druggist of 
Butler, Bates County, in this State; and Daisy ('., 
the youngest child of the family, is attending 
school. 

The Times, which is recognized as one of the 
influential papers of the county, was established 
in 1877 and has constantly increased in circula- 
tion. It is one of the best advertising mediums in 
La Fayette County, which is the banner agricul- 
tural and coal-producing county of the State. 
The town of Waverly is located upon a bed of coal 
four and one-half feet in thickness and within 
ninety feet of the surface. Mr. Webb is an able 
editor and has made a marked success in carrying 
on the paper, devoting his energies to making it 
one which will be a potent factor in the upbuild- 
ing of city and county. Though he has so re- 
cently taken hold of it the journal takes the lead 
in advocating whatever may be for the highest 
good of the community, and his efforts have been 
abundantly blessed. In all matters pertaining to 
the advancement of society, education and politics 
our subject takes a keen and discriminating inter- 
est, and through the columns of his paper, which 
has a wide circulation both in this and surround- 
ing counties, he has many times been instrumental 
in securing for this locality various advantages of 
a nature more or less important. 



^ 



6p^>lIOMAS A. YANCEY, M. 1)., deceased, for 
|/fjN^ about thirty years was engaged in the prac- 
^|gy tice of his profession in Saline County, and 
at the same time managed and resided on a farm 
which was given to his wife by her father, and on 
which she is still living. He was a native of 
Buckingham County, Va., his birth having oc- 
curred November 10, 1831. His grandfather, Lay- 
ton Yancey, and his wife were both natives of that 
county in the Old Dominion, and his old home- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



627 



stead, which is picturesquely Located on the Shen- 
andoah River, is still in possession Of the family. 
The Yanceys are of French descent, the original 
founder of the family in the United Stales having 
located in Virginia in Colonial days, and at that 
time erected the rambling old Virginian style of 
residence which is still standing. 

The father of our subject, Charles L. Yancey, 
married in Madison County, Va., Miss Lucinda 
Graves, the ceremony being performed October 15, 
1820. The former was an extensive farmer in his 
native county, where his death occurred in 1851, 
at which time he was fifty-two years of age. His 
wife's family were of Scotch descent. 

Dr. Yancey passed his boyhood days in Virginia, 
receiving his education mainly at home under the 
tutorage of a private teacher, and being graduated 
from Jefferson College, Philadelphia, in 1853. Af- 
ter practicing for about seven years in Harrison- 
burgh, Va., he came to Missouri in the latter part 
of the '50s. On October 19, 1859, was celebrated 
the Doctor's marriage with Mary C. Snodd}^, 
daughter of Daniel F. and Elizabeth .1. (Brown) 
Snoddy. The latter was a sister of Judge A. F. 
Brown, of Malta Bend. The father of Mrs. Yancey 
entered land in Saline County at an early day, and 
at his death in 1849 left about seven bundled acres 
of land, which was divided between his four chil- 
dren: John J., William C, Calvin P. and Mary C. 
lie was a member of the Presbyterian Church, and 
an influential man in this locality. He was of 
Irish descent, was born in Buckingham Count}', 
Va., and came to this State when a young man of 
twenty-five years. 

To the Doctor and his estimable wife were born 
five children: Charles F.; Elizabeth < !., who died 
February 17, 1886; Mary A., wife of Samuel Bar- 
nett, of La Fayette County; Thomas C. and Daniel 
L. Thomas C. is a practicing physician of Malta 
Bend. He was graduated in 1890 from the Mis- 
souri Medical College of St. Louis, and though so 
young in his profession, has already acquired a 
large and lucrative practice. 

Dr. Yancey was a member of the Masonic fra- 
ternity, and politically, was a Democrat. He was 
possessed of great firmness of character and strong 
convictions of right and duty. An affectionate 




husband, a kind and considerate father, he was also 
friendly and benevolent to all. His death occurred 
June 1 1, 1888, his loss being sincerely deplored by 
the many friends and acquaintances whom he bad 
made during the longyears of his residence in this 
county. 



HHOMAS I.YXK. At the time of his death, 
our subject resided on section 3, township 
51, range 20, Saline County, where he was 
a successful farmer, and became known outside of 
his own neighborhood as an intelligent writer on 
religious subjects and other matters. He was born 
in Woodford County, Ky., in 1821, a son of 
Thomas and Mary (Connelly) Lyne, and the 
grandson of Thomas and Mary (Padgett) Lyne. 
He was one of twelve children, of whom only 
three sisters are still living, namely: Mary, now a 
widow, born in 1810, married Rev. Elijah Neal; 
Martha, born in 1823. married Joseph A. Gaines; 
and Frances, born in 1837, married George Goode. 
These were all born and now reside in Kentucky. 
The eldest brother, Judge Sandford Lyne, was a 
volunteer in the late war. 

Thomas Lyne was reared in his native county, 
and attended the common schools there. Early in 
life he engaged in the business of farming, but 
resided with his father, a well-to-do farmer, manag- 
ing his business affairs until his marriage with 
Miss Eliza G. Garnett, who was bom in Boone 
County, Ky., in 1828, a daughter of Maj. Joel and 
Catherine B. Garnett. The marriage took place in 
Kentucky in 1818. and the union was blessed with 
twelve children. After spending five years of 
their married life in Boone County. Ky., they 
moved to Saline County, Mo., in the spring of 
1853, and settled on what is now a portion of the 
old homestead. Possessing great energy and per- 
severance of character, our subject put forth every 
honest effort to secure a good home, and bj 
hard work and good management was soon able 
to procure one of the most desirable homes to be 
found in the county. He continued adding to his 



628 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



land until at the time of his death lie was the 
owner of a well-cultivated and finely improved 
farm of nearly one thousand acres, probably one 
of the best in Saline County. It would readily 
sell for from *7."> In £100 per acre, as it is situated 
on the ( bicago & Alton Railroad, is well tilled, 
and has about eight miles of good hedge fence; all 
its improvements are of a good character, and it is 
kept in good repair. 

The children of Thomas Lyne were as follows: 
Alpheus G., educated at William Jewell College, of 
Liberty, Mo., and the University of Virginia, a fine 
student, and of strict moral habits and good busi- 
ness ability, died in Washington, D. C, October 19, 
188,1; Mary E. died April 15, 1851; Luella B.. widow 
of Thomas M. Fled, of King and Queen County, 
Va., now resides at Slater. Mo.: Catherine B. resides 
at the old home, as does also Martha A.; Thomas 
S. died January 1, 1862; Eliza S. married Dr. F. A. 
Howard, and resides at Slater, Mo.; Sandford T. 
married Miss Franky l'urdom, and resides at 
Slater, Mo., where he has been engaged in the 
banking business since quite a youth; Carrie A. 
married Robert L. Bernard, and resides at Kansas 
City, Mo.; Leonard L. resides at the old home, 
giving the farm his personal supervision, and car- 
ina for his mother and sistei>; and Mabel C. mar- 
ried John <i. Reynolds, and resides at Slater, Mo. 
These children were educated principally at Lib- 
erty, Mo.; Stephens' College, Columbia, Mo.; and 
the Baptist Female College, Lexington, Mo., two 
having graduated from the latter institution. The 
youngest of the children possesses a fine musical 
talent, and graduated in that department. 

During nearly all his life, our subject was a 
faithful member of the Baptist Church, whose teach- 
ings he embraced at an early age, while most of 
his children were and are members of the same de- 
nomination. His interest, in all religious matters 
was unabating, and his liberal support of the 
church was cheerfully given, beside contributing 
largely of his means for the spread of the Gospel, 
and all charitable objects. His family kn«w not a 
want but that was liberally and readily supplied 
from his hands, as he was kind and indulgent to a 
marked degree. Politically, he was a Democrat, 
but never aspired to office. Aside from his life as 



a farmer, he was a deep thinker, and was well posted 
on religious affairs and Biblical matters. In his 
articles on "Communion," and "The Perseverance 
of the Saints," he sets forth very conclusively, in 
clear and concise language, the birth and growth 
of his belief, and we can truly say that he was a 
man without reproach, and one of the most re- 
spected and beloved of the citizens of Saline 
County. 

" On the 26th of May, 1889, Mr. Lyne was freed 
from the wiles and cares of earth to meet the 
loved ones gone before, and to dwell in the pre- 
sence of his Maker through the ceaseless ages of 
eternity. The faithful wife still lives. Her fa- 
ther was a man of large estate, and was in the War 
of 1812, through which he served with honor. 
Her parents were noted for their hospitality-, and 
were both born in Virginia, as were the parents of 
our subject. 




F. ALEXANDER. The members of the 
legal profession in Lexington, the county 
seat of La Fayette County, arc numerous, 
and among the best known is the gentle- 
man who is the subject of this sketch. Though a 
native of Virginia, he has been a resident of Mis- 
souri nearly the whole of his lifetime. When quite 
young his father, William. B. Alexander, removed 
from Virginia, where his progenitors had resided 
ever since the early Colonial period of the State, 
and settled with his family in Saline County, 
Mo. 

Mr. Alexander isagraduate of the Masonic Col- 
lege at Lexington, and was admitted to the liar 
in 1862, and has practiced his profession in that 
place ever since. He is in the prime of life, is 
one of the brightest mathematicians of the State, 
and, possessing a fine classical education, has always 
been a student of history and the law, and is a 
man of sterling integrity. Mr. Alexander has 
never been an office-holder, but has proved him- 
self an able counselor and successful practitioner, 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



629 



a profound student of the law, a strong advocate 
of natural justice and a zealous partisan of Chris- 
tianity. 

Our subject has ever been prominent in the 
cause of truth and right. His legal attainments 
are known and have been recognized by the Bar 
of the State, as is shown by the fact of his having 
been appointed as Special Judge to deliver the 
opinion of that tribunal in the case of Johnson 
County vs. Wood, reported in the eighty-fourth 
volume of the Missouri Reports. The opinion 
delivered by him in the case is indicative of the 
character and ability of the man and well worthy 
to be placed alongside the decisions of the past, 
which have sustained the dignity of the highest 
judicial tribunals in the State. 



'tfifSfl G. PHETZING. It is astonishing to note, 
/ upon glancing through a biographical 

^^1\ record of the States of the Union, how 
many of the prominent men of all sections have 
come from the State of Ohio. That intelligent and 
progressive State, which has furnished some of the 
most famous statesmen of our day. is the one in 
which our subject first made hi* appearance upon 
the stage of life. Mr. Phetzing was born in North- 
ern Ohio, in September, 1 855, a son of John and 
Mary (Berlaw) Phetzing, natives of Prussia. The 
father was a good and holy man, a minister in the 
Methodist Church, traveling through the State. 
Both the parents are yet living, residing in Lex- 
ington. 

Our subject passed his youth in Ohio, attending 
the best schools at various places where his father's 
appointments located the family, thus gaining a 
very good foundation upon which to erect a more 
extensive course, which he took later at the State 
University at Columbia, Mo. From youth the de- 
sire of our subject had been to become an ex- 
pounder of the law; perhaps even vague visions 
of the woolsack had Moated through his boyish 
dreams, and it was with pardonable pride that he 



received his final graduation diploma from the 
law department of the University in 1*80. 

In the above-named year our subject was ad- 
mitted to tin' liar at Lexington, in the beginning 
of his practice forming a fortunate partnership 
with the well-known Judge Walker, which con- 
nection lasted lor a term of nine j'ears. During 
all of that time the firm did business and became 
known throughout the State as one of the most 
reliable and strongest of combinations. Since this 
time he has practiced alone, making a very suc- 
cessful record climbing upward. From'1890 to 
1892 he served as City Attorney, and has become 
a prominent factor m political life, being at the 
present time a member of the Republican County 
Committee. 

In 1882 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. 
Phetzing with .Miss I.i/.zie Franz, of Warsaw, 111., 
daughter of Rev. J. Franz, a minister in the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church, and one bright little 
daughter, four years old, Anna, fills his home with 
sunshine. Both our subject and wife are members 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, being active 
and useful in this connection. Socially, they are 
prominent in Lexington, where Mr. Phetzing has 
made his home and reputation. His residence in 
this county has been of long enough duration to 

have enabled him to note many and great changes 

7 ° 

for the better in the county, and doubtless another 

decade will mark as many more. 



\| OIIX W. WADDELL, President of the Lex- 
ington Savings Bank, at Lexington, Mo., is 
an enterprising citizen, alive to all the busi- 
ness in'' ds of the hour, and withal a repre- 
sentative agriculturist and extensive stock-raiser 
of La Fayette County. Horn in Mason County. 
Kv., August ■_';,. 1831, our subject made his home 
in early youth in Missouri, and for the past two- 
score years has been prominently identified with 
the leading and financial interests of this portion 



630 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



of the State. William B. WaddeU, the father of 
John W,, was a native of the Old Dominion, and 
a direct descendant of one of the first families of 
Virginia. He was a man of superior business 
ability, and a member of the noted firm of Russell, 
Majors & Waddell, who were the most extensive 
freighters in the West, with headquarters at 
Omaha. Neb., and Leavenworth, Kan. William B. 
Waddell was one of the principal men connected 
with the Pike's Peak Stage Line, of which enter- 
prise he was Superintendent several years. After 
a life of busy usefulness, he passed away, univer- 
sally lamented, in 1872. 

The mother of our subject, Susan C. AVaddell, 
the daughter of Maj. William By ram, still survives, 
and has reached the venerable age of eighty-seven 
years. John W. Waddell is the eldest of eight 
children, five of whom survive. He spent his 
early days in Lexington, and having received a 
preparatory course of instruction in a private 
school, he entered the old Masonic College at Lex- 
ington, and graduated with honor in 1851. For a 
time our subject read law, but soon embarked in 
the mercantile business in company with his 
brother, Milton B. Waddell, and William G. Mc- 
Causland, the linn name being WaddellsA MeCaus- 
land. The partnership lasted some years, and dur- 
ing its continuance Mr. Waddell bought and sold 
hemp, bis profitable dealings being conducted upon 
a large scale. At this time in the commercial history 
of our country, especially in this portion of the 
United States, the culture and handling of hemp 
was an important interest, and one which occupied 
the attention of many of the wealthy capitalists. 

Our subject has also bought and sold grain, be- 
ing an extensive shipper of the same to St. Louis, 
and Western points. His fine farm of five hundred 
and thirty acres is under a high state of cultiva- 
tion, and he feeds large numbers of horses, mules, 
cattle and hogs. At present there are some eighty 
mules on the homestead, which is entirely under 
the immediate supervision of Mr. Waddell, whose 
live stock in the different varieties is among the 
xwy best in the Slate. As one of the organizers, 
and for many years Manager, of the Lexington 
Coal Company, our subject was widely known. 
Mr. Waddell was also a stockholder and Director in 



the Farmers' Jiank of Missouri, at Lexington, and 
continued his interest in the institution until the 
bank went out of existence during the war. In 
company with Col. John Reid, William Morrison 
and S. ( ;. Wentworth, our subject then bought out 
the assets of the bank, and wound up the business. 
In 1870, Mr. Waddell aided in the organization of 
the Lexington Savings Bank, which under his 
skillful guidance as stockholder and President has 
become one of the substantial institutions of Lex- 
ington, and now transacts a large general banking 
business. 

At one time our subject was a stockholder in the 
banking house of William Morrison & Co., which 
interest he disposed of when he identified himself 
with the Lexington Savings Bank. Mr. Waddell 
is Vice-president of the Buford and George Imple- 
ment Company, at Kansas City, which firm also 
manufactures harness. It is now about two score 
of years ago, since, upon March 8, 1852, John W. 
Waddell was united in marriage with Miss Eliza- 
beth R., daughter of Dr. William W. Austin, a 
prominent physician of Carroll County. Mr. and 
Mrs. Waddell became the parents of five children. 
Fannie W. is the wife of William Barton, who with 
his brothers owns a wholesale boot and shoe store, 
doing business in Kansas City. Alice A. is the 
wife of E. B. Wingate, of Kansas City, a wholesale 
dealer in furnishing goods and manufacturer of 
clothing. Walter B. is a partner with Wingate, 
Stone & Wells, manufacturers and dealers in fur- 
nishing goods at Kansas City. Susan C, deceased, 
was the wife of Henry B. Duke, who is in the 
wholesale implement and harness business in Kan- 
sas City. Betlie R., the youngest daughter, is at 
home in Lexington, Mo. The finely kept grounds 
and handsome and commodious family residence 
are well known to every passer-by and are the 
scene of many a social gathering, the generous hos- 
pitality of our subject being proverbial. 

Mr. and Mrs. Waddell are valued members of 
the Baptist Church, and actively connected with 
the religious and benevolent enterprises of that 
denomination. Mr. Waddell is one of the Trustees 
of William Jewell College, at Liberty, Mo., and 
in his official position was one of the most im- 
portant factors in the advancement and prosperity 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



631 



of that well-known institution of learning and 
one of the board of eight Visitors who endowed 
the theological chair connected with that institu- 
tion. Fraternally our subject is associated with 
the Ancient Free & Accepted Masons, and is a 
member of La Fayette Lodge. Politically, Mr. 
Wad dell affiliates with the Democrats, and takes 
an active interest in both national and local issues 
of the day. Public-spirited and progressive in the 
upbuilding of the educational, business and reli- 
gious interests of his State and county, he has 
done his full duty as a true American citizen, and 
reared for himself and his posterity an enduring 
monument of remembrance in the hearts of his 
fellow-citizens. 



., <=^r^ 



=§5^?" 



]i-^ ERMAN F. HOLKE. Industry brings its 
V own reward and when joined witli a frugal 
spirit is sure to result in the amassing of a 
Wj competency. Our subject has been a hard 
worker all his life and now owns a comfortable 
home on a desirable farm located on section 26, 
township 50, range 29, La Fayette County, Mo. 
He is the son of Benjamin Holke, a farmer and a 
native of Prussia, who was born in 1811. The fa- 
ther married in that country and came with his fam- 
ily to America, settling in St. Charles County, Mo., 
in 1835, on a tract of wild land, being among the 
earliest of the settlers and having to go ten miles 
to reach the nearest town. Wild game abounded 
and served as food at many a meal. His farm 
consisted of two hundred and sixty acres and with 
hearty good-will he went to work, soon having 
the gratification of seeing it well improved. His 
wife dying in 1853, he married again, but had no 
children by his second wife. 

The father had nine children by bis first wife, 
six of them living and live residing in this 
county, they being a> follows: Henry II.. living in 
this township; William II., living at Napoleon; 
Mary Stallman, living in Jackson County; Eliza 
Oruinke, living in Jackson County; our subject, 



and Rev. Fred Holke, minister of the Evangelical 
Church, living at Washington, Mo. The parents 

of these children were good, Christian people, the 
father being an Elder in the church, dying in 
1878 in the simple faith he had lived. Having 
received an excellent education himself, he was 
careful to bestow equally good instruction upon his 
offspring. Devoted to the country of his adoption, 
he took an active part in political matters and al- 
ways discharged that duty of citizenship involved 
in voting. Our subject was born November 1 I. 
1846, in St. Charles County, Mo., was reared 
upon the farm, attended the district school and 
later the St. Charles public schools, completing 
his course at Prof. Jones' Commercial College of 
St. Louis. Returning to his father's farm, he re- 
mained there until his marriage, February 26, 
1869, with Miss Eliza C. Woestemeyer, daughter 
of Benjamin and Mary (Schuester) Woestemeyer, 
both natives of Prussia, he being born in 1812, 
and she in 1816. They came to America about 
1837 and settled upon a raw farm in Warren 
County, Mo., where he died in 1852. His wife 
married again and died in 1880. They were the 
parents of five children, all living, as follows: 
Mrs. Lizetta Larbery; Henry II., living at Napo- 
leon; Fred, living at Bethel, Kan.; and Josephine, 
living on the old home farm. 

The parents of Mrs. Holke were worthy mem- 
bers of the Evangelical Church, her father having 
been very active in that body. Mrs. Holke was 
born June 26, 1849, in Warren County, Mo., 
where she received a good education in both 
English and German. After his marriage our 
subject settled in Warren County, where he re- 
mained seven years. In 1876 he removed to this 
county and settled on section 29, Clay Township, 
improving the farm greatly during the six years 
that he remained on it. He then sold out and 
bought a tract on section 25 from Strother Renick. 
This In- improved to the extent of one hundred 
arn-, put up a house, barn and other outbuildings, 
and then disposed of it, it now being owned by 
August Schlapper. Five years ago he settled upon 
his present farm, known as the James D. Ish place, 
where he now owns five hundred and twenty 
acres of good land, four hundred and eighty acres 



632 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



of it under cultivation, part of which is rented 
out and the remainder is operated by him with 
the help of one son and two or three hired men. 
He carries on the business of general farming, 
growing gram, and raising stock, to which he 
gives his exclusive care. There are seven chil- 
dren in this household, namely: Willie II.; Amelia 
('.. wife of Gustaf Oberhelman; Lydia F.. Annie 
I... Daniel II.. Alfred W. and Oscar F., all of 
whom have received a good education, and ali of 
them, like their parents, are members of the Evan- 
gelical Church, in which the father has been a 
Trustee. The father, our subject, was once Super- 
intendent of the Sunday-school and is now a 
teacher in it, while all the children have been ac- 
tive in like work. 

Our subject has been a Director in the District 
School for years, displaying the same zeal and in- 
dustry in the discharge of his official duties that 
lie lias always shown in managing his private 
affairs, and Mr. Ilolke has always been a hard 
worker. A Republican in politics, he has always 
been relied upon to do his full duty by that 
party. When he began life for himself he had 
but little, and his success is due to his own efforts. 
In 188(i he made a pleasure trip to Calfornia, this 
journey being one of the very few recreations he 
has permitted himself to take in his busy lifetime. 



1 






K. GARDNER has until very recently 
been a member of the firm of .1. E. Gardner 
.V Son. editors and publishers of the Inde- 
pendent Watchman, which was established 
in Marshall, Saline County, March 12,1891, under 
the name of the Alliance Watchman. Although 
yet in it- infancy. this paper has already become 
popular in the State. He of whom we write was 
born in New Brunswick, in the vicinity of Calais, 
Me., October 6, L830. 

(apt. William Gardner, the father of our suh- 
ject. was a sea-faring man for many years, and 
was lost on the ocean. His wife was before her 



marriage Miss Eliza McClosky, of County Derry, 

Ireland. In his early youth the home of our sub- 
ject was on the coast of Maine, but in 1842 he 
removed to Cincinnati, subsequently going to Rip- 
lev County, Ind.. and in 18o. r > to Osceola, Iowa. 
In the meantime his father had been lost with his 
vessel on the Pacific Coast, and the widow, with 
her family of children, went to Nebraska to live, 
but later returned to Iowa, where her death oc- 
curred. She was the mother of ten children, of 
whom our subject is the fourth in order of birth. 
The family life during our subject's boyhood days 
was of such an itinerary nature that his educa- 
tion was not long continued in any one place. 
Picking up what he could from place to place, he 
learned enough, however, in practical ways to en- 
able him to hold his own in the world. 

Mr. Gardner began his active life on the Pacific 
Coast, having crossed the plains in 1852, making 
the journey with an ox-team. On arriving m the 
Golden State, he at once engaged in trading, and 
during his four years' stay in the West saw much 
of frontier life in its rudest aspect. Mr. Gardner 
first engaged in the ministry in 1858, and in the 
capacity of a traveling Elder of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church came to Missouri, where for six- 
teen years he held pastorates at St. Catharine. 
I'tica. Lancaster, Edina, Memphis, Tipton, H olden, 
Lee's Summit. Grant, Ilumansville, Springfield 
and Buffalo. At the end of that time he was placed 
upon the list of supernumeraries, and afterward 
was relegated to the list of superannuated preachers. 
He then retired to a farm which he owned near 
Ilolden, in Johnson County. From there he went 
to that city, where he took charge of a restaurant 
and grocery for a year and a-half. He next en- 
gaged as a traveling salesman and collector for 
George Moody, of the Appleton City Marble 
Works. 

In April, 18.">8, Mr. Gardner was united in mar- 
riage with Mrs. Amanda Newell, of Newton, Iowa. 
They have two living children: Charles E., and 
Mary Gertrude, wife of Howard L. Whitehead, of 
Oakland, Cal.; they have also lost three children. 
In 1890, Mr. Gardner, with his son, Charles E., 
established the Ilolden Independent, which they 
continued to publish for one year, and then re- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



633 



moved the plant to Marshall, establishing the -4?- 
liance Watchman. Until becoming editor of the 
former paper our subject had been a lifelong Re- 
publican, but since thai time lie has been inde- 
pendent and a member of the Farmers' Alliance. 

We will now take up the history of Charles 
E. Gardner, who was born in Memphis, Scotland 
County, Mo., March 13, 1864, and is the eldest 
son. His education was largely acquired at the 
public schools in Ilolden and Mon t rose, and by 
indomitable effort he graduated from the High 
School of the latter town in 1882. When only 
nineteen he secured a certificate and taught in 
the district school in Henry County for a year. 
later accepting a school near Johnstown, in Hates 
County. In the meantime he zealously pursued 
his own education, and his intelligent and wide 
range of studies has since been of inestimable 
value to him in his editorial work. His next 
charge was the Harness School, near Montrose, in 
Henry Count}-, which school had the reputation 
of making it decidedly unpleasant for all teachers, 
men and women alike. Though he was about as 
young as a number of the older boys, who had 
been particularly obstreperous, l'\ his good judg- 
ment, tact and discipline he, won the mastery and 
continued to teach the school through the term, 
refusing a call for the succeeding one in order to 
learn the printer's trade. After serving a short 
apprenticeship on the Ilolden Herald, he accepted 
a position as printer and "localist" on the Ilolden 
Enterprise, going from there in 188S to Grant 
City, where he was made foreman of the Grant 
( ' i tv Star. 

While in the last-named city Charles Gardner 
met the lady who afterward, in January, 1887, 
became his wife, Miss Ida A., daughter of John 
J. Hunter, of Albany, Mo., and an accomplished 
and charming young lady. Their union has been 
blessed with two sons, Howard E. and Dick Ma- 
cunc. In October, 1886, Mr. Gardner accepted a 
position on the Kansas City Journal as proof- 
reader, remaining with them until March, 1891, 
at which time he severed his connection with that 
paper to assume the management of the Alliance 
Watchman, of this city. 

In May, 1891, Charles Gardner attended the 



Labor Conference at Cincinnati, and was made 
Chairman of the Seventh Congressional District. 
Later he attended the St. Louis conference, where 
he was chosen state Secretary of the People's 
Party Committee. In May. 1892, he was re-elected 
Chairman of the Seventh District, and a month 
later, at the State convention of the People's 
party, was re-elected Secretary of the committee. 
In November, 1892, J. E. Gardner severed his con- 
nection with the firm, and his son is now sole edi- 
tor and publisher of the paper, which is in a 
healthy and flourishing condition. 



-*-=£= 



i>-^-<: 



to*— 



yi E. FRY, a successful and representative 
business man and dealer in general mer- 
^^ chandise in Waverly, La Fayette County, 
Mo., is an energetic and able citizen, largely inter- 
ested in various financial enterprises and an im- 
portant factor in the upbuilding and local im- 
provement of his home city. At present he is the 
Alderman of tin' first Ward and one of the most 
thoroughly reliable and progressive of the " City 
Fathers." Our subject is a native of Virginia, and 
was born in Madison County, in 1848. Henry 
Fry, the father of our subject, was also a native of 
Virginia, and a man widely known and highly es- 
teemed. The mother of our subject was Elizabeth 
Webb, a daughter of John Webb, born in the 
Quaker State of Pennsylvania. Both the paternal 
and maternal ancestry were of English birth, and 
the Frys and Webbs are among the best people of 
the United States. 

The early youth of Mr. Fry was passed in his 
birthplace, where he received his education and 
also worked upon his father's farm and became 
familiar with the daily labor of agricultural life. 
At twenty-one years of age our subject began 
farming for himself, and in 1870 removed to Sa- 
line County, Mo., and there successfully conducted 
the improvement and cultivation of an extended 
acreage until 1K75, when lie located in La Fayette 
County, and in his new home tilled the soil profit- 



634 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ably. In 1887, he determined to try his fortunes 
in the mercantile business and opened a store in 
Waverly, which lie still conducts. Carrying a com- 
plete line of goods, Mr. Fry has experienced no 
difficulty in extending his business far beyond the 
limits of the city, much of his custom coming from 
the surrounding country. 

Aside from his other business relations, Mr. Fry 
is Secretary and Treasurer of the Waverly Milling 
Company, and is also the Financier of Middleton 
Lodge No. 186, A. O. U. W., and one of the most 
valued members of the order. In 1877, Mr. Fry 
was united in marriage with Miss Florence De- 
Moss, a most estimable lady, and a native of 
Missouri, in which State she has passed her en- 
tire life, receiving her education and early train- 
ing in the home of her childhood. Mr. and Mrs. 
Fry have been blessed with the gift of seven chil- 
dren, four of whom are living: Florence, Homer, 
Wesly and Bessie M. The commodious and at- 
tractive home is the scene of many a pleasant 
gathering of friends old and young, the bright 
sons and daughters having an extended circle of 
friends and acquaintance. 

Mr. and Mrs. Fry are members of the Southern 
Methodist Episcopal Church, and are foremost in 
the benevolent and religious work of that de- 
nomination. Politically, our subject is a Demo- 
crat, and always interested in the management of 
local and national affairs. Doing his duty at the 
polls without reward or favor, his efforts are ever 
in behalf of national success and prosperity, and 
thus he is worthily enrolled among the true and 
earnest American citizens. 



i+++*<sa!i§!++++t 



H++*+'^ 



'■+++*F 



REUBEN McDANIEL, whose post-office is 

Slater, Saline County, resides on section 
25, township 52, range 27. lie received as 
) a portion of his father's estate a tract of 
three hundred and twenty acres of well-improved 
and very fertile land, now valued at $65 per acre. 
His property is kept up in the best possible man- 



ner, and surrounding his beautiful residence, which 
was erected at a cost of $3,000, and is modern in 
all its appointments, is a beautiful lawn dotted by 
large shade trees. The barns and necessary farm 
buildings are models of thrift and neatness, and 
altogether present an attractive appearance to the 
passing observer. 

Mr. McDaniel is a native of the Old Dominion, 
born in 1836 to Reuben E. and Delia McDaniel. 
The family on both sides were Virginians, and his 
grandfather served as a volunteer in the War of 
1812. Our subject is one of a family of ten chil- 
dren; those living are as follows: G. R., residing 
at present in Kansas City; A. S., a physician in 
this county; Frank, who is at present in Pueblo, 
engaged in the legal profession ; Polly, who resides 
in Miami, Mo., where her husband is following 
the trade of a painter; Flora, who makes hei home 
in this county; and our subject. The father of 
these children was one of the most prominent men 
of Saline County, taking up land from the Gov- 
ernment, and at the time of his death being the 
owner of some five thousand acres of land, which 
was all well improved. lie was Judge of the 
County Court for several terms, was one of the 
strongest Democrats of the county, and for years a 
member of the Baptist Church. 

Reuben McDaniel was educated in the schools of 
Saline County and in the Columbian University at 
Washington City. He pursued his studies until 
reaching the age of twenty years, and in 1868 was 
united in marriage with Miss Kate White, of St. 
Louis, Mo. Their union has been blessed with 
five children, who are as follows: Edwin, born in 
1870, resides at home, and is attending the Mili- 
tary Academy at Lexington; Maud, who was born 
in 1872, was educated in a private school, and is a 
very fine musician; Reed Kenneth, born in 1878; 
Aubrey, born in Saline County in 1.S7!>; and 
Lacy, whose birth occurred in 1881. 

Under Henry C. Bell, Mr. McDaniel started to 
learn the business of a steamboat pilot soon after 
the completion of his education, and took charge 
of various boats for fifteen years. lie had num- 
berless narrow escapes, one of them being the sink- 
ing of the boat "Carrier," when, in attempting to 
cross a bar in the river, a rent was made in the 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



G35 



bottom of the vessel, and she almost instantly 
sank. Fortunately all the passengers and crew were 
saved. At the end of fifteen years of life on the 
river cur subject returned toSaline County, decid- 
ing to take up the life of a farmer, on the prop- 
erty which was his inheritance, lie has been very 
successful as an agriculturist, and raises large 
crops Of wheat, oats and hay. He also is quite an 
extensive stock-dealer, raising cattle and hogs, and 
is much interested in hi* fish hatchery. 

In the year 1890', our subject was called upon to 
mourn the loss of his wife, who had been a faith- 
ful member of the Baptist Church for some years 
and was a thoroughly lovable Christian woman. 
rhough not an aspirant for office, Mr. McDaniel 
takes an active interest in political affairs, and is 
an ardent Republican. He is numbered among 
the leading and progressive farmers of this county, 
in whose welfare he lias ever been deeply con- 
cerned. 



_y 



♦=•{•=♦ 



y>lLLIAM NYE, one of Saline County's 
most influential and enterprising farmers, 
^^ is a native of the Buckeye State, and was 
born in Ross County in 1812. His father. George 
Nye, was born in Germany in 181 1. and at theage 
of eighteen emigrated to America and settled in 
Ohio, near Waverly. On account of his youth he 
had not served in the German army, and his par- 
ents were obliged to pay the Government a consid- 
erable sum of money in order to have him re- 
leased from military duty so as tn accompany 
them to the United states. The grandfather of 
our subject, Andrew Nye, came to America in 
L829, bringing his family of four girls and two 
boys with him. and settled in Ross County, Ohio, 
where he died in 1840. His wife survived him 
until 1854, when she passed away in the State of 
Missouri. 

George Nye remained under the parental roof 
until his marriage in 1838, when lie was unite. I 
with Miss Lucinda Warren. Mrs. Nye's people 



were North Carolinians and were highly respected 
throughout their section of country. After mar- 
riage Mr. Nye embarked in agricultural pursuits 
on his farm in Koss County, but subsequently sold 
the place, and in 1853 removed to Saline County. 
Mo. More than three weeks were consumed in 
making the journey by boat from Portsmouth to 
St. Louis, and thence to Miami, where they located 
on a rented farm near the city. In 1858 Mr. Nye 
purchased a farm in the river bottom near Lanes- 
ville, where he lived until his death, July 9, 1888. 
At that time he owned eight hundred and forty 
acres, and had given one hundred and sixty acres 
to each of his sons. He was a thrifty, prosperous 
farmer and an extensive cattle-raiser. He and his 
good wife were the parents of the following- 
named children: Andrew, deceased; William, the 
subject of this sketch; Rhoda, Mrs. William Mul- 
lens; Christina, deceased; Margaret, wife of Will- 
iam Bates; Felix, deceased; George, who resides 
on the old homestead; and Louisa, wife of John 
Blackburn, of Saline County. All but the two 
last-named children were born in Ohio. The be- 
loved wife and mother died May 11, 1889. having 
survived her husband one year. 

When about eleven years old the subject of this 
sketch accompanied his parents to Missouri. He 
received his education in the public schools of 
Ohio and Missouri, attending to his studies in the 
winter and farm duties in the summer. In 1802, 
like other brave Union boys, he enlisted for ser- 
vice, joining the Missouri Enrolled Militia, Seven- 
ty-first Regiment, in which command he remained 
six months. They were then organized into the 
Fifth Provisional Regiment and he was appointed 
First Sergeant, in which capacity he served until 
the regiment was disbanded November 27, 1863, 
when he returned home. He had tasted the de- 
lights and terrors of warfare, and home seemed 
tame after the exciting scenes he had passed through, 
so in the spring of 1864 he joined a company of 
Saline County Home Guards and served as First 
Sergeant until the close of the war. At the time 
of the surrender of Glasgow, Mo., he was in the 
cavalry, and with some thirty-five others escaped 
without being captured. 

After the close of the war Mr. Nye returned 



636 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



h e ti> his father's farm. January 13, 1867, was 

an eventful day in his life, for then it was that he 
married Margaret < >., daughter of John 1). Mc- 
Kown, of Saline County, who was born November 
15, 1818, and came from Baltimore, Md., to Mis- 
souri. His wife, ('aniline Bayley, was born in Bal- 
timore, October 10, 1823. Mr. and -Mrs. McKown 
were first cousins, their mothers being sisters, who 
were born in Baltimore. The grandfather of Mrs. 
Nye. Capt. James B. McKown, was horn in Scotland, 
1 hi t came to America and made a settlement in Balti- 
more. Later he removed to St. Louis. Mo., where 
be died in 1863. Capt. McKown had a factory 
where were manufactured blacksmith bellows. His 
wife, whose maiden name was B. P. Donaldson, 
was also born in Baltimore. John D. McKown 
was married in 1811 in St. Louis, where Mrs. Nye 
was born in 1*42. 

In 1852 Mr. McKown removed to Saline County 
and settled in Marshall, where his death occurred 
April 1<i, 1883. By trade he was a bricklayer, 
stone mason and plasterer, and was a worthy 
man. Mrs. McKown is still living and resides at 
Marshall. Mrs. Nye is the eldest of ten children, 
of whom eight are living, namely: Margaret O., 
wife of our subject; Jennie, wife of G. L. Burnside; 
.lames li., William, Kate, Annie, Mary and Eugene. 
Charles L. and Arthur II. are deceased. Mrs. Nye 
has borne her husband five children, namely: Car- 
rie L, John (J.. Clara l'>., Louis (). and William 
L. Two of these bright and interesting children, 
Clara I'., and William I... are deceased, the former 
dying at the age of eleven years and the latter at 
live year-. 

After his marriage; Mr. Nye began work for 
himself on one hundred and sixty acres of land 
belonging to his father. This property was lo- 
cated in the river bottom, and was subsequently 
given to him by his father and is still owned by 
himself. In the spring of 1883 he removed to 
another farm, which he rented for five years, leas- 
ing his own farm. In 1887 he removed to his 
present home, consisting of fifty acres on the bluff, 
located on sections 7 and 18. This land he lias 
since improved and erected on it a nice residence 
in which he now lives. In the winter of 1891 he 
purchased two hundred acres of the home farm 



near Lanesville, and now owns four hundred and 
ten acres of land, on which he raises grain as his 
principal crop. The present home is two miles 
from Malta Bend, and here in their country resi- 
dence Mr. and Mrs. Nye dispense a generous hos- 
pitality to their friends. Mr. Nye and family are 
firm members of the Presbyterian Church, with 
the exception of one daughter who is a Methodist. 
In politics, he is a Republican and is warm in his 
convictions, lie is a member of Arthur Crochett 
Post No. IOC, G. A. R.. located at Marshall, Mo. 
He is one of the reliable men of Saline County, 
and he and his good wife occupy a prominent 
position in the community in which they reside. 




T. McGINNIS is a very successful general 
(j merchant in Slater, Saline County, and 
carries the largest stock of goods in the 
city. He is a popular citizen and has 
served as Alderman from the Second Ward. His 
birth occurred in Oswego, N. Y.. on the 10th of 
August, 1856. His father, a native of County 
Meath, Ireland, emigrated to the New World 
when in his youth, locating at Oswego, where he 
lived until 1858, at that time removing to Ot- 
tawa, in the same State; his mother, who bore the 
maiden name of Isabel Lynch, was also a native of 
the Emerald Isle, her birth having occurred in 
County Clare. Her father was a merchant, deal- 
ing in ship supplies in Ottawa, Ontario, on the 
( Htawa River, after his arrival in the New World. 
Our subject is one of six children, of whom five, 
all sons, are living. 

Mr. McGinn is received his education in the 
common and High Schools of Ottawa, N. Y., and 
was graduated from the latter when sixteen years 
of age. He then entered the Notre Dame Univer- 
sity, from which institution he graduated in the 
Class of '76, with the degree of Master of Science. 
In the meantime he had picked up considerable 
knowledge of telegraphy and accepted a position 
at a point in Illinois on the Rock Island Railroad 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RE< ORD. 



637 



as operator and agent, occupying similar positions 
at La Salle and Ottawa, in the later place being in 
the employ of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy 
Road. With the latter company he was for a 
time train-dispatcher in Aurora, and in the year 
1 s s I filled a like position for the Chicago & Alton 
Road in Slater, lie was on this division of the 
railroad fur six years steadily, being considered 
one of the most reliable employes of the company. 
In 1890 he resigned finally from railroading, and 
purchased the interest of Mr. Wood in the firm of 
Wood a- Conuers, general merchants. 

In 1879 Mr. McGinnis and Miss Mollie Carlin 
were united in marriage. The lady is a native of 
Illinois, and is a daughter of Daniel Bernard Car- 
lin, a prominent farmer of that State. Three 
children have graced the union of Mr. and Mrs. 
McGinnis, who are called Marion, Ella and Dan- 
iel. Their home is commodious, pleasant and 
well furnished, and is the abode of good cheer. 
Our subject has been very successful in his busi- 
ness undertakings, and has displayed unusual abil- 
ity as a merchant, having entered that line of 
trade so recently. He is personally very popular, 
courteous and friendly to all, thus making his 
customers feel that he is very desirous of keeping 
their good-will and dealing with them justly. 



Mi^ilM 



<fl WILLIAM HARRISON. M. I). One of the 
\rj// most eminent medical practitioners in the 
yvy city of Marshall is the gentleman whose 
name appears above. As his name will suggest, 
he is a member ot that eminent family which has 
twice received at the hands of the Nation the, 
greatest honors that can be conferred upon an in- 
dividual. Dr. Harrison was born in Fayette County, 
Ohio, near Madison Mills. .Inly 8, 1850. lie is a 
-on of (apt. scott Harrison, who was born in Fay- 
ette County. Ohio, in 1817, and served during the 
late war as a member of the One Hundred and 
Fourteenth Ohio Infantry. 

The ancestrj of our subjeel is distinguished and 



includes the names of many of the most patriotic 
men our country has ever had as citizens. Tracing 
his lineage back several generations, we find Ben- 
jamin Harrison, who served as Captain in the 
Revolution under Gen. George Washington. He 
was bom in Sweetbrier County, Va., married a 
Miss Vance, moved to Wheeling, W. Va., and in 
1783 came down the Ohio River and settled where 
now stands the town of Cynthiana. which was 
named in honor ol his daughters. Cynthia and 
Anna. Harrison County. Ky., was named for him. 

The children of Benjamin Harrison were Will- 
iam, Cynthia. Anna. I'.alteal and Aristodes. Will- 
iam Located in Crawford County, Mo., and hail a 
large family. Batteai was born in Virginia in 
1780, and was three years old when his parents 
moved to Kentucky. As the Indians were trouble- 
some and very hostile, he was left at Wheeling 
with his Qncle Vance, with whom he remained un- 
til he was eighteen. Then removing to Belmont 
County, Ohio, he there remained until 1811. He 
enlisted in the United States army at Chillieothe, 
Ohio, and was commissioned by President .Madison 
first Lieutenant of the Nineteenth Infantry, United 
States Army, the commission being dated July 12. 
is 12. lie served with ability in that position un- 
til March 17. 1814, when he was commissioned 
Captain of the Second Company of Riflemen, 
United States Regular Army, and served in that 
capacity until peace was declared in 1815. He 
married Miss Elizabeth Scott, of Lexington. Ky.. 
whose brother, M. T. Scott, was Cashier of the 
Northern Bank of Kentucky for years. 

At an early day Gen. Harrison moved to Fay- 
ette County, Ohio, and located a large tract of 
military land in the wilderness on the waters of 
Paint Creek, which is now Madison Township. 
He erected the first cabin in that section of the 
country, and by industry in a short time had one 
of the best stock farm- in Hie country. In 1817, 
he was elected Associate Judge of the Court of 
Common Fleas for Fayette County. He was also 
elected Representative to the Ohio Legislature, and 
was an efficient member of that body, lie was a 
powerful writer and a good thinker. Gen. Harri- 
son was elected and commissioned Brigadier-Gen- 
era] in L838, and served until the repeal of the 



i;:;s 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



military law. The following are the names of 
Gen. Harrison's children: Benjamin Scott, William 
II., David X., Joseph and Mary M. John, who 
served in Company I). One Hundred and Four- 
teenth Ohio Infantry, died in theCivilWar. Scott 
was a Captain in the late war and David was a 
Lieutenant. 

The father of our subject was a fancier of fine 
stork, and raised thoroughbred horses. His wife, 
who was Miss Fannie Young,of Pickaway County, 
Ohio, is the mother of eight children, whose names 
are. Annetta, Batteal Y., .1. V., Elizabeth, William, 
Belle, John and James Cook. Scott Harrison came 
to Cooper County in 1865, and the following year 
located on a farm near Marshall. After improv- 
ing a large farm he died in 1875. His wife still 
lives and is a resident of this city. 

Dr. Harrison was educated in Fayette County, 
Ohio, and at Newton's Private School in Marshall, 
Mo. He began reading with Drs. Tucker and An- 
derson, now of Colorado Springs, and attended 
lectures at the St. Louis Medical College, from 
which he was graduated in 1871. On seeking a 
location he determined to return to Marshall, and 
since coming here, nineteen years ago, has estab- 
lished himself in the good graces of scores of pat- 
ions. Because of his wife's ill health he has 
traveled considerably over the Western States, and 
in these peregrinations practiced for six months 
at Los Angeles, Cal. 

Dr. Harrison is a member of the Saline County 
Medical Society and is its President. He is also a 
member of the State Medical Society and an ex- 
member of the American Medical Association, 
having been a delegate to the Medical Congress 
held in Washington City. He is local surgeon for 
the Chicago A- Alton Railroad. Our subject owns 
a good farm three miles east of Nap ton that com- 
prises two hundred and sixty-live acres, and also 
owns a farm of one hundred and ten acres, just 
north of Nelson. The family home is a beautiful 
cottage located at No 230 Arrow Street, this city, 
and its interior arrangement with books and dainty 
appointments indicates the scholar and man of re- 
fined tastes, lie is a member of the Masonic order, 
belonging to Tridumni Lodge No. 205, Chapter 
No. 7 1, and .Missouri (oinniandery No. .'it;. 



Mrs. Harrison was before her marriage Miss Sal- 
lie Akin Marmeduke, and a daughter of Col. Yin- 
cent Marmeduke of this county. They were mar- 
ried October 4, 1881. Mrs. Harrison was educated 
in St. Louis, and also attended Monti cello Semin- 
ary at Godfrey, III., then went to Lexington, Mo., 
where she carried on her studies in the Methodist 
Episcopal College. She is a member of the Epis- 
copal Church 




J. ALLISON, a farmer and stock-raiser of 
! some prominence in Clay Township, Sa- 
line County, is the subject of the present 
sketch. He was born in Cooper County, 
Mo., in 1828, where his father had located at a 
time when there were few settlers in the county, 
and indeed in the State. A. J. was the third in a 
family of seven children born to Thomas and 
Lvdia (Jones) Allison, the former of whom had 
been born in North Carolina and the latter in Ken- 
tucky. The mother of our subject had a frightful 
experience at an early day, as she was one of the 
women in Ft. Cooper during an Indian uprising. 

Thomas Allison came to Missouri with his parents, 
whose names were well known in that day, Ephraim 
and Elizabeth (Coffey) Allison, who were natives of 
Carolina and Yirginia, respectively. The occupa- 
tion of the family had always been agriculture and 
in the new home Thomas followed the same life. His 
family consisted of seven children, viz.: Josephine, 
who became the wife of Wdliam Claycomb, and 
still lives in the county ; Salinda became the wife 
of William Adkinson; our subject; Ephraim, a 
namesake of his grandfather, who resides in Clin- 
ton; Sarah J., the wife of Thomas Dysart, of this 
county; Matilda, who married Thomas Terry; and 
William, who is a resident of Clinton. Salina and 
Matilda are deceased and both left families. 

Our subject came to Saline Count}' in 1848, ami 
in 1850 married Miss Mary Frances, the daugh- 
ter of James S. Ingrahain, and to them the fol- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



639 



lowing children were born: Sarab M., who be- 
came the wife of Frank Kidd; Mary J.; James T.; 
Edwin B., of California; Addie. Lenore and Terry. 

Politically, Mr. Allison is a Democrat, and has 
been one of the active winkers Cor his party in the 
County. Socially, he is a member of the Masonic 
order, in which he is highly regarded. His tine 
farm of four hundred acres is in a fine state of 
cultivation, and he has kept himself occupied 
upon it ever since locating here. 

Mr. Allison has found that he can make profit- 
able both grain and slock and has given much at- 
tention to the best methods in both branches of 
business, lie has seen much of the growth of the 
county, and has assisted everything of public in- 
terest to the best of his ability. 



"S 



^B-^ 



E3~ 



8 



AMES R. AvTTT, a wealthy and retired 
farmer, who makes his home in Higginsville, 
has been very successful as a dealer in farm 
V^y property. In 1890 he located in this place, 
building a fine residence on Grand Avenue the 
following year, which, as regards location, style of 
architecture and well-kept grounds, is the finest in 
the city. He is also a stockholder in the Citizens' 
Bank. 

Our subject's paternal grandfather was a farmer 
in Kentucky. In that State the father of our sub- 
ject. Andrew Avitt, was born and passed his entire 
life, lie was an extensive farmer, miller, distiller, 
and also a boat-builder on the Ohio. Heowneda 
farm of several hundred acres situated in the val- 
ley, while his residence was on the bluffs. He was 
very successful, a great friend to the poor, and 
generous to a fault. In his political belief he was a 
Henry Clay Whig, and in religious faith was a fjni- 
versalist. He departed this life in 1846. The 
mother of Our subject, who bore the maiden name 
of .lane Helm, was also born in Kentucky. Her 
grandparents, John and Sallie Helm, were natives 
of Virginia, where their parents, who were of Scotch 
and English descent, respectively, were early pio- 

33 



ueei'S. The grandfather participated in the Indian 
War with Gen. Hardin, and was in a battle with 
the noted chief, Tecumseh, and was defeated. He 
was wounded severely, and traveled sixty miles 
to getaway from the enemy. Later he engaged 
in farming on the banks of the Ohio River, and 
was the owner of large tracts of land, comprising 
thousands of acres. In his youth he was a civil 
engineer, and surveyed the whole county. He was 
called from this life at Elizabethtown, at the age 
of over eighty years. His wife departed this life in 
Kentucky, in the year 1829. 

.Air. Avitt, whose name heads this >ketch. was horn 
May 10, 1826, in Breckinridge County, Ky., and 
was reared on his father's large farm on the banks 
of the Ohio River. He received good school ad- 
vantages at Mt. Morma College, and then engaged 
in teaching for a few terms, but did not enjoy that 
occupation, and for a time was clerk in a store. 
Desiring to see more of his native country, he next 
engaged in boating on the Ohio and Mississippi 
Rivers on steamers running to Memphis. During 
this time he became the owner of and improved 
one hundred and sixty acres of land, and in 1853 
landed in La Fayette County, locating near the 
town of ('order, where he entered one hundred 
and sixty acres of land. He erected a log cabin 
and variously improved the property, which he 
afterward sold. For many years thereafter he 
continued to buy, improve and sell lands, hav- 
ing been the owner of a great many farms in 
La Fayette County. Atone time he was located 
at Brownsville, now Sweet Springs, where he im- 
proved a place and where he lived on account of 
his health. Returning to La Fayette County, he 
there engaged in his former occupation of buying 
and selling real estate until 1890. when he practi- 
cally retired from business, and since has made his 
home in Higginsville. Before became to Missouri 
he was at one time owner of seven hundred and 
forty' acres in Kentucky, and has since owned as 
high as four hundred and fifty acres in this Mate. 
During the Civil War he went to Illinois, remain- 
ing in Warren County for a year, and then visited 
his native State. On his return to Missouri he 
found his fortune much impaired, was the owner 
of very little land, but with energy he proceeded 



640 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



to build up his finances, and was for some time in- 
terested in growing hemp and raising live stock. 

In Kentucky Mr. Avitt was united in marriage, 
in 1847, to Miss Frances N. Van Miles, who was 
also a native of that State, her father being a large 
farmer. Eleven children graced the union of our 
subject and his wife, seven of whom grew to ma- 
ture years. The eldest, Isaac W„ is a real-estate 
dealer and capitalist in Kansas City; Howell is en- 
gaged in the drug business at Orville; Sarah K., 
Beauregard and Lewis II. died when young; Mis- 
souri, wife of Mr. Welbourn. died in La Fayette 
County; Laura J. is now deceased: Malcolm resides 
in Higginsville; George is a resident of Buchmer, 
Iowa; Oliver is Cashier of the bank in the same 
place; and Mona died in infancy. Our subject isa 
member of the Baptist Church, and though a stanch 
Whig until the war, has since that time been a sup- 
porter of the Democratic party. He is very pop- 
ular and influential, and a man who has made hosts 
of friends wherever he has gone. 



Si^NJ~ 



OVER & S()N is the name of a well-known 
C firm of con tract i us and builders in the 

l))|) town of Higginsville, Mo., where they not 
only carry on the hading business in these 
lines, but are also the most prominent architects of 
the place. Ezra Boyer, the elder member of the 
firm, was born in Montgomery County, Md., De- 
cember 27, 1827, the son of Peter Rover, who was 
a farmer of Frederick County, Md.,and died there 
at the age of sixty-three years. Ezra was reared 
on the farm and attended private schools, but 
when sixteen years of age was apprenticed to 
a carpenter and remained at that trade until he 
was twenty years of age, when he spent one year 
en the farm. In 1850, he came to Missouri by 
way of the Mississippi and landed at Lexington, 
where he remained four years working at his trade. 

At Lexington, our subject married in 1854 and 
then located in Dover Township and engaged in 
his trade and also built some and did farming. He 
spent the year 1882 in the lumber business in 




Higginsville, the firm being Boyer & Asbury, but 

since that time he has carried on alone his business 
of building and contracting. At this place lie has 
taken a prominent position in the affairs of the 
town. — was Alderman one term, was on the Dover 
School Board, and was a charter member of the 
Christian Church at Higginsville, of which he is a 
Trustee. In his political faith, he isa Prohibition- 
ist, and is a man of known temperance and honor. 
He is also a Director of the Home Building and 
Loan Association. 

Mr. Rover married Miss Elizabeth Wainwright, 
who was bom in Kentucky, a daughter of William 
I). Wainwright, -a native of Maryland, of English 
descent, who removed to Kentucky but became an 
early settler in La Fayette County, having Located 
here in is Is. He resided at Lexington and died 
at the age of eighty-five years. Five children 
were born to Mr. and Mrs. Boyer, as follows: Will- 
iam; Leslie E.,in business in St. Joseph, Mo.; Rob- 
ert L., in partnership with his father; Jesse, an 
architect and contractor in Colorado; and Henry, 
a hardware clerk here. 

William Boyer, the son of the above-named 
gentleman, is the junior member of the firm of 
Rover & Son. He was born in Dover Township, 
September 21. 1*57. and attended both primary 
and High Schools, and when a boy took a great in- 
terest in the work in his father's shop. At the age 
of sixteen, he went to learn the trade and particu- 
larly interested himself in architecture. In this 
Mr. Boyer appears to have great talent and draws 
up his own plans and those of others. 

In 187S, our subject located here and in 1886 
he formed his present partnership with his father. 
This (inn has built almost all of the fine buildings 
in this city, among which may be mentioned the 
Brick Block, the American Rank Building, the 
Merchants' Hotel, Run van's Rlock and the Arcade. 
In these buildings maybe found some of the finest, 
work in the county. The firm employs a force of 
fifteen men and the business is on the highest tide 
of success. Mr. Rover is a member of the Home 
Building A- Loan Association. The home of Mr. 
Boyer, Sr., is a tasteful one on Fair Ground Ave- 
nue, while Mr. Boyer, Jr., has a pleasant one on 
Russell Street. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



641 



William Buyer was married in 1883 to Miss 
Lizzie A. Kinsley, born in Hillsboro, Montgomery 

County. 111. She is a lady of culture, bavins); been 
educated in Eastern schools. One child has been 
born to the family and is named William. Mr. 
Boyer is a member of the Ancient. Free and Ac- 
cepted .Masons, and is Conned Commander of the 
Woodmen of the World, and is Vice-chancellor of 
the Knights of Pythias. He was a charter member 
of the Christian Church here and is in that denom- 
ination a Deacon and Sunday-school Superintend- 
ent. Our subject is a member of the Democratic 
(lull of this place and in every way is a young man 
of great promise. 



eHARLES II. HAMMER during the late war 
was a valiant soldier, as were his forefathers 
for several generations, his paternal grand- 
father having served in the Revolutionary strug- 
gles of the Colonies, his father having risen to the 
rank of Major in the War of 1812, while his ma- 
ternal grandfather was also one of the heroes of 
the Revolution. Our subject resides on his well- 
kept and improved farm, situated on section 21, 
township 50, range 2S. La Fayette County. 

His father, Henry Hammer, was born May 4, 
1794, in Rockingham County, Va., being a son of 
Henry Hammer, a native of the Fatherland. Our 
subject's mother before her marriage was .Miss 
Christina Gibbons, who was born August 10, 1801, 
in Woodstock, Va., and whose father, [saac Gib- 
bons, was of Welsh descent. After his marriage 
Henry Hammer resided for a short time in the 
Shenandoah Valley, where he had been united in 
marriage, and then, returning to his native county, 
there resided for a period of sixteen years. In 
1843, he removed to the West, locating in Cooper 
County. Mo., where he carried on a farm and en- 
gaged in blaeksmithing. At the expiration of 
live years he came to this county, living for a 
short time in Dover, and afterward purchasing a 



farm, which was partly improved, five miles south- 
west of Wellington. He was called to the Better 
Land March is. L864, while his wife was called 
to her final rest October 7, 1858. 

They were the parents of five children, f our sons 
and one daughter, the record of whom is as fol- 
lows: Samuel (i., born November 2, 1823; Charles 
II., our subject; Benjamin F. married Elizabeth, 
daughter of Walker Stapp, an early settler here, 
and has two living children: Florence and Me- 
dora W.; Josephus, bom December 17. 1831, mar- 
ried Letitia ('.. daughter of Dr. Nathaniel C. 
Mitchell, and of their union have been born six 
children: Fmniitt M., Laura I., Clarence M., Bessie 
Irene, Henry Buford and Katie Myrtle. The 
daughter, who is now deceased, was Susan Ellen, 
wife of R, A. H. Hill, of Bates City, and was the 
mother of three children, only one of whom is now 
living, Charles H., who married Miss Lutie Foster, 
and lives in Independence. Mrs. Hill, who was 
born in 1838, died March 5, 1864. 

Henry Hammer, the father of these children, was 
a man of good education, one who took an active 
interest in politics, and at various times made 
speeches in favor of his party. He was always a 
Democrat, and both himself and wife were active 
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, 
to which denomination his four sons also belong, 
Benjamin having been 'steward and Superintend- 
ent of the Sunday-school; Joseph, a Class-leader 
and Superintendent of the school, also conduct- 
ing many public meetings in the church, and 
Charles, our subject, having served as Steward. 
In 18111, the father fell from a load of hay, and 
from the injury received was a cripple during the 
remainder of his life. 

Charles II. Hammer, who was born August 21. 
IS'.';,, on arriving at man's estate married Miss 
Susan Medora. a daughter of Dr. Nathaniel CoffVy 
Mitchell, who was born in 1801, in Cook County, 
Tenn.. emigrated to Cooper County. Mo., in 1816, 
and eight years later located in this county, where 
he engaged in the practice of Ins profession. He 
was a leading public man, a member of the Legis- 
lature in 1832. and of the Second Constitutional 
Convention held in 1845. He was a County Judge 
and a Douglas Democrat. .Mrs. Hammer, who was 



642 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



born November 2, 1846, is one of five brothers 
and sisters, who arc living, and by her marriage 
became the mother of two children. One is 
deceased, and the other is Ubert S., who lives in 
Sedalia, and who married Miss Grade Whitsett. 
During the late war our subject and his brother, 
Benjamin F., were members of Company E. of the 
regiment which was known as Col. Elliott's, and 
were in service for one year. Tlie Hammer family 
has long taken an important part in the history, 
growth and progress of the county, and arc es- 
teemed among its most respected citizens. 



! > ■ | i I ' » * ! ■ ' ' I 



V- 




FXRY C. EWING is a leading farmer and 
influential and wealthy citizen, his farm be- 
ing situated on section 24, township 49, 
range 27, La Fayette County. He is a na- 
tive of this county, born June 22, 1838, and is a 
son of Chatham S. and Mary B. (Young) Ewing, 
the former a native of Kentucky, and the mother 
of Tennessee. When a young man the father of 
our subjeel emigrated to Missouri with his parents, 
settling about the year 1821 in La Fayette County, 
tour mdes south of Lexington, being numbered 
among the early pioneers of this region. He later 
removed to a farm near Mt. Hebron Church, and 
there entered Government land, also purchasing a 
tract at private sale. The farm was undeveloped 
and entirely in a state of nature. He made many 
improvements upon it and there resided until his 
death in September, 1 S72. His wife had died 
liiriii \ years previously, in L841, and of her chil- 
dren i>ut two now survive, our subject and Mrs. 
W. A. Ewing, of this county. Previous to the 
war. the father was a Whig, and in his deatli his 
fellow-citizens suffered an irreparable loss. He 
had a wide acquaintance and was a typical repre- 
sentativi of the old school of gentlemen. He held 
membership with the Cumberland Presbyterian 
Church for many years. 

Henry C. Ewing, whose name heads this sketch, 
was reared to man's estate in La Fayette County, 



and on arriving at mature years was united in 
marriage with the daughter of Kinsley M. and 
Julia A. (Graham) Ilandson. Mrs. Ewing is a na- 
tive of Henry County. Mo., her birth having oc- 
curred October I5j 181.J. Both of her parents 
were born and reared in Kentucky, emigrating to 
Missouri at an early day. Since his marriage, Mr. 
Ewing has been engaged in farming with good 
success. He uses the most approved modern 
methods in carrying on his farm work, and keeps 
well posted on all the leading subjects pertaining 
t< i agriculture. 

John Monroe Ewing lived for over fifty years 
in this county, and was one of the honored early 
settlers. Like his brother, our subject, he was 
reared among the grand old pioneers of Western 
Missouri, men of strong minds and unswerving 
integrity. His many friends, as with one accord, 
testify to his sterling qualities as a neighbor and 
friend. He had been a member of the Mt. Hebron 
Congregation of the Cumberland Presbyterian 
Church since its organization thirty-eight years 
ago. He made it his chief aim in life to follow 
the narrow path marked out by the Golden Rule, 
and when nearing the end of life's journey, with 
eyes doubtless lixed on the other shore, he repeated 
with faltering breath and feeble voice, " Though 1 
pass through the valley and shadow of death, I 
will not fear, for I know He is with me." He was 
laid to rest by the side of his wife in Hebron Cem- 
etery, where but a little over two months previ- 
ously she was placed in the quiet grave. 



MM! 



I P TAYLOR is an extensive and progressive 
farmer of Middleton Township, La Fayette 

1 County, his farm being situated on section 36. 
He is also Yicc-president of the Alma Creamery 
Company, and is a successful stock-raiser, owning 
a fine Hock of pure-blood Shropshire Down sheep, 
and a herd of Shorthorn cattle. He was born in 
this county in 1850, and is a son of the Hon. Sam- 
uel I*'. Taylor, a native of Kentucky, who removed 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



643 



t<> this State in 1849, and made a settlement in 
this county. In 1858 he was elected to the Housi 
of Representatives of Missouri, and served for one 
term. He was a son <>f Samuel Taylor, a progress- 
ive farmer in Kentucky. The mother of our sub- 
ject before her marriage bore the name of Frances 
Simpson, her father being James Simpson, also of 
Kentucky. 

Our subject spent his boyl d days in this 

county, attended the common schools of his dis- 
trict, and later entered the Winchester High School, 
where he pursued his studies foi two years. In 
1871 he went to the Rocky Mountains, where he 
remained for eight years, and while there saw 
much of the wonders and natural beauties of that 
region. In 1879 he returned to this county, and 
has since engaged in general fanning and stock- 
raising. His farm, which has within its boundaries 
some six hundred acres, is all under fine cultiva- 
tion, and is a model one in every respect. 

Soon after his return to Missouri in 1879, was 
celebrated the marriage of Mr. Taylor and Miss 
Sallie, daughter of John W. Dean, a native of the 
Old Dominion. Three bright little ones have come 
to bless their home: Fannie J., Sarah I), and I. P., 
Jr. Both Mr. and Mrs. Taylor are members of the 
Presbyterian Church, in which the former holds 
the office of Deacon. Our subject casts his vote 
in favor of the Democratic party, and is a member 
of Oriental Lodge No. 518, A. F. A- A. M.. and of 
Blackburn Lodge No. 267, A. O. I*. W. 



UILLIAM TILLARD HAYS was n in 
Barnesville, Montgomery County, Md., in 
WW 1821, and was the second son of Abram S. 
and Elizabeth (Tillard) Hays. The family was of 
English origin, the father being a son of Leon- 
ard, and he a son of William Hays, who came to 
America in 1740 and settled in Montgomery 
County. Md. The mother of Mr. Hays was a 
daughter of Lieut.-Col. Edward Tillard. a native 
of Maryland, who also settled in Montgomery 



County, and who equipped and commanded a 
regiment in the War of the Revolution. lie was 
taken prisoner by the British, and confined on 
Staten Island. 

Mr. Hays spent his boyhood in his native State 
and county, and employed his time in helping his 
father on the farm, where he remained until his 
majority. Commencing in 1844, for live years 
he was engaged in transporting goods on the 
Chesapeake and Ohio (anal, whereby, by economy 
and strict attention to business, he was enabled to 
save sufficient money to purchase a tract of land 
in I. a Fayette County. .Mo. He began farming for 
himself with the same vim and energy that he had 
displayed in his earlier life, and continued his busi- 
ness successfully until I860, when he reluctantly 
suspended his fanning operations to become an 
agent at Ft. Keaine\ . Neb., for the firm of Major.-. 
Russell .V Waddell, who had a contract for trans- 
portation of Government supplies. This position 
he satisfactorily filled until 1865, when he resumed 
the more congenial occupation of fanning, in La 
Fayette County, continuing his agricultural pur- 
suits until the time of his death, which occurred 
January 3, 1887. 

Mr. Hays was married in July. 1865, to Miss 
Alice Bell Ward, daughter of Allan Donaphan 
Ward, of Mason County, Ky., he being the youngest 
son of John Ward, who was also of Revolutionary 
fame, serving in Capt. Parson's company in the 
Third Virginia Regiment. By this marriage there 
were four children, whose names arc as follows: 
William Tillard, now residing in New York City: 
Frank Ward, farming on his ancestral estate near 
Lexington, Mo.: Carl Wilson, a student of Went- 
worth Academy, of Lexington; and Catherine 
Theodosa, who i- under the care of her mother. 

Mr. Hays was always a consistent memberof the 
Episcopal Church, it being his choice a- well as in- 
heritance, and in this he was encouraged and sup- 
ported by his wife. In politics, he was an earnest 
and anient Democrat, although never having held 
office, yel always active in promoting what lie con- 
sidered the besl interests of his country and party. 
Although death has destroyed the personality of 
this good man. yet hi- name will endure as a 
synonym for all thai is good and noble in charac- 



644 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ter; Lis kindly words and manly deeds will ever 
be remembered by nil who came in contact with 
him, and. may we hope, will have their influence 
in shaping the lives of many to follow him. 



/ 



{•=♦=•)• 



EDWARD S. BUTT, a leading citizen and 
representative fanner of La Fayette County, 
Mo., living on section 15, township 49, 
range 27, was born in Schuyler County, Mo., Feb- 
ruary 20. 1851, and is a son of Thomas and Mar- 
garet (Tadlock) Butt. His father was a native of 
Greenbrier County, W. Ya., and his mother was a 
native of East Tennessee. The grandfather of our 
subject is said to have been a worthy and brave 
soldier of the Revolutionary War. He died when 
his son Thomas, father of our subject, was but 
eleven years old, and two years later Thomas, with 
his mother and two brothers, left West Virginia for 
Ohio, thence moved to Illinois, and from there to 
Schuyler County, Mo. This was in the '40s, when 
Indians were still in Schuyler County, roaming 
where they pleased, as they were altogether peaceful. 

Land was entered in Schuyler County, and 
Thomas remained there until the fall of 1865, 
when he came with his family to La Fayette 
County, Mo., and in the following spring settled 
upon the farm where our subject now lives. He 
died there in August, 1882, leaving a widow, 
who still lives at the age of nearly seventy-six. 
Of the children only two survive: Edward and 
Lydia V., the latter the widow of Mr. Green, liv- 
ing at May view. Mo. Thcdeceased was a Demo- 
crat in polities, and favored everything calculated 
to advance the interests of the county and the 
State. He left a good estate, and passed away in 
the fold of the Christian Church, with which he 
had been connected for many years. 

The subject of our sketch grew up to man's es- 
tate in this county, meanwhile attending the com- 
mon schools first, and afterward the Normal School. 
working 141011 the farm during vacations. Sub- 



sequently he taught school several terms, and after- 
ward engaged in merchandising for a short time 
at May view. Mo. Mr. Butt was married April 22, 
L884, to Miss Delia Ilarrelson, sister of Mrs. H. C. 
Ewing, of this county. By this union there is 
one child, Lydia B. Our subject has a fine farm 
of two hundred and thirty acres, which he culti- 
vates with care and skill. Mr. Butt casts his vote 
uniformly for Democratic candidates. A firm be- 
liever in the teachings of the Gospel, he holds 
membership in the Christian Church at Mayview, 
Mo. Our subject is an eminently intelligent and 
highly respected gentleman, who enjoys the re- 
spect and confidence of the entire business com- 
munity. Mrs. Butt is a member of the Cumber- 
land Presbyterian Church. 



<fl 1MLLIAM COOPER, deceased, was an early 
\rJ/l and respected settler of La Fayette County, 
\y§!/ owning and operating a farm on section 
31j township 51, range 25. He was a native of 
the Old Dominion, his birth having occurred in 
Amelia County in 1792. His ancestors were na- 
tives of Scotland who emigrated to the United 
States in the early Colonial days. The boyhood 
and youth of our subject were passed in the 
county where he was born and in the neighbor- 
ing one of Cumberland, his time being employed 
in the usual occupations of farmer boys. He at- 
tended the common schools of the neighborhood 
and assisted his father in carrying on the farm un- 
til he reached manhood. In 1827 he came to this 
State, settling in La Fayette County, where he lo- 
cated on a farm, which he engaged in conducting 
until his death, which occurred in 1838. Politic- 
ally, he was a pronounced Democrat and was a 
devoted member of the Presbyterian Church. 

In the year 1813 Mr. Cooper was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Nancy Holt, a daughter of Rich- 
ard Holt, who was born in Virginia. The mother 
of Mrs. Cooper was before her marriage Miss 
Mary Failer. a native of Prince Edward County, 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



645 



Ya. Our subject and his estimable lady were the 
parents of ten children, only three of whom are 
now living: Anna, wife of John 1). Winter, of 
Jackson County, Mo.; Mary, wife of Richard M. 
Bailey; and Adeline, who became the wife of Will- 
iam T. Stark, of Dover Township, this county. 

Mrs. Cooper, widow of our subject, is a consistent 
member of the Baptist Church, with which she has 
been connected almost a lifetime. She is now in 
her ninety-eighth year and still in the enjoyment 
of good health. It is certainly remarkable to find 
a lady of her age who is so active and robust and 
who, as she often does, takes great delight in rid- 
ing on horseback. She is making her home in her 
declining days with her daughter, Mrs. William 
Stark, who with filial care and love endeavors in 
every way possible to make life pleasant and 
smooth for her aged mother. 



KA A.I. HENRY A. PEED, editor of the Sweet 
I V IV Springs Herald, of Saline County, is an in- 
I lis fluential politician and public-spirited cit- 
® i/.en. He has been actively before the 

public for a great many years in various positions 
of greal responsibility and trust, the duties of 
which he has discharged most acceptably to his 
constituents and to all concerned. 

The ancestors of our subject crossed the stormy 
seas from England in the famous "Mayflower" in 
1620. The father of our subject, Harrison Peed, 
was born in Virginia in 1820 and early in life fol- 
lowed the trade of brick-maker and brick-layer. 
About the year 1850 he emigrated to Southern 
Indiana, where he turned his attention to agricul- 
tural pursuits, and is now making his home on a 
farm in Davis County. He has been a member of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church since his youth 
and is a much respected citizen, lie has been 
twice married, his first wife, the mother of our 
subject, before her marriage being Miss Alice 
Pollard, a sister of Mr. E. A. P.illard, the well- 
known author of "The Los1 Cause." After the 



death of his first wife, Mr. Peed remarried and 
had a family of six children, four sons of whom 
are living. 

The subject of this sketch received his education 
largely in the district schools and passed his boy- 
hood days on his lather's farm. He attended the 
High School at Richmond, Ya., where he was at 
the time of the tiring on Ft. Sumter, after which 
he immediately returned to Indiana, where he 
spent a year in Franklin College. On September 
25, 1862, he enlisted in Company E, One Hundred 
and Thirty-second Indiana Regiment, for a year's 
service and was actively engaged in the Atlanta 
Campaign, participating in a number of leading 
battles, such as Resaca, Peach Tree Creek, etc. 
Returning to Indiana at the expiration of his term 
of service, he assisted in raising the One Hundred 
and Forty-eighth Regiment and received the com- 
mission of Sergeant-Major. In April, 1865, he 
was promoted to a Lieutenancy, and received a 
(-..in mission as Major September 22 of that year, 
at which date he was discharged. After the close 
of the conflict he returned to Columbus, Ind., and 
read law in the ollice of Hill & Richardson for 
two years. 

The Major soon after went to Dover Hill, Mar- 
tin County, and was admitted to the Bar, engaging 
in practice there. During that time he purchased 
the Martin County Herald and conducted it suc- 
cessfully. It was the first newspaper which had 
succeeded up to this time in the county, and this 
he continued to edit until 1870. At that time he 
\\a> chosen County Superintendent of Schools, 
serving in that capacity for three years. In 1872 
he was elected Joint Representative for the coun- 
ties of Martin and Dubois, and the following year 
was chosen State Senator for those counties, to- 
gether with Orange County, serving for four 
years and holding a prominent position in both 
Legislative bodies. In 1883 he was appointed 
Chief Clerk for the Committee of Invalid Pensions 
in the United States House of Representatives, and 
held the position until Mr. Cleveland was inaug- 
urated. He was then appointed Special Examiner 
in the Pension Office and was Supervising Officer 
for nine months, being subsequently assigned to 
duty in Missouri, with headquarters at Sedalia, 



646 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



where he remained from May, 1887, until the in- 
auguration of President Harrison, when he re- 
signed. 

On April 13, 187C, the Major and Miss Kate El- 
lis were married. She was reared at Montgomery 
City, in this State, and was graduated from the 
Higli School, after which she studied elocution 
under private instructors and attended the Colum- 
bian Law School at Washington, where she pur- 
sued her studies through two sessions. Afterward 
she took private lessons in elocution in Boston, 
and became a verj' successful reader. She has 
traveled in several States giving recitations and 
readings and is at present one of the faculty of 
the Marmaduke Military Academy in this city. 

In political circles Maj. l'eed has ever been act- 
ive; was a member of several State committees in 
Indiana, and in 1876 was a member of the Demo- 
cratic State Executive Committee in that State. 
Socially, he is a member of the Masonic fraternity 
and is a Knight Templar. Both he and his accom- 
plished wife are devoted members of the Christian 
Church. 




HRISTOPHER C. BOOTH, one of the lead- 
ing farmers and stock-raisers of Saline 
County, resides on his farm situated in 
township 50. He is the owner of a well-improved 
farm, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres of 
valuable and arable land, situated only a short dis- 
tance from Marshall. For many years he has made 
a specialty of breeding fine Merino sheep and now 
has a number of line animals of the Shropshire 
grade. Though formerly interested in standard- 
bred horses, he does not at present own very many, 
but nevertheless has several of the Wilkes and 
Electioneer breeds. 

Mr. Booth was born in Bourbon County, Ky., in 
1832, and emigrated with his parents to Adams 
County, 111., about 1834, and in that county- 
passed his boyhood days. He acquired his primary 
education in the common schools and in the fall of 



1848 entered Bethany (W. Ya.) College, where lie 
remained for two years, and there had the privi- 
lege of hearing the noted Christian preacher, Alex- 
ander Campbell, many times in sermons and lec- 
tures. He returned to his home by way of the 
Ohio and Mississippi Rivera as far as Quincy, as 
there were no railroads in the West at that time. 
For some years lie continued to reside under the 
parental roof, assisting his father in caring for the 
homestead. 

In 1856 Mr. Booth and Miss Hancock were 
united in wedlock. To them were born eight chil- 
dren, namely: William S., a resident of North Da- 
kota; Henry S., a prominent lawyer of Cenfralia, 
Mo.; George E., a practicing lawyer in Carthage; 
Robert, who is a book-keeper in Kansas City; Emma, 
a graduate of Lexington; Annie, who attended the 
Pritchard Institute at Glasgow; John M., who has 
just entered Columbia College; and one child who 
died in infancy. The four sons first named were 
all graduated from the Columbia College and have 
already made their mark in the world. 

Mr. Booth wrote the first letter in regard to the 
building of a railroad which has since been con- 
structed through Saline County, through the towns 
of Springfield, Sedalia, Marshall and Miami. In 
all local enterprises he has ever taken an active and 
interested part, using his best abilities for the ad- 
vancement and progress of the count}'. In his po- 
litical affiliations lie is a stanch Democrat, and, 
religiously, holds membership with the Baptist 
Church. The family of which he is a member has 
always been noted for its strict integrity and 
high sense of honor. They have also been more 
than usually intellectual, and in almost every pur- 
suit or calling which they have entered they have 
been very successful, and have rarely met witli 
failure. 

Mr. Booth wae one of the eight children whose 
parents were Stephen and Mary (Congleton) Booth, 
the former a native of Bedford County, Ya., 
whose birth occurred in 1786. His father, William 
Booth, probably a native of the same State, was 
a man of superior education and a large slave- 
holder. The family is of English origin, the great- 
grandfather of our subject having emigrated to 
this country from England. The brothers and 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



647 



sisters of our subject are: Armilda wedded Will- 
iam Hedges, and died in Adams County, 111.: 
Clarinda married Miner Hedges, of Illinois; Will- 
iam was a successful business man in Adams 
County; Elizabeth became the wife of Davis Co 1- 
vin; Judith married John S. Johnson, of Adams 
County; Emily is the wife of John T. Turner, of 
the same county: Mary, wife of John Duncan, re- 
sides in Adams County; Sarah, who became the 
wife of Thomas Sibley, is now a resident of Saline 
County: and Frances is the wife of John I, 
.Moore. 



'^+£i 



~s 



| < IHN F. EUBANK. Our subjectis a farmer 

in Saline County, having a fine place on 
township 52. He was born in this locality 
April 12, 1863, and is a son of Reuben and 
Elizabeth (Whitaker) Eubank. He was one of a 
family of three that blessed the union of his par- 
ents. Himself the eldest, his brothers are Ernesl 
and Jerome, both of whom arc residents in this 
State, and are prosperous business men. 

Elsewhere in this book will be found a sketch 
containing a more lengthy account of the geneal- 
ogy and family history of the Eubank family, there- 
fore it will be unnecessary for us to dilate upon 
our subject's parentage. We will rather confine 
ourselves to the personal history of the man, who. 
if he has not made himself distinguished by his 
honor and integrity in a locality where there is 

not much scope for distinctii f this kind, is 

at least recognized as one of the foremost men of 
the locality, whose future is capable of almost any 
advancement. 

John Eubank was educated in his native Stale 
and county. He attended the High School until 
twenty years of age, and at the age of twenty-two 
began farming for himself, renting from his father 
one hundred and sixty acres, which he devoted 
himself to clear and improve. The land was worth 
about *12 an acre, and the change that he lias 
wrought in it may be estimated from the fact that 



it is now worth Slid an acre. He purchased eighty 
acres, which, in addition to the land he manages 
for his father, gives him a well-improved tract of 
t wo hundred and fi irty acres. 

Our subject was married to Miss Lucy Smith, 
like himself a native of this county. They have 
a charming little home of six rooms, which .Mr. 
Eubank erected at a cost of $1,000. He also has 
good barns and supplementary buildings necessary 
in the conduct of the well-equipped farm. He 
feeds considerable stock, and is well known as a 
trader. The social relations of our subject and his 
wife are the most agreeable. In church matters 
they are Christians. Fraternally our subject is a 
Mason and a Knight Templar. In politics he is a 
Democrat. His aspirations have never been in the 
direction of political emolument, as his legitimate 
and individual affairs monopolize his time and at- 
tention. 



^ 



ffiOHN JOSEPH LILLY is a pastor of the 
Church of the Immaculate Conception in 
Lexington, Mo. He is devoted to his charge 
' and is one of the ablest advocates of the 
Catholic Church in this county. He was born in 
Nelson County, Ky., and is a son of John II. and 
Mary C. (Moore) Lilly. The Lilly family were 
early settlers in Maryland, emigrating from Eng- 
land about two hundred years ago. The paternal 
grandfather of our subject, who also bore the name 
of John Lilly, was a prominent man in political 
circles and a pioneer of Nelson County, Ky. Our 
subject's mother was born in Georgetown, Md.. 
and is a daughter of Alexander Moore who was a 
leading early settler of that State. On the ma- 
ternal side, our subject's grandmother before her 
marriage was Miss Warren. Though now in his 
eighty-fourth year, John II.. the father of our sub- 
ject, is still living, making his home in New Lon- 
don, Kails Count\ . Mo. The mother has also at- 
tained the same extreme old age. 

The Rev. Mr. Lilly passed his boyhood m the 



648 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



county of his birth, attending school in Bards- 
town and later going to St. Joseph College. He 
afterward attended the St. Vincent Theological 
Seminary at Cape Girardeau, where he pursued his 
ministerial studies for four years. 1'pon being 
ordained a priest, he was assigned a parish in this 
Stale, which he held for eight years, being pastor 
of the church of the Immaculate Conception. In 
1878 Mr. Lilly came to Lexington, and for two 
years had entire charge of the parish, which com- 
prises all of this county and a portion of Saline 
County, including the town of Sweet Springs. In 
L880 the parish was divided and our subject was 
given charge of the western portion of this 
county, having sixty congregations, comprising 
German, Irish, French and Italian families, under 
his supervision. In the year 1886 Mr. Lilly was 
appointed a member of the Hoard of Ecclesiastical 
Examiners, Consulters and Promoters. He has 
always taken an active and zealous part in pro- 
moting the best interests of his church, and always 
uses his right of franchise in favor of the nominees 
of the Democratic party. 



/->, AIT. JAMES M. WITHERS, the subject of 
II this sketch, was one of the representative 

\^S< men of this part of .Missouri. At the time 
of his decease, he was a resident upon section 24, 
township 40, range 27, La Fayette County. His 
birth occurred in Jessamine County, Ivy., March 
•'!, 1824, a son of Peter and Evalina (Price) With- 
ers, both of whom were born in Virginia of brave 
Revolutionary War ancestry. When but a small 
boy his father removed to McLean County, 111., 
about the year 18.32, and lie was there reared to 
manhood. His school privileges were limited, and 
hi 1 had the usual experiences of pioneer life. His 
was an ambitious spirit, however, not satisfied with 
the humdrum existence of life on a farm, so, in 
1846, in his twenty-second year, he went to Mex- 
ico :i< :i Lieutenant in Col. Foreman's Fourth Reg- 



iment, Illinois Infantry, and participated in the 
capture of Vera Cruz and the battle of Cerro 
< i-ordo, in April, 1847. 

The regiment to which our subject was attached 
was discharged in June or July prior to the series 
of engagements that resulted in the capture of the 
City of Mexico in September. Returning home, 
he visited his old home in Kentucky, and while 
there was united in marriage, January 29, 1841), 
with Miss .Mary Drysdale, a native of Jessamine 
County also, born July 1. 1825, a worthy daugh- 
ter of Reuben and Mary (Walker) Drysdale, both 
natives of Virginia. She, like her distinguished 
husband, came from a grandfather who bore his 
part bravely in the war of the Colonies with Great 
Britain. In 1851 Capt. Withers, with his little 
family came to this State, and first settled upon a 
farm a short distance from Odessa, and resided 
there a number of years, but finally, in 1867, lo- 
cated permanently upon a farm in Washington 
Tow r nship, south of Mayview, where he resided at 
the time his useful career was cut short. 

In the war between the North and South, Capt. 
Withers commanded a company in Col. Ben Ell- 
iott's Regiment, Missouri State Guards, C. S. A., 
participating in the battles of Carthage, Wilson's 
Creek, Dry Wood and Lexington, and at Spring- 
field was captured. This was in 1862, and he was 
taken as a prisoner to Gratiot Street Prison, St. 
Louis, then transferred to Alton, where he re- 
mained some time, but was finally paroled. In 
1853 our subject made a trip to California over- 
land, and remained there a period of seven months, 
then returned by way of the Isthmus of Panama: 
He continued a business of freighting across the 
plains for a number of years. In this way he be- 
came well acquainted with the resources and capa- 
bilities of vast sections of land, and in 18(11 went 
north of Denver and started a cattle ranch there 
among the Indians, remaining for some time. Ten 
years later, in the fall of 1871. Capt. Withers took 
his family and with them resided for a space of 
two years in Northern Texas, but returned to the 
old home in La Fayette County, where he died 
October II, 1891, lamented by the whole commu- 
nity. 

The subject of this sketch was a man to whose 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



649 



memory the short space in a volume of this kind 
can not do justice. His position in his county 
was one of influence, he having long served his 
fellow-citizens in the various offices of his district, 
and being always known as a kind neighbor, a 
good husband and father and a most loyal friend. 
Capt. Withers became a Democrat even before the 
disruption of the Whig party, and was never neu- 
tral in any thing, either politics or friendships. 
In his young manhood days, while still a Whig, 
he became well acquainted with Abraham Lincoln. 
Judge Davis, Senator Douglas, and other Illinois 
politicians. At that time Mr. Lincoln "rode the 
circuit" as a practicing lawyer, and Capt. Withers 
would often tell of the large crowds which would 
assemble in the hotel at night upon court day. 
where the great martyr would keep them in good 
humor by the jokes and amusing stories which he 
never failed to have at call. 

The estate of two hundred and seven acres of 
land which our subject left to his family had been 
principally accumulated after the war. Beside his 
sorrowing wife, Capt. Withers left six children to 
lament the loss of a father and guide. These are 
as follows: Mrs. J. G. Worthington, of Lexington, 
Mo.; Mrs. Powell Van Meter, Misses Sallie and 
Jessie; Irvin, of May view; and William, of Texas, 
('apt. Withers was :i member of Mound Prairie, 
now May view, Missionary Baptist Church, and 
with his wife was prominent in sustaining its en- 
terprises. Mrs. Withers now resides in the village 
of May view, surrounded by care and comfort, but 
the place of her lamented husband can never be 
filled. His was a retiring nature, one thai was not 
always understood by Strangers, for he was a man 
who would never thrust himself into public atten- 
tion, nor be familiar with strangers or casual ac- 
quaintances. 

Our subject was strong in his likes and dislikes; 
an attachment once formed was not likely to be 
disrupted, an aversion not ea>ily eradicated. 
Always an active partisan in politics, he was never 
self-seeking, but earnest and alert for his party. 
At the time of his death, * apt. Withers was aged 
sixty-seven years, seven months and -i\ days. His 
life is over, his battles all fought, but his friends 
now cherish a kind recollection of his unswerving 



attachment to them, and of his uncompromising 

devotion to duty as he understood it. Fr such 

characters come the great heroes of the world. 
Green is now the sod above his grave, and the peace 
which passeth all understanding is his in the home 
beyond. 



ffi OIIN T. BUSH. ( nir subject is an English- 
man by birth, but his interests and associ- 
ations are so identified with the growth of 
the locality in which he lives, which is 
Lexington, La Layette County, that one would 
hardly know, unless so assured, of his British 
origin. Mr. Bush was bom in Yorkshire, England, 
March 2(1, 1849. At the early age of three years 
he was brought by his parents to the United States. 
They landed at New York, and thence went to 
Wisconsin, where they settled on a farm. 

As a lad, our subject attended the common 
schools in Wisconsin until fourteen years of age, 
and after that was self-supporting, being for a 
time employed in a stone quarry. In 1869 he 
went to Kansas City, Mo., and was there emplo3-ed 
in a sawmill, and in 1.S72 removed to Kay County, 
where he also worked in a sawmill until 1877. 
At that date he became the proprietor of a mill of 
his own, and operated it for one year. 

In the fall of 1878, Mr. Bush removed to La 
Fayette County, and there engaged in the sawmill 
business until 1K82, when he sold out and bc^m 
farming, which he continued for four years. He 
then engaged in the sawmill business again, but in 
the spring of 1892 sold out and invested in the 
Triumph Pressed Brick Company. Aside from 
Lhese manufacturing interests, he owns a good and 
well-improved farm, comprising one hundred and 
seventy-five acres in Lexington Township, LaFay- 
etle ( ounty. 

In politics Mr. Lush is a stanch Republican, 
which demonstrates the fact that he has grown 
far awaj from the Mother Country and her inter- 
ests. In November, Cm, 7. the original of this 



650 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



sketch was united in marriage with Miss Josie 
Dickey, of Ray County, this State, and a daugh- 
ter of David and Mary (Dickey) Dickey. Mr. 
and Mrs. Bush are the parent- of two sons, John 
R. and Joseph L. The family residence is located 
at the corner of Twentieth and Washington Street-. 



—J 



i>^-<^= 






S. HUGHES, M. D. The unselfish improve- 
ment of one's mind, and the advancement 
of one's material interests without infringe- 
ment upon the rights of others, are the 
qualifications of a character far above the aver- 
age. Yet such a man is the subject of this sketch. 
who, amid trials that would have subdued a less 
courageous spirit, pressed onward to the goal of 
his praiseworthy ambition. The study of such a 
life cannot fail to be instructive to all classes of 
people. Dr. Hughes is a son of -lames H. Hughes, 
a native of Barren County, Ky., who was the son 
of Rowland S. Hughes, a native of Virginia. The 
ancestors of Dr. Hughes came from Wales; there 
three brothers, banished by inexorable law, left 
the home of their people to find a country where 
freedom of conscience was allowed. They settled 
in Virginia, but presently scattered into Mary- 
land and Kentucky, pursuing the avocation of 
farmers. 

The mother of our subject was Matilda (Viers) 
Hughes, a native of Maryland, who went to Lo- 
gan County, Ky., when a girl, and was there reared 
to womanhood. There she met and married James 
11. Hughes. They remained in Logan County 
until 1820, when they removed to La Fayette 
County. Mo., settling on section 22, Clay Town- 
ship. The husband bought a chum of a man 
named Jones, the land being then prairie, but 
since grown up in heavy timber. Hands of In- 
dians roved about at their own pleasure, while 
wild animals abounded. The country was very 
sparsely settled, there being no near neighbors, 
and but a single bouse standing south of his. 
Subsequently he entered and bought more land. 



to the amount of seven hundred and eighty acres, 
all in a body, excepl forty acres of timber-land. 
It was here thai lie made for himself a permanent 
home by building a double log cabin, one of the 
finest then in the county. In 1853 a frame build- 
ing was put up in the good old-fashioned way — 
big rooms, wide halls and huge fireplaces, it being 
by general consent the besl residence in La Fay- 
ette County. The old log bouse still stands. 

After forty years spent upon this farm, the fa- 
ther and husband died in I860. The wife fol- 
lowed him thirteen years later. This couple were 
the parents of eleven children, but two of whom 
arc now living, the eldest, Catharine, dying De- 
cember 31, 1890. Of this large number of children, 
all but two grew to maturity, while three of them 
served in the Civil War. The father took an active 
part in the Mormon War. which resulted in the 
banishment of the followers of Smith. The father 
and mother were members of the Old-school Bap- 
tist Church, he being a Deacon in that body, very 
devout and exceedingly active in Christian work. 
The lively interest he manifested in schools was 
scarcely equal to that displayed in political affairs. 
An old-Hue Whig, a disciple of Henry Clay, he 
predicted the war long before the firing on Ft. 
Sumter. So honest was he, and so gentle his na- 
ture, that he was termed "the arbitrator," because 
he was called upon to settle all neighborhood dif- 
ficulties. His success in farming was due to the 
concentration of all his energies upon that work, 
lie was thoroughly systematic and had the finest 
kept farm in the county. 

Dr. Hughes was the ninth child, and is the elder 
of the two now living, the remaining brother 
being Hardy II. Our subject was bom in the log 
house on section 22, November 29, 1810. He was 
educated in the common schools of the district, 
completing his course at Porter Seminary, at Lone 
Jack, Mo. When the war broke out, he enlisted 
in Company 1, Graves' Regiment of Missouri State 
Guards, for six months; was made Corporal and 
took part in the battles of Carthage, Wilson's 
Creek and Lexington. From that place he went 
to Neosho, thence to Osceola, and was discharged 
there in November, 1861. Returning home, he 
again enlisted in Company 1, First Missouri Cav- 



PORTRAIT AMI BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



651 



airy, Gen. Joe Shelby's Brigade; was Acting Or- 
derly-Sergeant, and participated in nearly all the 
engagements of that famous command without 
being once wounded. Made a prisoner near Hel- 
ena. Ark., duly 26, 1864, he was confined in the 
county jail for three weeks, and then taken to 
Camp Morton, at Indianapolis, where he was held 
until after the close Oi the war, being a prisoner ten 
months in all. Released in April, L865, he went 
to Kentucky and remained until the following 
August. 

Home duties demanded the presence of the Doc- 
tor, and he returned to Missouri, remaining upon 
the farm until the estate was settled, when he re- 
sumed the study of medicine, which had been in- 
terrupted b) the war. In the years 1866-67 he 
attended the Eclectic .Medical Institule.nl Cincin- 
nati; returning to Missouri, he practiced medicine 
in Platte County for live years, and then went 
hack to college and was graduated in the session 
of 1872-73. Located on the home farm in the 
following year, he sold a portion of the estate and 
devoted his time to the improvement of the 
remainder, but in 1875 lost his entire crop by 
the ravages of grasshoppers. He then went to 
Texas and located for the practice of medicine; 
but, suffering greatly from poor health, was finally 
seized with a fever, which broughl him danger- 
ously low; ultimately recovering, he went hack 
home after an absence of two years. Soon after 
his return he purchased the home and practice of 
Dr. Herendon, at Greenton, this county, and 
formed a partnership with Dr. M. M. Robinson, 
now deceased, the association continuing two 
years. < lur subj< ct then made his borne at * Idessa, 
conducting a drug store and practicing medicine 
for a period of two years, his time being de- 
voted after that exclusively to the drug business. 

Order is a strong element in the Doctor's char- 
acter, and the general verdict is that he kept the 
cleanest ami best-arranged, as well as tin' largest 
and best drugstore in the county, having increased 

the valueof the stock from $800 to $6,1 A few 

years ago hedisposedof a-half interest to Dr. \\.( . 
Goodwin, the linn name being changed to Hughes 
& Goodwin. He was married August 18, 1868, 
to Miss Mary A. Solleder. a native of laic, Pa., 



and a daughter of Mathias Solleder, a native of 
Saxony, Germauy. Mrs. Hughes received a very 

fair education in the scl Is of Leavenworth. 

Kan. 

Dr. and Mrs. Hughes have been the parents of 
seven children, four of whom are living, as follows: 
Winifred Tracy, wife of W. S. Stanfield, having 
one child; Josie O., Emmett Me I)., and Raymond 
s. Tin 1 two daughters are graduates of Odessa Col- 
lege, Josie being the youngest graduate of that 
institution since its foundation. .Airs. Hughes and 
the elder daughter arc members of the .Mission- 
ary Baptist Church. Our subject is identified with 
many organizations and interests of the city, 
being a member of the Anti-Thief Association; the 
Order of Woodmen, of which he is examining 
physician; the Knights of 1'ythias, of which he is 
■i ch'arter member and at present Treasurer, and 
in whichhe has held all tin offices, being a member 
of the Grand Lodge; the Ancient Order of United 
WOikinen. of which he is a charter memberand ex- 
amining physician since its organization; and the 
Masonic fraternity, being Past Master, member of 
the Grand Lodge, and a Royal Arch Mason. 

(lur subject is a Democrat and manifests an ac- 
tive interest in furthering the objects and aims 
of that party, having frequently been a delegate 
to its county, district and State conventions. He 
has always taken an active interest in school mat- 
ters, and has served as a member of the School 
Board. He has been a Director of Odessa College 
ever Since its organization, and is now President ,,f 
the Hoard. He is a Director and Secretary of the 
Board of Directors of the Odessa Canning Com- 
pany; also a Director of the Odessa National Lank, 
and Secretary of the Board. Dr. Hughes' active 
duties have not prevented him from showing a 
respectful consideration for the dead. Quite re- 
cently he has improved the family cenietei \ on 

l! Id farm and has caused to be erected a line 

monument there for himself and all the familv. 
He has a sister buried at Oregon, a brother in 
Texas, and another brother at Greenton. One of 
his brothers served throughout the war and was 
killed at Ft. Blakely, the last battle of the war. 

During a trip made for his health Dr. Hug 
wrote a number of letters for his home paper, the 



652 



TORTKAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Democrat, descriptive of the beautiful scenery and 
commenting upon the various incidents of the 
journey. In company with J.C.Cobb, he left 
Odessa November t, 1891, proceeding to Kansas 
City, and i hence to Springfield. He visited Os- 
ceola, a fine, picturesque place, nestling among the 
hills <>l' St. Clair County,andof especial interest 
to the Doctor, as there he was discharged from 
the State service after serving six months under 
Gen. Price, just thirty years before, and he had 
never seen the place since until his visit. 

Dr. Hughes also visited the battleground of 
Wilson Creek, of which he writes as follows: 
■•standing here with the lays of the autumnal sun 
mildly blending' with the hazy atmosphere of 
mystic Indian summer — the smoke from a camp- 
fire on the creek rising languidly on the even- 
ing air. with everything reposing quietly and 
peacefully, it is hard to bring one's self to realize 
that here was enacted one of the bloodiest dramas 
of the Civil War. and thai yonder, north on 
'Bloody Hill.' in early morn. Lyon hurled his men 
on the surprised Confederates like the brave man 
lie was; and here, well to the front, was Totten's 
Battery awakening the echoes of the surrounding 
hills and sleeping Confederates by the roar of its 
guns, as it threw shot anil shell into the fast 
formingand opposing lines: and there to the right 
was Woodruff's Arkansas Battery going quickly 
into action with its brave commander and no 
[ess brave men. standing true to their amis — and 
yonder south one mile, Sigcl with his Germans 
surprising and capturing some Arkansas troops. 
killing many in their tents before they were aware 
that the enemy were on them. 

•'Now, accompanied by .Mr. Steele. I again as- 
cended 'Bloody Hill,' for the first time in thirty 
years. No dead men with mangled bodies and dis- 
torted and lil ly countenances greet me now. 

The low scrub oaks scattered on the hillside of 
that day have been removed and the land is now 
under cultivation. Hack further to the north the 
brush remains as it was. Our camp was exposed 
to Lyon's battery across the creek, with only a 
stunted tree here and there intervening, and re- 
ceived the first lire from his guns. The whole hill 
is covered with a heavy growth of forest trees, now 



in the 'sere and yellow' leaf of approaching winter, 
reminding me that I. too, am in the -sere and yel- 
low' leaf of approaching age. and that soon I will 
follow those who crossed over the river on the 
Kith of August, 1861." 

At Forsyth the party built boats and floated 
down the river, stopping now and then in quest 
of quail, ducks and turkeys. Many and exciting 
were their experiences, and the hunting expedition 
was not only successful, but are unusually pleasant. 
and will never be forgotten by the participants. 
At P.atesville they landed, and ended their voy- 
age and hunt. The letters written by the Doctor 
concerning this trip possess decided literary merit, 
and we regret that the limited space of this vol- 
ume forbids lengthy extracts from them. 



_.;..;..;..;. s 



3 *-5«5"5- '^gSS? ♦•!••!■ 






THOMAS AUDSLEY is a prominent farmer 
orT\ resi ding "" section 7, township 52, range 
20, Saline County. He was born in this 
county in 1857, his parents being Joseph and 
Martha (Whithead) Audsley, who were both born 
in England. The father was born in 1812, and 
emigrated to this country at an early day, settling 
first on land entered from the Government. He 
afterward purchased two hundred and ten acres, 
to the improvement of which he devoted himself 
until Death called him from his labors. For nine 
years he served his fellow-citizens as Constable. 
Of his eight children, who are living in Carroll 
and Saline Counties, one son is County Clerk in 
the former county, while two of the sons were 
valiant soldiers in the Union army. 

Thomas Audsley was educated in the common 
schools and completed his studies at the age of 
eighteen years. A year later he found himself in 
possession of a well-improved farm of two hundred 
and eighty acres of land, which is now in an ex- 
cellent state of cultivation and valued at 140 an 
acre. The principal products of this farm are 
grain and hay, but at the same time Mr. Audsley 
is quite an extensive raiser of high-grade cattle. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



653 



In 1879, Mr. Audsley and Miss Victoria Olger 
were united in marriage. The lady was born in 
Tennessee in 1858, and by her marriage lias become 
the mother of four children. The eldest, born in 
1880, resides al home; Harry was born in 1882, 
while Alice and Pearl complete the family. They 
arc receiving the benefits of a good education, and 
arc more than usually bright and intelligent 
children. 

Mr. Audsley and his estimable wife are both 
members of the Columbia Presbyterian Church, 
where they arc both active workers, and of which 
our subject is one of the most liberal supporters, 
and is now tilling the office of Deacon. He uses 
his right of franchise in favor of the Republican 
party, of which he is a strong adherent, and while 
he is not an aspirant to official positions of trust 
and honor, he has always taken great interest in 
the affairs of his party. lie numbers many friends 
in this county, as does also his amiable wife, who 
i- a thoroughly lovable and intelligent lady. 



V. 



<•==*=* 



r— TiKI.DIX L. SHAW, deceased, was one of 
[—(g) those men whom it is well to know, for his 
[\ influence had power to aid the straggler 
along the devious pathway of life, and his sym- 
pathy was ever ready for all who found that path- 
way a weary one. A straightforward, unassum- 
ing man, the good that was said of him during 
his life was said by others rather than himself, 
and now there are many friends and relatives who 
are ready to speak for the lips that could not if 
they woidd, and that if they were able to do so 
would be very modest, in their claims for the 
noble man whom we desire to give due honor in 
these pages. 

Mr. Shaw was born in Nelson County, Ky., in 
1811, and was the youngest in the family, who 
were as follows: Baker, who lived and died in 
Kentucky, where he reared a family; Jefferson, 
who came to Platte County in L839, and resided 



there until 1851, when he moved his family to 
Oregon, where he lived many years; Sadonia B.; 
Nancy, who married a Baptist preacher: Anna, 
wife of Mi-. Mills; and Fieldin 1... who came to 
this State in 1839. Mr. Shaw was married in 
Kentucky, his bride being Catherine Miller, whose 
parents, brothers ami sisters, all came to Platte 
County, Mo., in 1839, the year of Mr. Shaw's re- 
moval there. 

Until 1843Mr.Shaw remained in Platte County; 
after that year he located in Andrews County, 
where he lived till 1862, when he went to IllinoN 
and remained there until 1866, then came to Sa- 
line County, where he purchased two hundred and 
sixty acres ,,f land and engaged successfully in 
farming. During the war he lost all his property, 
but this misfortune had no power to make him 
misanthropic or selfish; in spite of it he continued 
the same generous hearted, kindly man, whom to 
know was to respect and esteem. 

Mr. and Mrs. Shaw counted nine children 
among the blessings that God gave them. Three 
of these children were born in Kentucky, and all 
reached maturity. On the family tree we find: 
Sadonia 11., the eldest ; William M.. of Saline 
County, whose biography is given elsewhere; Jef- 
ferson R., who was killed in the battle of lVa 
Ridge, in Arkansas, being with Price at that time; 
Joel <;., now a successful fruit-grower in San 
Diego, (al. ; Samuel M.; David P., of Washburn, 
Tex.; Elizabeth, wife of H.S.Tucker; X. Jennie, 
wife of Robert Irvine; and Jonathan M., of Wash- 
burn, Tex. William M. and Jefferson were both 
in the Confederacy during the war. 

Samuel shaw was born m Platte County, Mo., in 
December, 1844, and was with his father until 
nearly twenty-three years of age. aiding in the 
support of the family, lie and his brothers 
helped to paj lor the home. Samuel was educated 
at the William Jewell (nil,-,', and was married in 
1880, Miss Mollie Kobnet, of Boone County, be- 
coming his wife. Her father, Noah II. Kohnet, 
was a pioneer of that count) . 

Mi. shaw. Jr., taught school ten years after 
leaving college, devoting all his time to his pro- 
fession, and proved himself a worthy son of an 
exceptional father, for it was one of Fieldin 



G5J 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Shaw's characteristics that he was faithful in all he 
did, and there is no more unselfish and no 
grander calling than that <>f the earnest, conscien- 
tious teacher. Mr. Shaw now owns a farm of one 

hundred acres of good land. His children are 
three in number: Annie (_)., F. Parker and Mar- 
ion A. 

S. M. Shaw became interested in the People's 
party in the fall of L890, and has since been ac- 
tively identified with it. He and his wife are 
members nf the Baptist Church, of which denom- 
ination tin.' father was also an active member. 

Fieldin Shaw was a Democrat in politics, but 
was not active in party work. He was a liberal 
supporter of schools and churches, as well as all 
other benevolent institutions, and. indeed, was 
ready to give a helping hand to every worthy 
cause. He was a man who could be relied 11)1011 
under all circumstances, whose word was as good 
as his note, whose influence was always on the 
side of right as he believed it, and he was clear- 
sighted and charitable at all times; his friend- 
ship was true and lasting, and his faith in God 
lead him down to the verge of the river, and, we 
doubt not, safely across to the other side. 



-ifc • -9 O 



«£@h 



ps^a ABASTIAN A. ALUS. The Chicago & Al- 
\^2 ton Railroad is noted for the splendid fel- 

xJ-Jj) ' mvs ,M:l1 ' l ' ias on ' ts f" R '°- an< ^ our * u,, ~ 
ject is numbered among the small army, 

being an engineer on the Kansas City Division. 

lie is one who thoroughly understands his busi- 
ness, and, what is more to the point, conscientiously 
attends to it. lie is genial, kiud-hearted and al- 
ways ready to help a friend out of difficulty, and 
prodigal with sympathy in time of trouble. 

Mr. Ahis was born in St. Landry Parish, La., No- 
vember 2.">. 1855. His father. Saiiastian D. Allis, 
was a native of Hartford. Conn., while his Grand- 
father Allis was born in England and removed to 
Hartford, in which city he died. Sabastian D. Al- 
lis was a farmer upon a Louisiana plantation at the 



time of the Civil War, raising cotton and doing a 
flourishing business. In his earlier days he had 
been a clerk on steamboats running from New Or- 
leans. At the beginning of hostilities he enlisted 
as a volunteer in the Confederate army and served 
through the greater part of the war. After the 
destruction of the levees, his plantation, which was 
in the rich swamp-lands, was Hooded with water, 
and in 1867 he came as far North as Mounds, Ver- 
non County. Mo., where he engaged in farming. 
After a time he removed to Texas and ran a store 
at Columbia, Brazoria County. He there died at 
the age of fifty-seven, a devout Episcopalian in 
his religious belief. 

The mother of Sabastian A. was Caroline Single- 
ton before her marriage. She was born at St. Lan- 
dry Parish, and was a daughter of Seth Singleton. 
a native of South Carolina, who settled in Louisiana 
at an early date and was a stock-raiser upon a large 
plantation. The mother died at Kansas City. Mr. 
Allis was the third of eleven children, sixof whom 
are still living, three boys and three girls. Both 
of his brothers are engineers on railroads. Our 
subject's home was in Louisiana until he was twelve 
years of age, his education being carried on under 
the governess system, as was so usual throughout 
I lie South. 

In 1867, our subject came to Mound, Mo., ten 
miles from Nevada, and remained there until 1875. 
He then went to Rio, Knox County, 111., and 
worked upon a farm until 1877, when he went to 
Kansas City and entered the employ of theKan-as 
City. Ft. Scott & (Julf Railroad as fireman. After 
this he worked on the Union Pacific until l«7'.t. 
and then on the Kansas City Division of the Chi- 
cago & Alton as fireman until 188."), at which time 
he was made engineer. He has never had a serious 
accident,, although having been in two collisions. 
The first was with a rock train between Mount 
Leonard and Shack leford, the accident occurring 
through no fault of his own. The second was be- 
tween Independence and Glen dale, and was with 
a freight train that was out of place. No one was 
injured in either case. His run is from Roodhouse 
to Kansas City on a passenger, and from Rood- 
house to Slater on a freight. 

Mr. Allis was married at Kansas City October 7, 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



655 



1885, to Miss Susie Seddon, a native of Berlin, 
Sangamon County, 111., and a daughter of Alfred 
Seddon, an Englishman by birth, who settled in 
Sangamon County, and was a fanner and brick- 
maker. Thence he removed to Kansas City, where 
lie died one year later. His wife, Elizabeth (Tay- 
lor) Seddon, was also born in England, there mar- 
ried, and died in Kansas City in 1 880, leaving four 
children, of whom Mrs. Allis is the youngest. She 
was reared in Kansas City. She is the mother of 
one child, Hazel Parr. 

Mr. Allis is a member of the Masonic fraternity. 
In his church relations, he is a Cumberland Pres- 
byterian, and in politics, a Democrat. He is one 
of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. His 
residence at P^ast Slater was erected by himself, 
and he also owns real estate in Kansas City. He 
is a young man whose history it is a pleasure to 
chronicle, for his life has been an honorable one, 
full of industry, and he has reached a vantage 
ground of prosperity. 



,*s^ EBASTI AN W. BRANDAU, the manager of 
^^. and a partner in, the Bonanza Coal Com- 
V^O/ l ,an , v " at Higginsville,aud with an office at 
Kansas City, is the gentleman of whom we 
write. He was born at Koenigswald, in Kur- 
hessen, Germany. January 29, 1847, and his fa- 
ther, Adam, was also born in the same place, where 
Grandfather Brandau was Superintendent of For- 
estry, and his son, the father of our subject, was 
the assistant in this superior office. After the 
death of his father, Adam married and became As- 
sistant Mayor of the city until 1854, when he 
came to America, bought a farm, and located in 
Cook County, 111., at a place called New Bremen. 
Here Adam Brandau bought a farm of one hun- 
dred and sixty acres and improved it, but in 1868 
sold out and removed to Charles City, Iowa, and 
there he still lives at the age of seventy-eight 
years. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. The mother of our subject was Elizabeth 

34 



Sipple, who was born in Germany, and her father, 
William, was the honorable Mayor of the same 
place as was the father of our subject, ami there 
he died at the age of sixty-two, a member of the 
Reformed Church. The mother of Sebastian still 
lives, at the age of seventy-five years, in Iowa. 
There were eight children born in the family, and 
of these five are yet living. William was a sol- 
dier m the Fifty-seventh Illinois Infantry from 
1863 to the close of the war. Paul was in the 
One Hundredth Illinois Infantry and was wounded 
at Franklin, from the effects of which he died. 

Our subject is the youngest son in the family, 
and was reared in Germany until his seventh year. 
The family came to America on the sailing-vessel 
"Anna Lange," and landed at Baltimore after a 
voyage of eight weeks and three days, and came 
to Cook County, III. Our subject was reared upon 
the farm and learned the business, and attended 
the common schools. Later he was sent to Bald- 
win University, at Berea, Ohio, for one year, and 
then taught school for one winter. In 1869 he 
went to Charles City, Floyd County, Iowa, and 
started in the grocery business, but, on account of 
the failure of crops, he could not collect his bills, 
and was forced to close out this business. 

After this experience our subject'went to work 
for a publishing house in Burlington, Iowa, trav- 
eled in Missouri in 1880, and then returned to Illi- 
nois. He traveled a little in Illinois, and then 
gradually drifted into the agricultural implement 
business, and traveled in 1882 for the house of 
William Deering & Co., but one year later lo- 
cated in Iligginsville and went into business for 
himself. This venture was in agricultural imple- 
ments, with Fred Hitter as his partner, carrying it 
on under the style of Brandau, Ritter & Co., and 
the business continued until our subject decided 
to go into the eoal trade. Mr. Hitter bought him 
out, and for two years our subject traveled for 
William Deering as expert and salesman. 

In 1888, John Cook and our subject engaged 
in the coal business and opened a mine. They 
prospected somewhat in the fall, then sunk the 
shaft ^and opened the mine. The company is 
known as the Bonanza Coal Company, and owns 
six acres and the coal under one hundred and 



656 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



twenty-live acres, located one mile and a-quarter 
from the city. The mine is seventy feet deep 
with a twenty-inch vein. The coal is of a fine 
quality and gives satisfaction. The capacity is 
three to four carloads in eight hours. Until Sep- 
tember, 1891, the coal was sold in lots, but then 
a yard whs established in Kansas City, and to this 
all the coal is shipped. The location is Third 
street and Grand Avenue, and is one of the 
most convenient yards in the city. The mine 
gives employment to about fifty-live men. Our 
subject is the manager at this point, and he has 
just put in six hundred feet of side track. Their 
property in this city is valuable, and their com- 
mercial standing is of the best. The coal from 
this mine is as good as any in La Fayette County, 
and has given great satisfaction in domestic uses. 
Mr. Brandau was married in Wisconsin, in 1867, 
to Miss Johanna Babette Kuhn, who was born 
in Switzerland and educated there. Four children 
have been born to the family and bear the names 
Of Louis. Walter, Bertha and Katie. The family 
are members of the German Methodist Episcopal 
Church. Our subject is a temperance man in all 
things and votes the Prohibition ticket. 



' AMES M. RYAN, pastor of St. Joseph's Par- 
ish, including St. Joseph's Church, in Slater, 
All Saints' Church, at Glasgow, and the 
Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin 
Mary, or St. Mary's Church, at Frankfort, all in 
Saline County, has been constantly engaged in the 
arduous labors of his sacred profession in this lo- 
cality for the past nine years, during which time he 
ha- never been absent from his post of duty. At- 
tending closely to the spiritual needs of the vari- 
ous missions under his special care, he is recog- 
nized by all who know him as one of the most un- 
tiring and efficient workers in the religious field. 
Our subject was born in the town of Peter- 



borough, township of Monaghan, county of Peter- 
borough, Province of Ontario, Canada, upon Au- 
gust 23, 1857. His father, James Ryan, was 
born on the Island of Guernsey, in the English 
Channel, while his paternal grandparents were re- 
siding temporarily there. His paternal grand- 
father, Patrick Ryan, was a native of Bruff, 
County of Limerick, Ireland, and was reared in 
the Old Country; he entered the English army as 
a soldier, and served for several years. It was 
during the time that his regiment was stationed on 
the Isle of Guernsey that his son James was born. 
After Grandfather Ryan retired from the army, 
he resided in County Limerick for some years, and 
about the early '30s brought his family to Canada, 
and remained for a brief period in Kingston, but 
shortly afterward settled permanently in Peter- 
borough, where he ran a tannery. Me was a man of 
resolute character, ambitious and energetic, and 
served with honor as a magistrate. The father of 
our subject did business as a general merchant in 
Peterborough, and also engaged in the commission 
business in the latter part of his life, but retired 
from business some years before his death, which 
occurred at about the age of sixty years. 

Our subject's mother was Mary Brophy, a native 
of County Tipperary, Ireland, and a daughter of 
Michael Brophy, who brought his family to Can- 
ada and farmed near Peterborough, and for sev- 
eral years before his death lived there retired. 
Father James M. Ryan was the eldest of eight 
children who blessed his parents' home, but four of 
whom are now living. Our subject was educated 
in the parish and public schools of Peterborough. 
In 1876, he entered the classical course at Mont- 
real College, was always under the direction of the 
Fathers of St. Sulpice, and completed the four 
years of study. Then entering the School of 
Philosophy at Nicollet College in the Province of 
Quebec, he remained there as a student one year. 
In 1880 Father Ryan came to Missouri and entered 
the Diocesan Seminary at Conception, Nodaway 
County, where he continued the study of theology 
until he was ordained, March 12, 1883, by the 
Rt.-Rev. Bishop Marty, of Sioux Falls, S. Dak., 
for the Diocese of Kansas City and St. Joseph. 
Our subject was first appointed assistant pastor of 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



657 



St. Patrick's Church of St. Joseph, where he served 
two months, when the vacancy at Slater occurred, 
and he was made pastor of St. Joseph's congrega- 
tion May 17, 1883, appointed by the Rt.-Rev. 
Bishop John J. Hogan,of the Kansas City Diocese. 

Father Ryan came immediately to Slater, whose 
parish had only previously enjoyed the temporary 
services of a priest. The Slater congregation was 
organized by Rev. F. Murphy, of Marshall, previ- 
ous to the building of the church. He at once 
took active charge of affairs, and finding the 
church heavily in debt, never rested until with 
persevering patience and untiring energy and de- 
termination, he had gathered enough money to- 
gether to pay off the debt of §1,000, build a com- 
.fortable parsonage, and add another lot to the 
church property for the future erection of a much- 
needed school building. This parish now has the 
finest church property in the city of Slater, so that 
Father Ryan really was the organizer and blessed 
instrument in building up St. Joseph's Catholic 
congregation, which now numbers forty families. 

In 1885 our subject organized and built the 
church at West Glasgow, called All Saints' Church, 
and has served there ever since, and has now a 
thriving congregation of thirty-five families. In 
the year 1888 he built the parochial school at 
AVest Glasgow, which is destined to bear good 
fruits. In 1885, the Church of the Nativity of 
the Blessed Virgin at Frankfort was added to the 
list of his missions, and he has had charge of it 
ever since. The chinch was built in the year 1868 
by Rev. Father Meurs, of Boonville, after which 
it was attended by Revs. Meurs, Zechenter, Bush, 
Willenbnck and Panck, of Glasgow, successively, 
and has a congregation comprising fifteen fam- 
ilies. The work of Father Ryan has been won- 
derfully prospered, and the people to whom lie 
has ministered so long and devotedly trust that 
in God's good providence their faithful pastor 
may be with them through many coming years. 
His friends, earnest and true, are not confined to 
the members of his creed or religious belief. As 
an earnest and enterprising citizen, lie is highly 
respected by the general public, and holds the con- 
fidence of the entire community among whom his 
life of self-sacrifice is passed. 



OIIN W. BLANCHARD is engaged in gen- 
eral farming and stock-rai^inu on his well- 
~ cultivated farm of two hundred and seventy 
(^f ; acres in Saline County, lie was born Oc- 
tober 21. L853, in Marion County, Mo., his educa- 
tional privileges being those of the public schools of 
Rails County, and of the Central College at Fay- 
ette. In 1872, he located on a farm nine miles east 
of where he now resides, which he engaged in culti- 
vating until the spring of 1890, when he purchased 
and removed to his present farm. 

William Blanchard, grandfather of our subject, 
was a native of England, and emigrated to Vir- 
ginia, settling in Winchester. To himself and wife 
were born four sons and a daughter, who were as 
follows: William, living near Dayton, Ohio; 
George, whose death occurred in Kansas; Hiram 
A., the father of our subject, who lives in Waverly, 
Saline County; Martha, widow of Mr. Martin, of 
Dayton, Ohio; and Isaac, deceased. After coming 
to America Mr. Blanchard was not actively en- 
gaged in any particular calling. He was a man 
of strong Union sentiment, and after the birth of 
the Republican party became one of its stanchest 
supporters. He was called to his final rest in 1869. 

Hiram A., our subject's father, was born in Eng- 
land in 1812, and with his parents removed to 
Virginia when about two years of age. From the 
Old Dominion he removed to Zanesville, Ohio, 
about 1834, where he engaged in his trade of har- 
ness-making and coach-upholstering. In Virginia 
he was married to Miss .lane, daughter Mai tin 
Stephens, of Newtown. She was a native Virgin- 
ian, and soon after her marriage went with her 
husband to Ohio, from which State they later re- 
moved to Missouri. For a time Mr. Blanchard was 
engaged in agricultural pursuits, but, afterward 
became a merchant in Philadelphia. Marion County. 
Upon their first arrival in this State they located 
in St. Louis County, this "being about the year 
L836. The wife departed this life in 1879, leaving 
eight children, Angeline. now deceased; Gei 
a resident of Marshall; Amanda, wife of Joseph 
Spencer, of Shelby County; I.uverine, wife of 
Henry Foreman, of Shelby County; Caroline, who 
became the wife of John Asher, of Kansas Cit\ : 
Emily and Lydia (twins), the former the wife of 



658 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



R. B. Wright, and the latter the wife of W. Spencer; 
and our subject. 

< >n June 22, 1875, John W. Blauebard wan married 
to Miss Samantha, daughter of Allen McReynolds. 
Two children grace their union, whose names are 
Lula and Marvin. Our subject is a loyal supporter 
of the Democracy, and socially, is a member of 
Blackburn Lodge No. 86, A. (). V. W. He holds 
membership with the Methodist Episcopal Church 
South, to which his fath "r also belongs, and of 
which the latter is Steward. Our subject is one of 
the leading fanners and successful business men of 
the county, and is much esteemed and respected 
by all who have had the pleasure of making his 
acquaintance. 



m^ 



. 




E. STARKEY, a pioneer of Missouri and 
an honored citizen of Slater, is undoubt- 
(fi edby the most venerable resident in his 
region of the country. Although he is 
nearly one hundred years of age, his mental vigor 
is unimpaired and his bodily health excellent. He 
is still able to attend to daily duties and manage 
his business affairs and property. A most interest- 
ing conversationalist, he possesses a valuable store 
of historical reminiscence. His experiences of early 
days, and vivid remembrance of notable and dis- 
tinguished characters he has seen, prominent among 
whom is Napoleon Bonaparte, are thoroughly ap- 
preciated by many eager listeners. 

Born in the month of June, 1793, in Lohr, in the 
kingdom of Hanover, Germany, our subject will in 
a few months arrive at the centennial anniversary 
of his birth. His parents, Casper and Mary (Falk) 
starkey, were natives of Germany, where his fa- 
ther lived, and after years of patient toil, died. He 
is the youngest child and the only son in a family 
of four children. He was reared on a farm and 
trained to habits of thrift, and gained a primary 
education in the schools of the Fatherland. Grown 
to man's estate, he married, and in his native land 
began the support of a family of his own. 



In 1829, Mr. Starkey determined to try his for- 
tunes in America, and making the venture alone, 
sailed from Bremen and safely landed in New 
Orleans, thence voyaged up the Mississippi River 
and located in Louisville. He found immediate 
employment working on the streets, and never ex- 
perienced anj' lack of work or money. As soon as 
he was sure of making a comfortable living for his 
family in the New World, he sent for them, and 
three years later rented land in Warren County, 
and successfully engaged in farming. After a 
time he purchased one hundred and sixt}' well- 
improved acres of land, and there engaged in the 
duties of general agriculture. 

In 1870, Mr. Starkey went to West Glasgow, 
this county, where he bought two hundred acres 
of farming property, and devoted his attention to 
the cultivation of the soil for five years. In 1884, 
he removed to Marshall, and after a four-year 
residence there, settled in Slater, where he invested 
in land^and houses. Mr. Starkey has been thrice 
married. His first wife, Gertrude (Hodhoh) Star- 
key, was born in Germany and died in her native 
land. His second marriage occurred in Germany, 
and the first name of this lady was also Gertrude. 
She joined her husband in America, and died soon 
after he settled in West Glasgow. 

The third aud last marriage took place in West 
Glasgow, where our subject and Mrs. Mary Gul- 
zue were united in marriage. Mrs. Starkey, a 
most estimable and worthy lady, was born in 
Montreal, Canada, and was the daughter of Louis 
Bezourlte, a native of Montreal, and a farmer. Her 
mother was I'hillis Chockers. Mrs. Starkey was 
first married in Chicago to P. Mueshion, who kept 
a grocery store in Galena, 111., where he died. Her 
second marriage was to Judge F. A. Cutzue, a 
Judge and attorney of Gasconade County, who 
died in Portland. Mrs. Starkey is the mother of 
five children: F. A., a prominent business man of 
Slater, a grain dealer, representing a large commis- 
sion house; Minnie, Mrs. Cook, residing in Kansas 
City; Mollie, Mrs. Ross, who lives in Marshall 
County; Josie, Mrs. Beiesonf, who resides in Calla- 
way County; and Jennie, Mrs. Bochart, who lives 
in Moberly. Mr. Starkey has a son by his first 
wife, located in Ray County. By his second mar- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



659 



riage, he lias a daughter, Mrs. Mary Reed, resid- 
ing in Warren County, and a son, Henrich, in the 
dairy business in Ohio. 

Our subject has ever been a true, earnest and 
energetic citizen, and served with ability as a mem- 
ber of the grand jury convened in St. Joseph. He 
is an attendant and devout member of the Roman 
Catholic Church, and has always promptly assisted 
in religious and benevolent work. For over sixty- 
two years a resident of the United States, and an 
eye-witness of the wonderful changes in his 
adopted country, Mr. Starkey also retains a vivid 
remembrance of the stirring scenes of his earl}' life. 
One remarkable incident of his boyhood was his 
seeing Napoleon Bonaparte, the once great Em- 



peror of France, on his way to Russia. Our sub- 
ject has passed through a century which has been 
remarkable for the progress of our great Republic 
among the nations of the earth, and, an honest, 
law-abiding and highly respected citizen, he has 
meatrially assisted in her advancement. Always 
energetic, hard-working and prudent, he amassed a 
competence, and in his old age has been independ- 
ent and prosperous. In politics, Mr. Starkey has 
never taken part as an office-holder, but he is in- 
terested in the conduct of the CJovernment, and 
votes the Democratic ticket. Advanced in years, 
he can look back upon a well-spent life, and rest 
content in the high respect and esteem of many 
friends and all good citizens. 




BI0(3I^F)I(gpLL 



&s&4K*$s>G^=t- 



Aehamire, J. H 328 

Adams, John 23 

A<l. mm, John Q 39 

Adams, Minos, M. D 438 

Albin.G. A 329 

Aldrich.D.F :!74 

Alexander, A. F -628 

Alexander, L. M., M. D lfil 

Alexander, M. H 377 

Allen, H. G 248 

Allis, S. A 654 

Allison, A. J 638 

Allison, A. J 530 

Altbouse, Christian 216 

Anderson, C. K 284 

Andrews, Judge R. s 354 

Arthur, Chester A 99 

Asbury.Capt. A. E 117 

Ashley.J.M S83 

Audsley, Thomas 65! 

Aull, William 515 

Avitt, J. R 639 

Ay res . P. E 554 

Ayres.S. M 458 



B 



Barker, S. H 4113 

Barks, J. McK 126 

Barley, R. M 440 

Barnett, Camillus 572 

Barnett, Camillus, Jr -.'15 

Barnett, Capt. J. R 192 

tt, Judge R. A 509 

Bart man, F. II 514 

Bascom.S. P 241 

Beale, C. N 259 

Beeler.G. A 400 

Beermann, Frederick 343 

Bell, Rev. W. M 613 

Belles, J. W : ''«7 

Belt, Capt. M. 1 521 



Belt,M.L.,Jr 350 

Bennett, A. C 277 

Benning, T. B 573 

Benton, R. H 500 

Berrie, R. B 438 

Bigelow, Ruins 198 

Bixler, Daniel 452 

Blackmail, A. J 345 

Blackman, F. L 157 

Blackwell, Hon. J. S 577 

Blanchard, G. B 125 

Blanchard, J. w C57 

Blosser, Henry 263 * 

Board, J. J 471 

Bollman, J. H 146 

Booth, (J. C 6(6 

Bowman, E. F ."127 

Bowman, F. G 527 

Boyer &Son 610 

Bradford, C. H .218 

Brandau, S. w 655 

Brcnizer, G. W., M. D 461 

Brown, Hon. A. F 298 

Brown, Col. John 302 

Brown , R. J 222 

Brown, Hon. R. 1 523 

Brown, S. W.,M. D 497 

Brown, Col. William 622 

Browning, J. W 121 

Bruce, J. E 301 

Buchanan, James 75 

Buck, N. P 159 

Buehler, Rev. William 483 

Buford, Travis 587 

Burbridge.J. B., M. D 553 

Burgan.J. H 268 

Bush, J. T 649 

Butt.E. S 644 



Cameron, T. A. H 236 

Campbell, A. C 303 

Campbell, A. G 482 

Campbell, G. A 305 

Campbell, H. F 615 

Campbell, T. B 559 

< 'armean, John 393 



Tarter, J. L. M. D 150 

Catron, John Sr 551 

Chamberlain, P. A 454 

Chamberlin, G. B 618 

Chambers, P. H., M. D 518 

Chamblin, G. A 313 

Chanslor, Emison I s l 

Chappell, J. M 133 

Chiles, Col. H.C 571 

Chinn.T. M 1SI 

Cleveland, S. Grover 103 

Cobb, J. C 511 

Cobb, Rev. T. M 561 

Coe, J.G 218 

Connell, J. E„ M. D 327 

Conrad, Henry 579 

Cooper, C. C 612 

Cooper, William i>4 1 

Cooper, N. M 170 

Corder, Jac kson 465 

i . m d< i , Nathan 470 

Corse, H. B 519 

Coulter, J. H 408 

Cox.L. W 584 



D 



Di I.J. R 594 

Daniel, Hon. J. W 466 

Davis, A. B 127 

Davis A. J 320 

Davis, J. B.,M. D 215 

Dm is. William 430 

Davis, William 180 

Deal.G. W 419 

DePew, J. P 399 

Dickerson, A. M 464 

Dickey. R. B 582 

Dinwiddle, R. s 139 

Donaldson, Col. John 620 

Douthitt, A. W 211 

Downs, F. E 598 

Draper, James 257 

Drummond, Milton 3'iO 

Duggins, W.T 134 

Duncan, II. C 290 



Duvall, Mrs. L.J. 
Dyer, I. G 



E 



...186 

. . .309 



Edwards, Hon. E. M 546 

Edwards, J. D 212 

Edwards, J. R 037 

Elgin, C. L 528 

Elling, Judge II. H 280 

Elliott, Col. Benjamin 607 

Elliott, Capt. J. P 266 

Emison, J. A 1411 

Endly, J. w 621 

Eubank, E. L .• 365 

Eubank, Hon. J. D 349 

Eubank. J. F (H7 

Eubank, R. B 131 

Everhart, S li;:; 

Evert, William 550 

Ewing, H. (' 504 

Ewing, N. C 521 



Farrar, George 353 

Ferril, Hon. J. J 508 

Ficken, Henry 597 

Fillmore, Millard 67 

Fitzgerel.S.J 169 

Fletcher, G. B 228 

Floyd. J. F 350 

Fog-us, H. W 323 

Ford, C. Y 275 

Fowler, W. G 507 

Fox.G. W 484 

Freitag, G. H 232 

Fry, W. E 633 

Frye, Mason 478 

Fulton, J. H.C 255 



INDEX. 



G 



Gamble, J. M 47ft 

Gammon, Hon. W. T 371 

Gardner, J. F. <J:i2 

Id, .Tames A 95 

Garrett, J. F 157 

Gauldin, M. A 250 

Gaw, P. M 286 

Gibbs, T G 258 

Gilliam, H M 529 

Gilliam, Judge W.T 175 

Gilmer, James .362 

Gladish.J. E 522 

Golladay.J. W 427 

Goodwin, J. T 318 

G Iwin, J. W 456 

Gord Maj. G. 1' 596 

Grant, Ulysses S 87 

Graves, Jeremiah 443 

Gray. F. M 546 

Greene, S. M -J44 

Gregsby, A R .117 

Griffltts, William 148 

Gross, J.J 195 

Groves, David, Sr 604 

l ,n>\ es, I'a\ id, Jr 424 

Grumke, J. H ins 

Guerin, E. T 462 

Guthrey, I). T 386 

Guthrie, Prof. Oliver 245 



H 



Had,!. C.J 3S6 

Hader, Ernst 231 

Hader, Henry 586 

Haerle, Nicholas 186 

Hagood, Mrs. S. XV ins 

Hall, George 603 

Hall.G. W 612 

Hall, Hon. J.J 533 

Hall, 51. W 566 

Hall, M. W..M. D 199 

Hamisfar, C. W., M. D 333 

Hammer, C. H in 

Hammond, T. D 597 

Hanley, A. II 472 

Harl, Baldwin 336 

Harris, William 444 

Harrison, Benjamin 107 

Harrison, William. M.I) 637 

Harrison, William Henry. ... 51 

Harvej . Elijah 520 

Harvey, E Y 443 

Harvey, R. L 307 

Harvey, T. R. E 512 

Harwood, J. \ 58.3 

Hasenjager, Fritz 425 

Hatch, A. B 562 

Hayes, Rutherford B 91 

Haynie, Edwin 417 

Hays, W.T 043 



Heiler, Martin 347 

Hemme, Henry 468 

Hicklin, Wade 140 

Higgins, 11. .1 101 

Hill, W.T 136 

Hitchings, 'I'. II 578 

Hoefer, Charles 264 

Hoefer, Rev. Henry 146 

Hoffmann, Ernst 50:s 

Hogan.J.O 220 

M. . in.T. A 243 

Holke, H. F 631 

Holliday, W. II 418 

Holman, J. W 325 

Holtcamp, John 407 

Hook, J. B ISO 

Hopkins, H. S 334 

Houston. C. W 100 

Hughes, K. S., M. D 650 

Hupp, Abram 185 

Hupp, Theodore 187 

Hutchason, J. U 181 

Hutcherson, W. M 568 

Hyde, Rev. G. W 548 

II via ml, John 474 



Ish.T.H.B 2116 

Ish, W. 1 415 



Jackson, Andrew 43 

James, C. M. C 492 

Jellerson. Thomas 27 

Jennings, Mrs. Elizabeth. ... 178 

Johnson, Andrew 83 

Johnston, S. H 269 

Johnston, W. C 378 

A. A 511 

Jones, J. B 205 



K 



Kapp, W. (' 387 

Ceene, R. W 50:1 

Koill.G.R 604 

Keith. Leslie lilu 

K'-n-U-r, Al\ in 5s; ( 

Kleinschmidt, 11. F 301 

Cleinschmidt, B.J 288 

Knoble, I.. P 356 

Kratiz, John 251 

ECroencke, John 565 



La Bertew, P. B. . 
La Bertew, « \ 



...537 
...480 



Land, W. H 117 

Landrum.T. R 552 

Landrum, W. H 409 

Lane, A. B 538 

Lankford, C. E 513 

Laughlin, A. W 545 

Lemmon, B. F 467 

Lewis, M 51 155 

Lewis, J. A 277 

Lilly, J. J 6(7 

Lincoln, Abraham 79 

Long, Jackson 220 

Loper, James 308 

Luttrell, Harrison 114 

I.yne.S.T 143 

Lyne, Thomas 627 

Lyon.E. F 423 

Lyons, David, Sr 510 



M 



Madison, James 31 

Mallory, I. N 567 

Martin, G. N 535 

Martin, Hon. E. D 330 

Mas. .11, Seth 225 

Mastrrson, J. I> 425 

M.L'l.llainl.R. W, 51. D 230 

McDaniel, A. S., 51. D 207 

M. -Daniel, Reuben 631 

HcDaniels, Milton 247 

McElroy, 5Irs. Susannah 238 

McGinnis, D. T 636 

McMahan, R.J 454 

McMahan, Samuel 350 

McMahan, T. G 315 

McMahan, W. H. C 290 

UcMe< kin. L. A 346 

McNeel, John 403 

McReynolds, F. G 267 

Mead, M. V 167 

Head, W.S 526 

Meier, Henry 531 

Meinershagen, A. G 573 

Meinershagen, < '. E 310 

Metcalf, J. A 473 

Meyer, II. C 426 

Miller, Hon. C. J 274 

Miller, J. II 564 

Miller, J.H 525 

Miller, W. B 337 

Milnor, W. P 500 

Mitchell, C. s 516 

.Monroe, James 35 

U 'e, Rev. A. A 115 

Mi " ire, Butler, Sr 132 

Morrison. Hon. William 433 



N 



Neet, CM 470 

Neet, F. R 190 

Nicolds, R. W 249 

Niederjohn, H. G. 368 

Niemeier, Charles 314 



N ike, J.F 156 

Norfleet, Larkin 517 

Norns.F.T 158 

Norvell, S, W 435 

tfye, William 







1 I'Connell, Thomas 

O'Dwyer. Daniel 162 

Olson. Andrew 335 

O'Neill, Rev. F. J 530 

Orear, G. N 406 

Osborn, George L28 

Osborn. G. XV 319 

Oser, Conrad 207 



Page.G. R r.17 

3 H 20s 

Parsons, Hon. 1.8 166 

Payne, J. E i s s 

Peaehee, Rev. Nathaniel 576 

Peacock, B. F 5^2 

Peacock, J.H goj 

Pearson, Mrs. Eliza 445 

Peavler, J. 1 394 

Peed, Maj. H. A 1115 

Pennock, J. F 417 

Perrie, John, M. D 175 

Pfleger, Calvin 127 

Pfleger,S.P 177 

Phetziug, r. G 620 

Pierce, Franklin 71 

Pilkington, W.H 660 

Piper, William 226 

Polk, James K 59 

Pollard. W. J 355 

Powell, D.J isj 

Powell, O. J 491 

Price, Frederick 3X8 



Q 



Quackenbush, G. w 398 

Quisenberry, George 240 



R 



Ragland.B. D, 51. D 

Rawlings, Walter .413 

Rechtermaiiii, Henry 536 

. A. F 502 

Reed, D. C 516 

Renick, J. W 

Renick, St rot her 541 

Reynolds, R. 51 172 

Reynolds, W. A 244 

Richart, G. A . M. D 219 



INDEX. 



Richart, K. E 279 

Ridge, B. (J 511 

Rilea.I. U 384 

Bitter, J. F 894 

H irts.B. W 889 

Roberts, W. H 295 

Robertson, A. G 866 

Robertson, I>. B 206 

Robinson, C. A 372 

I!, .bin-.. ii, ('. W 145 

Robinson, J. I' 592 

Ross.C. C 151 

Russell, R.T 189 

Ruxton, Robert 471 

Ryan, Rev. J. 51 656 

Ryland, Maj.J. E SCO 



Sandidge, R. S 437 

Banford, K..T 160 

Batterfield. G. D 273 

Sawyer, T. 429 

Schleszer, Joseph 549 

Scbnieder, Herman 179 

Schowengerdt . Henry 42:! 

Schwartz, H. CJ 585 

Scott, Joel 25s 

Scott, J. P 209 

Selms, Henry 382 

Seward, Richard 286 

Shaw, F. I (153 

Shaw, W. M 409 

Shelby, Thomas 381 

Sh ate, G. W 410 

Slusher, A. J 586 

Blusher, D. (' 270 

Blusher, Henry 340 

Blusher, J. M 560 

Smarr, E.T 339 

Smith, D. M 575 

Smith, J. F 592 

Smith, J. 11., M.I) 324 



Smith, J. R 547 

Smith, L. A 239 

Smith, R. E. L 300 

Smith, Samuel. 507 

Smith, 8. F., H.D 181 

Smith, S.L 128 

Smith, W.O 367 

Smith, W.L 568 

s er, Daniel 818 

Snoddy.A. II.M.I) 165 

Sponsler, Isaac 385 

Stagner, L. R 171 

Staley.O.J 388 

BtanBeld, A. M 485 

Starke, Burwell 314 

Stark. -y, A. E 658 

Stark. banm. II. L 396 

Starr, J. H 206 

Stealy.G. W 614 

Stouffer, Hon. .1. T 235 

St rasburg, Charles 464 

St. Savior's Academy 550 

Sullivan, A. H. W., M. D 304 

Swan, W. II 260 

Swlnney, W.T 373 

Swisher, V. B 490 

Bydenstricker, D. T 361 

8j . lenstricker, J. H 569 



Ta nl. man, Robert 494 

Taylor, I. P 642 

Taylor, J. T 555 

Taylor, Zachary 63 

Tempel, Ernst 270 

Terrell, H. C 155 

Thieman, L. F 595 

Thieman, William 124 

Thomas, E. A 574 

Thomas, J. R 227 

Thomas, W. Scott 601 

Thomas, W. s 599 



Thomson, R. K 287 

Thorp, R. B 217 

Tickemyre, H. B 501 

Tompkins, J. W 606 

True, Maj. Elijah 590 

Tucker, li. S 416 

Tucker, Judge L. H 200 

Tucker, Phillip, Jr 283 

Tyler, John 177 

Tyler, John 55 



u 



Uphouse, Peter. 
Utz, E. G 



.542 

.477 



Van Anglen, Hon. H. S 144 

Van Buren, Martin 47 

Vance, J. R 357 

Vanmeter, A. J 148 

Vanstone, C. H 441 

Vivion, Clarence 453 



w 



Waddell.J. \V 221 

Wadded,.!. W 629 

Walker, F.J. C..M.D 605 

Walk.-r, Hon. W. M 375 

Walker, William 499 

Wall. John 439 

Wall.R.P 307 

Wallace, C. C 543 

Wallace, Hon. H. C 580 



Wallace, W.J 317 

Walton, John 554 

Walton, Rev. T. P 197 

Warden, J.J 456 

Washington, George 19 

Wayman. F. L 601 

Webb.J. S 62S 

Weedin, Judge B. D 202 

Welborn, John 623 

Whitaker, Mark 602 

Whitsitt, J. A 531 

Wilhite, J. M 138 

Wilhite, W. M 428 

Williamson, Turner ..313 

WilliardjC. A 575 

Willingbam, Rev. G. D 570 

Willis, A. W 306 

Willis, John 536 

Wilson, G. W 276 

Wilson, R. H., M. D 326 

Wilson, Rev. W. A 5S3 

Withers, Capt. J. M Ma 

Wood, Hon. W.T 495 

Wooldridge, W. D 338 

Wright, S. A 395 



Yancey, Mrs. M. C 420 

Yancey, T. A., M. D ..620 

Young, Grove 355 

Young, J. C 144 

Young, Rufus 157 



Zimmerman, Martin. 



POBTBAITS . 



Adams, John 22 

Adams, John Q 88 

Arthur, Chester A 98 

Asbury, Capt. A. K 116 

Beermann, Frederick 342 

Blosser, Henry 262 

Brenizer, Dr. G. W 160 

Buchanan, James 71 

Carmean, John 191 

Carmean, Mrs. Susannah 390 

. Hei ela n. 1 I Irot er LOS 

Davis. J. IS.. M. 1) 211 

Eubank, R. B.. 130 

Farrar, George 852 

Fillmore, Millard 66 

Dugglos, W.T 



Fogus, H. W 322 

Garfield, .lames a 94 

Gilliam, Judge W.T 174 

Gross, J. J 194 

Grant, U. S 86 

Ham. star, 0. W., M. D 832 

Harrison, Benjamin IOC 

Harrison, W. H 50 

U. < es, R.B 90 

Hupp, Abram 184 

Jackson, Andrew . 42 

Jefferson, Thomas 20 

Johnson, Andrew 82 

Jones, J. B 201 

Lincoln, Abraham 78 



Lytic, S. T 

Madison, James 

Mason, Seth 

fdcNeel, John 

Monroe, James 

Morrison, Wliliam 

O'Connell, Thomas 

Pierce, Franklin 

Polk, J. K 

Raw lings, Walter 

Renick, Strot tier 

Roberts, W. II 

Roberts, Mrs. H. E. W. 

Ross, C. C 

Russell, R.T 



.142 
. 30 
.224 
.402 
. 34 
.432 
..252 



VIEWS. 



. . 58 
..112 
..540 
,.292 

. .293 
..450 



Ruxton, Robert .470 

Shelby, Thomas 380 

Snoildy, A. H., M. I) 164 

Stouffer, Hon. J. T 234 

Taylor, Zachary 62 

Terrell, H. C 152 

Terrell, Mrs. Nancy C 153 

Tucker, Phil, Jr 282 

Tyler, John 54 

Van Buren, Martin 46 

Washington, George 18 

Williamson, Turner 312 



St. sa\ ior's Academy 557 Wilhite, J. M... 



.135 



Yancey, Mrs. M. c. . . 



.421 



£B 2 81950 



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